Reefbrite XHO only??

[Kodski]

Thank

Which Kessil?

I just added a cheap used Kessil AP700. I have the 30" reefbrights paired with the kessil over my 48"x24"x16" tank now. I run the kessil at 35% max and I get great par, 400 in my area for SPS and then 120 par in the corners. My aquascape has a lot of overhangs so my LPS love the shaded areas as they tend to be around 160-180 par. The colors and shimmer are great though. I'll eventually switch the AP700 to A360X's though.

 

[dbugg]

Maybe I didn't make myself clear that I was talking about acropora dominant systems. Sols were junk back when they came out and nothing has changed. I saw in person what they could accomplish with coloring acros and everything was drab for the most part except green dominant corals.

I could color/grow LPS, caps, digis, ect. with my 5500k 175w halides 30 years ago.

XHO's are great for supplementation because they have a wide spread due to the reflectors and this will give false readings with a par meter because it's reading everything that hits the probes dome.

It's the same as if you measured any light........6 T5 bulbs will read less par than 8 but the actual par is the same. The 8 bulbs just cover a wider area.........each bulb is creating the same par level. The par meter probe is getting hit by more light from various angles so it will read higher. As the probe is moved further from the center this is especially more evident.

Most par levels can be manipulated to make any manufacturers lights seem better. People put waaay to much emphasis on par when spectrum and coverage are much more important. Par was always pushed by these manufacturers of leds because they could manipulate things with optics. So maybe me describing this as par is the wrong way to describe it.

Some of the tight focused optics can fry corals due to the magnifying glass effect......it has nothing to do with par.

People can ignore my advice if they want.......but all the changes in offering more spectrum in all LED units on the market over the last ten years proves what I'm talking about.

“due to the reflectors and this will give false readings with a par meter because it's reading everything that hits the probes dome.”

Could you explain your understanding of this science? To me, it’s logical to think that if it “hits the probes dome” it will hit the coral, therefore the reading is the reading. How do exactly can a PAR reading be ”manipulated”. I’m not an expert, and just seeking understanding.