PAR concerns

[kevin_e]

There another thread on here that I started discussing the color issues I've been having since I started this tank5 months ago. My coral slowly faded in color over time. I've tried various things, including enhanced feed, more fish, Amino's etc, with no effect. The only results of the added feedings can be seen in my photo (algae).

I decided to borrow a PAR meter from my LFS (Apogee MQ 200). The results I got were baffling and frustrating. I'm running a 150 watt metal halide and 4 T5s. The following shows my PAR numbers with all the lights on, which only last 5 hours a day.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

I see the numbers are heard to see. Here they are from left to right and down.

310
115-175-130
110-135
105
90

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[ksc]

That's really low, even for a 150. I'd upgrade to a 250 Radium in a decent reflector. I run 2-250 Radiums on my 90. I have them in Lumenmax2 reflectors and get 500-1200 at the surface and 100-250 on the sand.

 

[reefmutt]

How high off the water is your fixture?

 

[kevin_e]

That's really low, even for a 150. I'd upgrade to a 250 Radium in a decent reflector. I run 2-250 Radiums on my 90. I have them in Lumenmax2 reflectors and get 500-1200 at the surface and 100-250 on the sand.

Yeah, I was surprised.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

How high off the water is your fixture?

9"

I dropped it to 4" and the numbers improved by 50-70.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[ksc]

Did you clean your reflectors? I've owned an Apogee par meter for about 8 years and tested over 100 lights. The 4 t-5's should give you those numbers with dirty reflectors....

Try measuring the output of the sun on a clear day. Then you can go on Apogee's site and check the "Clear sky calculator" for your location. That meter might need recalibrating.

On the bright side, you can add 7% to those numbers due to the "immersion affect". That sensor isn't designed for underwater use, though it works well, just use the 7% correction.

 

[reefmutt]

You should try testing with mh alone and t5 alone.
All new or relatively new bulbs?

 

[kevin_e]

Yeah, the t5 reflectors are covered by plastic and halide by glass.

The t5s are in two pairs on each side of the halide, front and back.

The 2x blue plus give me ~500 1" below the bulbs and 150 just under the surface of the water. 250 at the surface above the water.

The halide maxed the meter out at 3000 1" below the light. 430 at the water surface above the water and 350 just under the water.



Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

Yes, bulbs are well within their life span. 4-5 months old.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Geeray]

i guess its possible the meter needs calibrating but I doubt thats the case. I think your corals are confirming the par is really low. Hard to say why its so low it could be a lot of things.

 

[Geeray]

is the Mq 200 the new apogee meter? if so its correction factor is 1.3 not 1.07

 

[kevin_e]

I believe the meter is fairly new. I couldn't imagine it needing calibration so soon.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

I'm just stunned how a 150 watt radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus and 2 ATI Coral Plus bulbs could deliver such low par in a Giesmann fixture.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

I'm wondering if I should get an 8 bulb ati

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[kevin_e]

I just plugged in my 4' Giesemann unit that has dual 250 watt units on Luxcore ballasts. I let them warm up for 10 minutes and measured PAR results (not under water).

At 12" below the center of the bulb: 260
At 20" below the center of the bulb: 120

Again, these results were not underwater.

I went outside here in North Florida at 10:30 AM on a heavily clouded day and recorded values from 800-1200. When the sun peaked out, the values shot up near 3000.

 

[kevin_e]

I used the Apogee Clear sky calculator. It anticipated 1,895. When the sun peaked through again, I measured ~2,100

 

[ksc]

Is the meter set on LED mode? It should read less than 2000 in the sunlight. Those Giesmann fixtures should be putting out 700-1000 @12" under the fixture.

You also might want to check those fixtures on an amp meter, none of those readings make sense.

Check out these par #'s for the 250 infiniti:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1684462

 

[kevin_e]

Is the meter set on LED mode? It should read less than 2000 in the sunlight. Those Giesmann fixtures should be putting out 700-1000 @12" under the fixture.

You also might want to check those fixtures on an amp meter, none of those readings make sense.

Check out these par #'s for the 250 infiniti:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1684462

I scrolled through the modes and didn't see an LED mode. It's on "Sun". The 2000 value was when the sensor was pointed directly at the sun. Pointing straight up saw values of appr. 1200 on a cloudy day.

I have tried 3 different ballast on 2 different Giessemann fixtures and got similar results. I got about 1800 pointing straight up when the sun poked through again (anticipated value was 1895).

 

[ksc]

When measuring, the sensor should be level. Don't angle it towards the light source.