Advice for radion intensity

[Nomorenames]

Hi all looking for advice for light intensity for 2 g3 radions running the sps+ schedule in a 48x18x24 tank lights are mounted 8" from the surface right now they are at 30% not much growth going only the zoas on the edge of the tank so I think I should decrease but was curious if anyone has my size tank and what intensity they run
Thanks

 

[mcarroll]

Get a #lux #meter and take some readings at the surface.*

If your getting >20,000 lux, stony corals should be happy. (Even as low as 10,000-15,000 lux can be OK!)

If you plan to have clams, you'll want >30,000 lux.

Brighter is OK too, but not necessary.

Corals seem to begin stressing around 80,000 lux, so tread lightly if you plan to go that bright.

By contrast, clams will take as much light as you can throw at them.

You can start with a free lux meter app for your smartphone, such as "galactica luxmeter" for IOS (but there are dozens of them) and get perfectly usable readings. But it's worth ordering a dedicated handheld meter for $15 off A.m.a.zon or eB.ay, etc. Search for the "LX-1010B" to see the one I think most folks are using. Better readings and safer to use around a tank of saltwater!

 

[Jimbo662]

I had the same issue. My tank was 20" deep and I was running them at about 35% because it "appeared" to be pretty bright. I finally had someone bring a par meter over to check. I ended up turning them up to 65% to get a good par at all levels.

If you can find someone local with a par meter see if they'll help out and test it for you. I was shocked at how far off I was.

 

[Lilly45nano]

Call tech support...they are AWESOME at helping you set the light up

 

[d2mini]

My lights are twice as high as yours running the AB+ program, and about 10" below the surface i'm getting PAR in the mid to high 200's (measured with the Apogee 500 series) with the overall intensity of 95%.
I'd say you should be running closer to 50-60% but without some kind of light meter it's hard to tell.

 

[Tankd]

I have the same tank dimensions and lights. Lights are at 9" above water surface. Running the Radiant Color template. I peak at 83% intensity. Data point before and after peak are at 78%.
Zoas are at mid tank level, bubble tip has moved up from sand to bottom 1/3 of tank, LTA is still is sand and has moved to back corner of drilled overflow enclosure, candy cane and frogspawn at bottom 3rd of tank. Elegance in back corner. Monti and chalice at about 1/2 level in tank. The only thing struggling is a plate coral on the sandbed. I don't think it likes all the light. The spread is so even with these lights, that there are no shaded areas in the tank so I'm stuck with seeing if it will make it through.
All appear

 

[MikeTR]

My lights are twice as high as yours running the AB+ program, and about 10" below the surface i'm getting PAR in the mid to high 200's (measured with the Apogee 500 series) with the overall intensity of 95%.
I'd say you should be running closer to 50-60% but without some kind of light meter it's hard to tell.

Just FYI: https://reefbuilders.com/2016/08/26...ent-is-strongly-impacted-by-immersion-effect/

 

[d2mini]

Just FYI: https://reefbuilders.com/2016/08/26...ent-is-strongly-impacted-by-immersion-effect/

Yep, saw that.
But regardless, the Apogee has been the standard over the years. Using their meters, it's been shown that being in the mid to high 200's with radions seems to be about the sweet spot.

 

[Nomorenames]

Thanks all I will begin ramping up 2% a day till I hit 55% or so I will see what happens

 

[MikeTR]

Yep, saw that.
But regardless, the Apogee has been the standard over the years. Using their meters, it's been shown that being in the mid to high 200's with radions seems to be about the sweet spot.

That's about where I am with my powermodule hybrid. Seems to be working pretty good.

 

[mcarroll]

Yep, saw that.
But regardless, the Apogee has been the standard over the years. Using their meters, it's been shown that being in the mid to high 200's with radions seems to be about the sweet spot.

Just for comparison (and for folks who only have lux meters), that should be something like 15,000-20,000 lux.

Corals seem to have all their biological processes humming at/above this level.

Stony corals' light compensation point seems to be something like 10,000 lux, for example. Potential for amino acid uptake seems to hit high gear around 10,000-15,000 lux.

2¢