ReefBreeders Meridian

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

I am using the ReefBreeders Meridian light on an acro frag grow out tank. I am getting great PAR in the middle, but it drops off very quickly once you move out from directly under the light. The spread isn’t as good as I thought it was. I was thinking about adding on one of the edge bars to get better distribution. Has anyone tried this and gotten good results?

 

[steveschuerger]

I am using the ReefBreeders Meridian light on an acro frag grow out tank. I am getting great PAR in the middle, but it drops off very quickly once you move out from directly under the light. The spread isn’t as good as I thought it was. I was thinking about adding on one of the edge bars to get better distribution. Has anyone tried this and gotten good results?

Not quite the same but I had a Photon v2 that had a similar situation. I added a Lumenbar to the front and it really helped. So yeah, same vendor just previous lighting system.

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

I am using the ReefBreeders Meridian light on an acro frag grow out tank. I am getting great PAR in the middle, but it drops off very quickly once you move out from directly under the light. The spread isn’t as good as I thought it was. I was thinking about adding on one of the edge bars to get better distribution. Has anyone tried this and gotten good results?

Not quite the same but I had a Photon v2 that had a similar situation. I added a Lumenbar to the front and it really helped. So yeah, same vendor just previous lighting system.

Thanks!

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

I am using the ReefBreeders Meridian light on an acro frag grow out tank. I am getting great PAR in the middle, but it drops off very quickly once you move out from directly under the light. The spread isn’t as good as I thought it was. I was thinking about adding on one of the edge bars to get better distribution. Has anyone tried this and gotten good results?

Option2, I was looking at the AI Coral Glow bar as well. If anyone has experience with both, I would love to hear thought. Thanks!

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

Anyone have experience with the ReefBreeders Edge bars or AI Blades as supplemental lighting to support Acro growth and coloration in grow out tanks?

 

[MegabiteOG]

At what height do you have them from the water? Also, which lens? How deep is the tank?

There are three lens options. Also, default height from water is 14” I believe. If your lights are lower on a shallow tank, you may need to change lenses. I have the edge bars (front only) and they add quite a bit of light.

Ocular Holo Matrix (OHM) Optics:​

Meridian OHM Optics are simple to swap and have 3 models, each suited to meet the needs of different aquarium styles.

From ReefBreeders:

• Balance: This is the default lens included with the Meridians. It is designed to suit aquariums from 18-36" (45-90cm) top to bottom.
• Focus: Focus lenses provide a more concentrated light for aquariums over 36" (90cm) top to bottom.
• Encompass: Wider spread designed for shallow tanks under 18" (45cm) top to bottom. Ideal for frag tanks, or covering a larger area for lower light corals in deeper tanks.

 

[exnisstech]

I added an encompasses lens to remove some disco effect because mine are mounted lower than recommended.

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

I have the balance lens and the light is 12 inches off the water. It’s being used on an 8 inch drag tank to grow our acro frags. I get awesome par, right what i am looking for, but just right under the light, but the spread isn’t even or great so looking at some options to improve the par beyond the edges of the light. 3 to 4 inches out from under the light the par drops significantly.

 

[Tahoe61]

Numbers and PAR and exact tank dimensions please?

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

The tank is 36x24x8.

Right in the middle of the light I get about 430 par, which is perfect.
At the edge of the light it has already dropped to 250 par.
By the time I get to the edge of the tank it’s down to about 115.

That’s why I am looking for some alternatives to level out the distribution. I’d like to see the edge of the tank average about 250 for acclimation or some of my acropora that tend to do a little better with coloration in lower light. But 115 is a little too low even for those purposes!

 

[Kazumi]

With the balance lens, the recommended height should be 16". So if you was to raise the light is should spread further, or just go with the encompass lens.

 

[docscorals Verified Sponsor]

With the balance lens, the recommended height should be 16". So if you was to raise the light is should spread further, or just go with the encompass lens.

I tried raising the light first but couldn’t get the right par levels. I’ll have to look into the encompass lens, or look at the edge bars or the AI Blades as supplements I guess

 

[IPT]

Yup, I have the Encompass lenses and I am about 9 inches off the water. The spread is a lot less than I would like. Thankfully I have T5's in in the front and read, but still the spread even with the Encompass lens is not as good as the Radions they were replacing, though the PAR in the center region is higher.

I think you're only choices are a bar in front and rear and or raising the lights higher.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

With the balance lens, the recommended height should be 16". So if you was to raise the light is should spread further, or just go with the encompass lens.

The recommended height is not 16". The ReefBreeders website reads,

• Recommended Mounting Height: 10-14" (25-35cm) above waterline with OHM Balance Optics

Most of the people I know run them at 14" above waterline.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Yup, I have the Encompass lenses and I am about 9 inches off the water. The spread is a lot less than I would like. Thankfully I have T5's in in the front and read, but still the spread even with the Encompass lens is not as good as the Radions they were replacing, though the PAR in the center region is higher.

I think you're only choices are a bar in front and rear and or raising the lights higher.

I am not 100% sure but I do believe the recommended height should be 10" - 14" above the waterline.

 

[IPT]

I am not 100% sure but I do believe the recommended height should be 10" - 14" above the waterline.

Yup, but in my case I have a canopy and that's the max I can go. With the T5's I have mounted they would be below and block the Merdian lights from penetrating. All about trade offs...