VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 300W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum for Grow Coral Reef Marine Fish Tank LPS/SPS - help

Charles Belisle · Jul 16, 2020

Hello,

I am currently running 2 - 2 of VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control Dimmable 300W LED Aquarium Light Full Spectrum for Grow Coral Reef Marine Fish Tank LPS/SPS On my 240 Gallon Reef tank - 72" x 33" x 24". I currently have the setting on the following: White - 25, blues - 30. I have ramped them up - but when doing so; I am jumping 5 setting at a time. My Zoas are loving life and are fully open. However, I have noticed that my GSP is out but curling backwards - when the lights are on. Straight when lighting is off. Are my setting to "High"? What level's of Whites and Blues are other people running and for what length of time? I was running Whites - 8.5 hours and Blues - 13 hours. But had a Green Hair Algae break-out. So I have dialed that back to White - 5.5 hours and Blues 9.5 hours. - No more GHA - Just trying to see if lighting is to much. What are you running on these lights - level - time?

rgulrich · Jul 16, 2020

I run a collection of these over my 300. Please use a PAR meter when setting up these (and any other light, for that matter) so you can avoid bleaching your coral. Take readings across the aquarium (left to right centered), from front to rear, and at the depths/locations your coral is placed. Log these in a drawing or some way you can remember and adjust height (for spread and eliminate/reduce hotspots) and intensity (%W and %B) accordingly for the coral (or clams or such) you're keeping. These lights put out some pretty high PAR and PUR values and can be too intense if not used appropriately.
Cheers,
Ray

Charles Belisle · Jul 20, 2020

Rented a Par meter and got my lighting par down. Thanks

rgulrich · Jul 21, 2020

Cheers!
Ray

Blakjax · Aug 2, 2020

Charles Belisle said:
Rented a Par meter and got my lighting par down. Thanks

Can you share your settings and mounting height? I have two mounted with a retrofitted T5 on both sides of my 220g tank.

Charles Belisle · Aug 4, 2020

I currently have them mounted about 12" above my water level. I am running the white at 25% and blues at 25%. This seems to give me a good par level of about 100 at sand level (36 inches - water - 48 inches total). Reviewing par readings every 4" - I noticed an increase in Par of about 25 to 50. 25 being around the edges and 50 being in more direct center. At 25% whites and blues. I am seeing 100 par at sand (48"), 150 par at 44 -40", 250 par from 40" - 20" and 350 to water level 12". Based on this; I also saw an increase of 50 per area by increasing blue lights by 5%. I never increased (measured - white lights above 25%). When I took the blue lights up to 45% - I was seeing 250 at sand level 48" and readings up to 350 at 30" level. At water level edges par was in 500 with center (direct) in the 800 par range. To me this was more then enough par for any corals; so I stopped testing at white 25% / Blue 45%. Currently, I have Zoas around the 40 inch mark (which should be reading 150 - 250 par). I have par reading sheets if interested; that I can scan and email to you.

Blakjax · Aug 10, 2020

Charles Belisle said:
I currently have them mounted about 12" above my water level. I am running the white at 25% and blues at 25%. This seems to give me a good par level of about 100 at sand level (36 inches - water - 48 inches total). Reviewing par readings every 4" - I noticed an increase in Par of about 25 to 50. 25 being around the edges and 50 being in more direct center. At 25% whites and blues. I am seeing 100 par at sand (48"), 150 par at 44 -40", 250 par from 40" - 20" and 350 to water level 12". Based on this; I also saw an increase of 50 per area by increasing blue lights by 5%. I never increased (measured - white lights above 25%). When I took the blue lights up to 45% - I was seeing 250 at sand level 48" and readings up to 350 at 30" level. At water level edges par was in 500 with center (direct) in the 800 par range. To me this was more then enough par for any corals; so I stopped testing at white 25% / Blue 45%. Currently, I have Zoas around the 40 inch mark (which should be reading 150 - 250 par). I have par reading sheets if interested; that I can scan and email to you.

This is awesome information. I would love to have the sheets. What’s the best way for you to send them to me. Email?

Blakjax · Aug 10, 2020

Charles Belisle said:
I currently have them mounted about 12" above my water level. I am running the white at 25% and blues at 25%. This seems to give me a good par level of about 100 at sand level (36 inches - water - 48 inches total). Reviewing par readings every 4" - I noticed an increase in Par of about 25 to 50. 25 being around the edges and 50 being in more direct center. At 25% whites and blues. I am seeing 100 par at sand (48"), 150 par at 44 -40", 250 par from 40" - 20" and 350 to water level 12". Based on this; I also saw an increase of 50 per area by increasing blue lights by 5%. I never increased (measured - white lights above 25%). When I took the blue lights up to 45% - I was seeing 250 at sand level 48" and readings up to 350 at 30" level. At water level edges par was in 500 with center (direct) in the 800 par range. To me this was more then enough par for any corals; so I stopped testing at white 25% / Blue 45%. Currently, I have Zoas around the 40 inch mark (which should be reading 150 - 250 par). I have par reading sheets if interested; that I can scan and email to you.

Along with this, can you share your durations? How many hours of each?