par meter results

[spstimie]

just wanted to get everyone sharing their results. when i first set up my halide fixture(aqua medic 2x250 + 2x54) it had aqua medic 20k bulbs. it was putting out about 250par at the surface and 150 at the sand. a couple of weeks ago i switched out for curretn 10k bulbs. freddie40 came by the saturday after christmas to check out the tank and i tested the new bulbs. 1200+ at the surface and 400+ at the sand. i like those #s a whole lot more. anyone else want to share their results?

thx for bringing the par meter dave.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I just finished testing a ATI Sunpower 6 x 54 watt T5 system. with all aquablue lamps which are supposed to be 14000K I got 375 at the sand bed.

Same lamps in a tek light did 252 but it didn't have a splash shield so it would have had to be raised off the tank at least 3" to keep salt spray from ruining the reflectors. Not sure how that would have affected the numbers.

 

[freddie40]

At the sand my 4-T5s and 2 VHOs give a measley 225. I am thinking that you want to be between 180 and 250 for the best all around results. Too little and the SPS and clams won't be happy, too much and the LPS won't be happy.

Just my 5 cents (inflation)

Dave

 

[The Grim Reefer]

It's amazing how much the critters can adapt to light over time. When I put the first T5 system on my tank which wasn't putting out but about 150 or so the mushrooms where pretty much hiding. Within the last year or so they have started spreading pretty good under the more intense light from the Constellation fixture which is doing the low 200's/