LUX measurement at water surface useful?

[Kaiser699a]

I am hitting a peak of 20000 lux at my water surface for 4 hours in the middle of my lighting schedule. I run Evergrow LED fixture (Reefbreeder in the US I believe). Tank is 24" deep and LED fixture is 10" above the water surface. I keep softies and LPS. Is this value any use to tell me if my lights are high enough output or if I need to increase or decrease intensity?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Not really, A PAR meter is the tool to use.

 

[Kaiser699a]

That's cool and I know that PAR is best but I don't have PAR meter

 

[Kaiser699a]

I turned my LEDs down and most corals are responding better than before. Maybe they are expanding more to capture more of the lower intensity light now. I will leave them turned down for a few weeks to see how zoa and mushroom growth gets on. I also reduced whites more than the blues. It's a bit of a guessing game to be honest...

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

BRS rents them out.

 

[Kaiser699a]

Not really practical because I'm in Northern Ireland