Kessil 160 w new Apogee 510 PAR reader

[accel]

I just got myself an Apogee 510 PAR reader because I want to improve my lighting placement and understand more what's happening in my tank. I got two Kessil 160s mounted about 12 inches above the water. The peak intensity is 80% on a 40 breeder.

So I measured. I am expecting a 250 reading at minimum at the top where my acros are and about 100 at the sand level. Guess what? The readings blew what I knew. I am way underpowered. If I remember correctly the bottom reads around PAR 30 and the top about 70. I can't remember because I was so shocked.

I adjusted my lights. So now it's mounted at 5 inch above the water line. I measured the PAR level right at the water level and I got about PAR 350.

The place where the acros are about 150 to 200 more or less. The mid part of the tank reads about 110 to 130. The bottom sand, mid section reads about 130. The bottom edge sand reads at 60.

What's the expected normal PAR values at various levels on a 40 breeder. That's about 16 inches height. So imagine having an LTA anemone that requires at least 180 to 280 PAR at the sand level, how are people getting 180 at the sand level with Kessil 160s? Or they don't?

 

[FullBoreReefer]

Slightly off topic but still on topic, I would raise your lights back to your 12” AWL. Then, every week bring them down an inch or two. Yeah it may take a month or more, but I think if not you may bleach things making that fast of a par jump.

That’s just what I would do; others may chime in...

 

[accel]

I figured I need to order a 3rd Kessil with a deeper penetration power like the A360 NE if I want to hit an area of sandbed with 200 PAR at least. Possibly use the radius as well to hit the acros section.

I'll tone down the 160s back to the usual 80 percent intensity but with closer distance to the surface so I can get a target a general reading of 100 PAR at the sand level and 150 PAR at the mid level which I am getting at 100 intensity. The 360 NE will be for a specialize area of the tank. It has narrow beam so I'd guess the spill won't affect mucj the 160s.