Expected PAR for Miro T5 retrofit

[pisanoal]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had some par readings I could use to compare what I'm getting out of my T5's, or at least some input. I have a standard 125, and have a 6x80watt T5 with the miro retrofit kits. 3x ATI coral plus 3X ATI blue plus. I also have a DIY led strip down the center with about 90watts of leds for sunrise/sunset and shimmer. This is all 4-6" off the water surface. The T5s are staggered so they cover almost the whole tank making the last 12" or so ef each end effectively covered by 3 T5s.

I finally rented an apogee par meter to see where I was at, and found that in the center I was running right around 350 about 6-8 inches below the water surface. I only had time to do a quick spot check at the time, but plan on doing a more thorough evaluation within the next few days. This was also with my leds very low as it was later in the evening and they were ramped way down for sunset. Anyways, I was expecting quite a bit more then this, but maybe that reading was too high in the tank to capture the spread from the outer bulbs? Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts/experience to share.

FYI this will be mostly SPS/acros with some LPS sprinkled in.

 

[rtparty]

Are the bulbs cooled at all?

 

[pisanoal]

Yes, I have 4 80mm cpu fans blowing into the canopy at different spots. Air velocity isn't great so I probably need to improve on this somehow. Canopy is essentially open to the back so plenty of ventilation. 2 of the fans are over the heat sink for the leds, and 2 are on one end blowing across the T5 Bulbs.

I also need to check temperature with all the lights on. I know there is an optimum but cant recall what it is. I have checked it with a laser temp gun. Can't remember what I got but I remember it seemed reasonable to me at the time.

 

[drummerboyevil]

If you get the bulbs cooled to the appropriate temp I would expect at least as much par as an ATI fixture since they use the same ballast. I say at least because the mira reflectors are larger.

 

[pisanoal]

If you get the bulbs cooled to the appropriate temp I would expect at least as much par as an ATI fixture since they use the same ballast. I say at least because the mira reflectors are larger.

Good info, thanks. I know there are several references to proper bulb temp, ill try and locate them again.

 

[rtparty]

Good info, thanks. I know there are several references to proper bulb temp, ill try and locate them again.

35C on the cold spot/label end

 

[pisanoal]

I did finally find that. Thank you though. What's the most that would impact par? I don't think i'm very far off from that temp, since I don't have an enclosed fixture. Based on ATI fixture par readings others have posted, I would expect to be hitting at least close to 500 par near the top of my tank. I wouldn't expect to take a 25% hit. Reflectors are clean with a few spots from light splashing when I was messing with a powerhead, and bulbs are only a month and half old, some haven't even been ran for more then 60 hours or so id bet.

 

[rtparty]

Improper cooling can cut PAR in half. ATI fixtures are beasts. I'd bet an ATI is 10-15% ahead of most retrofit systems.

 

[pisanoal]

I can live with 10-15%. In fact I expected it to be less. My thoughts of seeing 500 were based on reports of people seeing 550 with an ati 6x80 a few inches under water line. I would have gone with an ati but I wanted leds down the middle.

I wonder how much cooling has to be off to cut par by that much...

Anyways. Thanks for your input as always. I'll do some research and find out what I've got.

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