Understanding Lux from Reefbreeders Photon V2

[re76]

Looking for some advice about my lux readings, and lux reading techniques.

This morning I decided to measure my lux using the cheap lux meter from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQT68CO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am running a Reefbreeder Photon 50-V2 over my Reefer 450 which is 60" long. I am running the light about 18" above my tank to reduce shadowing.

The LED specs are as follows with the last column being my settings:

Channel 1  | Deep Red    | Osram     | 3watt | 660nm | 8%
Channel 2  | Green       | Semi LED  | 3watt | 520nm | 8%
Channel 3  | Royal Blue  | Cree XT-E | 5watt | 450nm | 32%
Channel 4  | White       | Cree XP-E | 5watt | 5500K | 14%
Channel 5  | Cool Blue   | Cree XP-E | 3watt | 480nm | 32%
Channel 6  | Violet      | Semi LED  | 3watt | 420nm | 32%

When I measure lux using the lux meter I linked above I am getting about 6800 to 8500 Lux across the top of my tank. I basically just hold the lux meter about an inch above the water.

From what I have read this seems super low...

Am I doing something wrong? Do I need to measure each channel individually and then add them? I figured this fixture had plenty of power to run 18" off the top of the tank, but maybe I was wrong?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes that is low. Is it full up?

 

[lwmnfrvr]

Try increasing the pertcentages on your settings until you get the lux number you are looking for. Then assimilate your tank to those settings.
I have two of the Reefbreeders Photon 32's V2 over a 150 gallon tank (72"L 18"W 30"T). The lights are in a canopy and are sitting 9" above the water line.
All though I don't have a lux meter, my lights peak at 1500 hrs. for one hour with a max setting of: ( I recently went to this schedule)
Channels 1 & 2 at 30%
Channel 3 - 70%
Channel 4 - -42%
Channels 5 & 6 - 60 %
As soon as I get my par meter back from a friend I will be measuring par levels.
I have a mixed reef with about 30 SPS.

 

[re76]

Try increasing the pertcentages on your settings until you get the lux number you are looking for. Then assimilate your tank to those settings.
I have two of the Reefbreeders Photon 32's V2 over a 150 gallon tank (72"L 18"W 30"T). The lights are in a canopy and are sitting 9" above the water line.
All though I don't have a lux meter, my lights peak at 1500 hrs. for one hour with a max setting of: ( I recently went to this schedule)
Channels 1 & 2 at 30%
Channel 3 - 70%
Channel 4 - -42%
Channels 5 & 6 - 60 %
As soon as I get my par meter back from a friend I will be measuring par levels.
I have a mixed reef with about 30 SPS.

Yeah I think I am going to start doing weekly increases until I can get my blue and UV channels up into the 60 or 70% area.

@saltyfilmfolks as the expert in this area what do you recommend as a safe increase amount per week based on Lux?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yeah I think I am going to start doing weekly increases until I can get my blue and UV channels up into the 60 or 70% area.

@saltyfilmfolks as the expert in this area what do you recommend as a safe increase amount per week based on Lux?

Think in PAR. How much light do you want where? You want 100 or so on the bottom, so does that make it 500 at the top?

Depending or your aquascape you may need more or less. I run 45000 (45/60 =about 700 par) on my 18n deep tank and have stuff right on top. (im a nut). I have acros and Xenia and gorgsll in the same area.
But for an 18in deep tank I think around 20,000 is a good starting point.

If 3000 lux is divided by 60 its 50 par. so 50 to 100 par is probably not a bad range. If you have super low nutrints Id go slower.

Try increasing the pertcentages on your settings until you get the lux number you are looking for. Then assimilate your tank to those settings.
I have two of the Reefbreeders Photon 32's V2 over a 150 gallon tank (72"L 18"W 30"T). The lights are in a canopy and are sitting 9" above the water line.
All though I don't have a lux meter, my lights peak at 1500 hrs. for one hour with a max setting of: ( I recently went to this schedule)
Channels 1 & 2 at 30%
Channel 3 - 70%
Channel 4 - -42%
Channels 5 & 6 - 60 %
As soon as I get my par meter back from a friend I will be measuring par levels.
I have a mixed reef with about 30 SPS.

If you can give him the recipe to get 100par on his sand bed he'l be pretty happy I think.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

I will try and get a snap shot of my PAR levels at the sand bed.
The snap shot will be of my 1500 hrs., peak setting.
Although I've had these lights for almost a year (purchased April of 2016) I still have not found the sweet spot for this light.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

Ok here we go, my lights sit 33 inches above my sandbed. Using the Apogee Model MQ-200 Par Meter, I took a par reading at 1100 hr. this morning. This was done to compare it to the 1500 hr. reading.
1100 Hrs. 1500 Hrs.
Channels 1 & 2 30 % Channels 1 & 2 - 30 %
Channel 3 - 55 % Channel 3 - 70 %
Channel 4 - 35 % Channel 4 - 42 %
Channels 5 & 6 - 47 % Channel 5 & 6 60 %
Par reading averaged 150Par on the sand bed Par reading averaged 200 Par on the sand bed.

I hope these numbers compared to your settings give you an idea as to where you need to be.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

Ok here we go, my lights sit 33 inches above my sandbed. Using the Apogee Model MQ-200 Par Meter, I took a par reading at 1100 hr. this morning. This was done to compare it to the 1500 hr. reading.
1100 Hrs. 1500 Hrs.
Channels 1 & 2 30 % Channels 1 & 2 - 30 %
Channel 3 - 55 % Channel 3 - 70 %
Channel 4 - 35 % Channel 4 - 42 %
Channels 5 & 6 - 47 % Channel 5 & 6 60 %
Par reading averaged 150Par on the sand bed Par reading averaged 200 Par on the sand bed.

I hope these numbers compared to your settings give you an idea as to where you need to be.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

Ok here we go, my lights sit 33 inches above my sandbed. Using the Apogee Model MQ-200 Par Meter, I took a par reading at 1100 hr. this morning. This was done to compare it to the 1500 hr. reading.
1100 Hrs. 1500 Hrs.
Channels 1 & 2 30 % Channels 1 & 2 - 30 %
Channel 3 - 55 % Channel 3 - 70 %
Channel 4 - 35 % Channel 4 - 42 %
Channels 5 & 6 - 47 % Channel 5 & 6 60 %
Par reading averaged 150Par on the sand bed Par reading averaged 200 Par on the sand bed.

I hope these numbers compared to your settings give you an idea as to where you need to be.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

I apologize for the triple post, my lap top just went nuts and deleted my 1500 hr. schedule then posted my message three times.

 

[lwmnfrvr]

1500 Hr. schedule : Channels 1 & 2 30 %
Channel 3 - 70 %
Channel 4 - 42 %
Channels 5 & 6 - 60 %
Par Reading averaged 200 on the sand bed.

 

[re76]

1500 Hr. schedule : Channels 1 & 2 30 %
Channel 3 - 70 %
Channel 4 - 42 %
Channels 5 & 6 - 60 %
Par Reading averaged 200 on the sand bed.

This is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing.

How deep is your tank? I know you mentioned 33" from the sand bed, but how many inches of water is that going through?

 

[lwmnfrvr]

You are very welcome.
I remeasured the heigth of the tank and found I was in error when I posted it was 30" tall. The tank is actually 27" tall.
I have a 2" sandbed which gives me an overall water colmn of 25 inches.

 

[killerkukoo]

I have these lights arriving tomorrow. im putting 2 32" over my 180. it wil be what ever height the legs give me for now until i can build some to get 12" up. for now im hoping these suffice. ill have a mixed reef. what i put in depends on what suits my fancy lol. eventually i will run 4 of them. stacked 2 deep to compat shadowing if i have any. im glad to see these lights are well recieved and making corals happy

 

[sharkman121]

Hi guys im tinkering with my lighting schedule, any of you guys mind posting your full schedule percentage wise for each channel from when it comes on till it comes off?

 

[re76]

Hi guys im tinkering with my lighting schedule, any of you guys mind posting your full schedule percentage wise for each channel from when it comes on till it comes off?

You can check out my schedule here:

Made a Photon V2 Schedule Spreadsheet

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Made-a-Photon-V2-Schedule-Spreadsheet.292949/


I am still ramping up to where I want to be, which is about 70-80% on the blue and UV channels, but it should give you a good idea about the ratios.

 

[sharkman121]

Thanks a mil bro