AP700 positioning

[RTab619]

Question for you AP700 users. I have 2 over a 6 ft tank. I was told for SPS heavy tank that they should be mounted 5-7" above the tank. I had them positioned at 18" and 54". I noticed that the upper middle portion of the tank wasn't getting enough PAR so I moved them to 24" and 48". Now the center has optimal PAR but the far left and right don't. Just wanted to get your thoughts.

Also, still don't know how to get rid of the random 30 second storm every midnight that's not programmed into my schedule.

 

[mcarroll]

What are the tank dimensions?

What is your definition of "enough PAR"?

Assuming the tank is 72" x 24"...

You're at the edge of the light's capability at the 36" mark...so your issues aren't surprising.

Like all light fixtures, the light produced at the edge of its output is only a fraction of the peak lighting it provides.

I would move the lights back onto their centers and raise them just a few inches. All four emitters should be equidistant from one another.

I'd get a [HASHTAG]#lux[/HASHTAG] meter app for your smart phone....and order a cheap $15 lux meter. Either one will help you with setup and any future changes.

BTW, I hate the nonsense supplied on most manufacturer websites: 24"x36" coverage at 5-7" off the surface....but only 24"x48" if you raise it to 15-18"? (2x-3x higher!) I wanna know how they keep one dimension locked at 24" of spread but still manage to get 30% wider coverage?? That's jibberish.

They make fine lights, but would it kill them to state the lens's capability in plain english, or at least give some PAR or lux measurments?? (Or at least make sense!)

 

[RTab619]

Yes, tank is 72x24x24. I think I'm going to settle around 22" and 50". A little more towards the middle to keep higher SPS Par levels in the top center. This will bring down levels on the far left/right side of the tank but that's fine with me. It will also increase levels in the bottom middle from a greater overlap - that's fine as well.

What are the tank dimensions?

What is your definition of "enough PAR"?

Assuming the tank is 72" x 24"...

You're at the edge of the light's capability at the 36" mark...so your issues aren't surprising.

Like all light fixtures, the light produced at the edge of its output is only a fraction of the peak lighting it provides.

I would move the lights back onto their centers and raise them just a few inches. All four emitters should be equidistant from one another.

I'd get a [HASHTAG]#lux[/HASHTAG] meter app for your smart phone....and order a cheap $15 lux meter. Either one will help you with setup and any future changes.

BTW, I hate the nonsense supplied on most manufacturer websites: 24"x36" coverage at 5-7" off the surface....but only 24"x48" if you raise it to 15-18"? (2x-3x higher!) I wanna know how they keep one dimension locked at 24" of spread but still manage to get 30% wider coverage?? That's jibberish.

They make fine lights, but would it kill them to state the lens's capability in plain english, or at least give some PAR or lux measurments?? (Or at least make sense!)

 

[mcarroll]

Are they "stuck" at the height they are, but you can move them side to side somehow? If, so...sounds like a good plan...prolly the best you can do.

If you can raise them just as easily as sliding them side to side, I'd try raising them a couple of inches while they are "centered" to see how you like that. Worth a try at this rate.

How about a tank pic?

 

[RTab619]

Nope I can raise the height but wanted to try to keep lower for SPS

 

[mcarroll]

I haven't seen you mention a PAR number yet.

• What maximums are you seeing right now when measuring PAR at the water surface?
• How far out from the maximums can you measure before you hit 50% of max?
• 25% of max?

(Get a free lux meter app for your smartphone's camera if you don't have the PAR meter in your possession....we can work just as well in lux numbers. There are super-inexpensive handheld lux meters too...$15 or so....highly recommended if you currently have no meter.)