Calling all Chinese Black Box users

[mamedina]

Hello all and thanks in advance for your help

I have two of the Mars aqua 165W leds on my 75gal. I removed the lenses as the lights are only 6inches above the water line.

So here’s my question...what intensities have you been successful with for those of you that have removed the lenses? My tank so going to be a softy tank

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hello all and thanks in advance for your help

I have two of the Mars aqua 165W leds on my 75gal. I removed the lenses as the lights are only 6inches above the water line.

So here’s my question...what intensities have you been successful with for those of you that have removed the lenses? My tank so going to be a softy tank

Thanks!

A softy tank with two mars aqua with the lenses removed and 6 inches off the water. Maybe 5% to 10% I would raise those lights up to maybe 9 to 12 inches. They're power houses and softies don't need a whole lot of lighting. @saltyfilmfolks is our resident black box expert. Any suggestions buddy?

 

[mamedina]

I’d like to move them up a bit but my canopy won’t allow it....any help would be much appreciated

 

[Tokash23]

Im with crabs on a low intensity i originally had my single black box at 50 - 60% and things looked miserable (not that i have a lot of corals in my tank just yet) but when i turned things down to around 20% whites and 30% for blues things are looking much better. I should add that i have not removed the lenses in mine and it is also about 12 inches off the water. Good Luck.

 

[zachxlutz]

Do you have access to a PAR meter? Maybe your local club has one you can borrow?

 

[mamedina]

I do not have immediate access to a par meter but could inquire about it with a LFS or club

 

[zachxlutz]

I do not have immediate access to a par meter but could inquire about it with a LFS or club

That's going to be your best bet in getting the intensity dialed in. Otherwise, you're really only going to be guessing. This can work, as you can increase or decrease, as you determine, based on coral health... but it's going to take time and it's going to provide consistency to your tank while you dial it in.

 

[tdileo]

I keep my black boxes on 100% blue and the lowest possible setting for white. Just make sure you acclimate your coral to the higher lighting because while these don’t the great spectrum of something like AI or Hydras, they put out a LOT of PAR.

 

[LanM]

What are the stock lenses on the marsaqua? Does it have a combination,or single type (Ive seen both on here, just not familiar with that mars has off hand).

If I'm not mistaken, lensless= 120 degrees right?

 

[Crabs McJones]

What are the stock lenses on the marsaqua? Does it have a combination,or single type (Ive seen both on here, just not familiar with that mars has off hand).

If I'm not mistaken, lensless= 120 degrees right?

I want to say 60 or 90 with some of the more higher priced black boxes coming with 120s.

 

[mamedina]

I believe the stock are 60 degrees so it was like laser beams in my tank. I’ve heard removing the lenses really drops the par so that’s why I’m trying to see what people have success with

 

[LanM]

I want to say 60 or 90 with some of the more higher priced black boxes coming with 120s.

Thanks. I was also referring to the ones that have the diffuser style lens also (ive seen them included in a combo of regular 80 or 90, and the waffle cone type.

I thought that removing lenses gave you 120, as thats pretty much close to the bare led pattern with no lens?

 

[reeferfoxx]

If I'm not mistaken, lensless= 120 degrees right?

Yes.

 

[Crabs McJones]

That's going to be your best bet in getting the intensity dialed in. Otherwise, you're really only going to be guessing. This can work, as you can increase or decrease, as you determine, based on coral health... but it's going to take time and it's going to provide consistency to your tank while you dial it in.

Agreed. Start out really low, 10%I believe is the lowest befor the lights turn off and cannot dim any further than that. So start at the lowest and increase it by 5% weekly until you find your sweet spot. Blues first. If the corals start to look annoyed or unhappy dial it back by 10% and wait another week. If they improve that's where id keep it.

 

[reeferfoxx]

MARS AQUA Unofficial PAR measurements via Seneye Reef Monitor and LX-1010B LUX meter.
This is a round about measurement of the Mars Aqua reef LED light at 12 inches above water. This light unit has 90° lenses on all blue channel diodes and 120° lenses on all white channel diodes.

Description / Kelvin / PAR / PUR / LUX
White ON 1%-- 6,572 - 68 - 60% - 5,110
White Fan ON 30%-- 6,777 - 125 - 60% - 10,190
White Est. 50% -- 7,184 - 215 - 61% - 17,050
White 100% -- 7,226 - 401 - 62% - 31,200

Blue ON 1% -- 52- 76%- 5,260
Blue Fan ON 30% -- 115- 77%- 10,250
Blue Est. 50% -- 155- 77%- 15,220
Blue 100%-- 355- 78%- 30,700

White/Blue ON(50/50)-- 132- 67%- 10,500
W/B Fan ON 30%(50/50)-- 216- 68%- 19,150
W/B Est. 50/50%-- 401- 68%- 30,900
W/B 100% (50/50)-- 830- 69%- 61,000

Common User Settings
W/B 30%/70% -- 385- 72%- 32,800
W/B 50%/100%-- 550- 71%- 45,500

Kelvin measurements did not register after blue channel was initiated.

 

[reeferfoxx]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-modified-black-box-thread.283942/

 

[8251reefer]

I have the Mars Aqua lights 10" over my 75G coupled with 2 T-5 ATI Blue + bulbs (colors really pop!). I have Zoas and Clove polyps on the bottom, LPS bottom half of tank and SPS Top half of tank. Intensity on 60%blue 25% white . I may turn up the blue a bit but don't really need to cause everything is growing well at the moment. Just dial it up 5% every week until you hit a color you like. I like a 20K look tank so thats why I am not turning my whites up any more.