Combining Gen 2 and Gen 3

[12_egg_Omelett]

I was wondering if anyone knew of any downsides of utilizing a gen2 and gen3 pro on a tank at the same time. I'm thinking it wouldn't be to much of a difference however I haven't really came across anyone doing this. In the future I would like to upgrade my gen 2 to gen 3, so I thought the next one should be a gen 3 so I could save on the upgrade cost. Would it behoove me to just gen a second gen 2 and pay for the upgrade for both at the same time?

 

[dendrite]

I currently run two gen 2 pros, one gen3 pro, a gen 2, and a gen 3 on a 180 gallon reef,all with wide angle lenses and honestly can't tell the difference. No problems with the software working together.

 

[12_egg_Omelett]

Interesting, is there a big difference in par levels? Can you post a picture of what it looks like light wise.

 

[dendrite]

I have the five over a 6 foot tank, and with the 120 degree lenses there is a tremendous degree of overlap. I don't have a par meter but am growing derasa, crocea and maxima clams, fungia, favia, trachyphyllia and lobophyllia, chalice and hammer corals on the sand which is 32 inches below the lights, and shielded by a full acrylic top which has to block at least 15% of the light going into the tank. Mid tank and near the top I have sps. I don't think Par is an issue

 

[dendrite]

I have some photos on my phone but since I am over the age of consent I don't have a clue as to how to post them

 

[reefwiser]

Use Tapatalk app you your phone you can post pictures straight from your phone.

 

[dendrite]

thanks, will try that tonite

 

[dendrite]

 

[dendrite]

the tapatalk seemed to have worked. Learned something new! In any case you can see with the mix of lights acquired over 2 1/2 years there really is no discernible visual difference. The corals don't seem to mind and indeed there are montipora, acropora and pocillopora growing on the bottom 1/3 of the tank. If you took a spectrometer you mightp pick up some differences in wave lengths but I doubt that with all the other variables and myriad ways to kill a tank mild regional differences in par and wave length would be at the top of the list.

 

[12_egg_Omelett]

Thanks for sharing, in my limited experience I haven't had a chance to come across someone who mixed before. This is a nice piece of info.