What power to run Mitras?

[Fishmommy]

I am currently running the Great Barrier Reef project file I got on the web projects site, which I love.
I have been running it at 50% power to limit my algae, but now that I am adding coral I am concerned about PAR.

I have a PAR meter, and the 50% power isn't going to be enough for sure.

Quick question....is the PAR output linear with power increase to the lights?
If it is, it will save me a lot of fiddling.
If it isn't, I will need to take a lot of measurements as I ramp it up in power I guess.

What power percentages are you guys running at? My tank is about 23" deep at the sandbed.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

PAR is not linear in any lamp as it is dependant on the spectrum you are using.

All lamps come set in eco mode at 80% max output, if you want more although i suggest caution then change to high output mode and 100%

I run my 24" deep tank with one mitras at 80% eco and have great colouration.

 

[Fishmommy]

Thanks. I'll try 80% and go from there.
I had them turned way down during cycling but now it's time to glow!
:dance:

 

[AQD_ottawa]

go slow, its always the snail that wins the race here

 

[Fishmommy]

well I played with the settings today at the peak of my light cycle.
I had to ramp it up to 80% HIGH OUTPUT to get just 120 PAR at the sandbed.
Just wondering how people get such high PAR readings? I was hoping for 200-250 at the sandbed but can't seem to get there.
This is at 24" deep, pumps off.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

put to 100% high output in energy mode on the built in controller then all channels in lamp composer to 100% full intensity, please dont leave like that you will wipe your corals out, but it will show you the full power of the lamps.

 

[Fishmommy]

ok I'll try that next week. I don't have any corals yet so it's a good time to play and get this dialed in.
It may have to do with the program I am running. I didn't compose it myself but it puts out a nice white light that I like during the peak of the day.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Do a lot of reading on PAR and SPS its not the holy grail everyone thinks it is, its just a percentage of the whole story.

Few helpful tips - If the tank is new adont expect ANY light to be the miracle of colouration, it takes a year for an SPS tank to become stable where water quality and nutrients play a far great role in colouration than the lamp. The lamp is the final piece of a very difficult jigsaw puzzle, the higher quality the lamp (Mitras) the easier it is to put those final pieces together.

 

[Fishmommy]

I put to factory settings, then put it in high output mode. Put the lamps and channels all at 100% and got about 800 par at above the water's surface.
8 inches down in the water it was about 300 par.

I am now trying a different program - the MH simulation with the early blast of light. In high output mode at 80% it seems to give me about 200 PAR down where I want it when it peaks.