Can you guys evaluate my PAR measurements?

gobble · Feb 9, 2019

Three XR30 Gen 4 Pro's running the AB+ settings at 55% intensity measured with the Seneye Reef meter I just received today. Would you guys recommend adjusting up or down?

Big G · Feb 9, 2019

Tank looks great! Have you seen Dana Riddle's presentation at MACNA? Minute 22 is where you might find some interesting info on PAR.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...light-water-motion-by-dana-riddle-macna-2016/

Brad Miller · Feb 9, 2019

Those readings look good and I wouldn't move them unless you're seeing your coral not doing good where they're at

cracker · Feb 9, 2019

Looks great just the way it is !
Are there issues?

gobble · Feb 9, 2019

No issues, although I don't seem to get the coloration I've seen in other tanks. This is the first time I've measured PAR in the three years or so I've had a tank. I've always copied other people's settings.

Thanks for the link I'll watch that.

gobble · Feb 9, 2019

Big G said:
Tank looks great! Have you seen Dana Riddle's presentation at MACNA? Minute 22 is where you might find some interesting info on PAR.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...light-water-motion-by-dana-riddle-macna-2016/

Interesting, he's suggesting PAR levels that are far below what I've always thought to be correct for SPS.

Big G · Feb 9, 2019

Yep. I've done experiments with aquatic plant production of O2 and reaction to light. Similar results.

theatrus · Feb 9, 2019

gobble said:
Interesting, he's suggesting PAR levels that are far below what I've always thought to be correct for SPS.

SPS can usually tolerate these levels, but they are not actually required. I run tanks where the peaks at the top are in the 350 area, and have no issues with larger colonies at all.

gobble · Feb 9, 2019

So leave mine where they're at or crank it up a little over time?

Daniel Waters · Feb 10, 2019

gobble said:
No issues, although I don't seem to get the coloration I've seen in other tanks. This is the first time I've measured PAR in the three years or so I've had a tank. I've always copied other people's settings.

Thanks for the link I'll watch that.

Your par numbers look good to me.

When you say you don't get the coloration you've seen in other tanks, are you referring to pictures of other tanks or actual viewing tanks in person? As you are probably aware, corals can be made to look very different depending on how the picture is taken. Also, viewing your corals under the AB+ program versus all blues and violets will make your corals look very different, so you need to account for those differences when viewing other tanks if they are lit differently. Lastly, if you want a true litmus test, place frags of some of your corals in these other tanks and see how they look in a few weeks or months. Many tanks have better colors because a lot of times they have sourced better colored frags to start with.