Chinese black box intensity?

[reeferfoxx]

This is all fantastic information guys and I really appreciate every post. Some of my sps have died due to my own stupid actions. Everything is back stable now so I will continue to look at my parameters. I have been trying to adjust my flow to suit all the corals needs. This has become easier now lol.
My main reason for this post was to see what people typically had their lights of the same brand set at to rule out lighting as a factor for slow growth. I've never grown these corals either so I'm still learning their needs. My first tank was very starter but I've learned a lot since the beginning.

Two years with my latest tank and I still can't get flow right. Good luck! Just keep things consistent and all will adjust.

 

[luke33]

the 360 has enough for sps. The bb are usually too much for a tank. Growth in stony coral is a combined factor of light levels , alk/ cal availability and water velocity as well as nutrints.
Here's some acros under a lot less light than most would think.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...-new-lights-needed.312557/page-2#post-3850451


That said the 360 will deliver about 500 par at 12 in.

Sps also come in high med and lower light requirements.

I would love to test one of the kessil's under my par meter. 12" under 500 par, I can accept that but what's 6" to the left, to the right......the intensity must drop very quickly. Not to mention most keep them 8-12" above the tank so my bet is 18" below your talking 300 possibly. I guess my point is the black boxes I test pull 245 36" below. I would assume the kessil's at 36" are less than 100. Again I'd love to test one. I may have to ask the local club if I can stop by

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would love to test one of the kessil's under my par meter. 12" under 500 par, I can accept that but what's 6" to the left, to the right......the intensity must drop very quickly. Not to mention most keep them 8-12" above the tank so my bet is 18" below your talking 300 possibly. I guess my point is the black boxes I test pull 245 36" below. I would assume the kessil's at 36" are less than 100. Again I'd love to test one. I may have to ask the local club if I can stop by

Yea , I never said I was a fan. Lol.
I like big broad spread not pucks. Radions even turn me off really. I'd need three of them on my 55 and I'd still diffuse them.

It's why I went with thee Ai sol's (and diffused them) and hav an SB reef light (pulled half the lenses.)

And actually the spread on the 36o isn't too bad. I'd still want four on the 55 though. and diffusion.

 

[luke33]

Yea , I never said I was a fan. Lol.
I like big broad spread not pucks. Radions even turn me off really. I'd need three of them on my 55 and I'd still diffuse them.

It's why I went with thee Ai sol's (and diffused them) and hav an SB reef light (pulled half the lenses.)

And actually the spread on the 36o isn't too bad. I'd still want four on the 55 though. and diffusion.

I would agree 100%, I don't get the puck leds as they are a poor design. Sure they can blend well but the coverage and intensity spots are horrid.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would agree 100%, I don't get the puck leds as they are a poor design. Sure they can blend well but the coverage and intensity spots are horrid.

It's what they had at the time to get enough punch out of them and had to stick with it for branding. And folks like the sleek design.
Tech is changing pretty fast.

 

[luke33]

It's what they had at the time to get enough punch out of them and had to stick with it for branding. And folks like the sleek design.
Tech is changing pretty fast.

I think in 5 yrs these pucks are a thing of the past and we see led fixtures that are 12-14" wide, that way they actually can cover 24" width. It's funny to see these $100 black box fixtures evolving so quickly.

 

[Milkmanskid]

I like the spread of my mars aqua 300w. Covers the tank really well and I always knew the par could be through the roof.
I retested my magnesium and it's at 1,312 with seachem test kit. Best number I've ever had lol

 

[luke33]

I busted out the mars 300w fixture and the par meter and took some tests. All measurements through air at 24". 100% on both channels the wattage was 203w and par was 715 directly under. At 100% blue and 50% white the wattage was 150w and par was 607. At 100% blue and no white wattage was at 106w and par at 395. The other black box fixture's were no where near this intense.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The other black box fixture's were no where near this intense.

Excellent info.
What other BB's have you looked at?
Myself, when I look at or test fixtures I measure them at 12in @ full. Just as an indicator of the full potential of light at a common hanging height. Sevral manufacturers seem to use this distance measurement in Par data as well.

Its actually one of the ways I confirmed my Par/lux data.

 

[PSLReefer]

Hey

I have 4 of these for a 180. The issue I have is on this new canopy they are only about 6 inches off the surface. With 4 I have absolutely no coverage issues but the intensity is what I need help with.

The tank has nothing in it right now but in a few days I'll start the cycling.

Any input on intensity levels for a mixed reef? Sps and some lps?

 

[Milkmanskid]

Hey

I have 4 of these for a 180. The issue I have is on this new canopy they are only about 6 inches off the surface. With 4 I have absolutely no coverage issues but the intensity is what I need help with.

The tank has nothing in it right now but in a few days I'll start the cycling.

Any input on intensity levels for a mixed reef? Sps and some lps?

I had mine at the setting posted on the first page. I have since changed mine as my lfs has the same lights on a big Reef tank with a bunch of acros and other sps and their settings are 100% blue and 10% white. They have the 100 watt boxes though. I think mine is a little more intense so I might adjust the blues down some.

This is my new aquascape as of the other day so now I certainly need some input on intensity as well. Lights 12" off water and birdsnest is 17" off the water now.

 

[PSLReefer]

I had mine at the setting posted on the first page. I have since changed mine as my lfs has the same lights on a big Reef tank with a bunch of acros and other sps and their settings are 100% blue and 10% white. They have the 100 watt boxes though. I think mine is a little more intense so I might adjust the blues down some.

This is my new aquascape as of the other day so now I certainly need some input on intensity as well. Lights 12" off water and birdsnest is 17" off the water now.

What size tank? On my other 180 I had them 12 inches and ran 75/50 ish

 

[Milkmanskid]

This is a 80 cube. Let me rephrase....birdsnest is 17" below the light

 

[PSLReefer]

Here is a pic of the old 180 with 4 mars aqua 12 inches at 75/50-60

 

[luke33]

Excellent info.
What other BB's have you looked at?
Myself, when I look at or test fixtures I measure them at 12in @ full. Just as an indicator of the full potential of light at a common hanging height. Sevral manufacturers seem to use this distance measurement in Par data as well.

Its actually one of the ways I confirmed my Par/lux data.

I have some wellpar with a timer and without a timer. At 24" the timer one pulled 475 par at 110w, the non timer pulled 550 at 110w. The timer version is identical to the vispectra or whatever it's called. I'm pretty impressed with the spectrum on the timer along with the programming and hanging kit.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have some wellpar with a timer and without a timer. At 24" the timer one pulled 475 par at 110w, the non timer pulled 550 at 110w. The timer version is identical to the vispectra or whatever it's called. I'm pretty impressed with the spectrum on the timer along with the programming and hanging kit.

Id be curious if the loss between the two is spectrum related or intensity due to the dimmable drivers. In theory it should be the same spectrum unless there was a change of Bin or design. (cough lux meter test cough)

 

[luke33]

Id be curious if the loss between the two is spectrum related or intensity due to the dimmable drivers. In theory it should be the same spectrum unless there was a change of Bin or design. (cough lux meter test cough)

Lol, you and your lux meter.....

I believe it's the spectrum that's slightly different between the two. They have a few different leds than one another.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol, you and your lux meter.....

I believe it's the spectrum that's slightly different between the two. They have a few different leds than one another.

lol, jus sayin bra....haha
you'll immediately see a difference in intensity . par is spectrum and intensity.

the other test is to put your lights next to each on the front porch at full blast, walk down the street a 1/4 mile or so till they are tiny dots and look at them through a hobby grade spectroscope so you can see the differnce in spectrum.
https://www.teachersource.com/produ...jp-Cl4cd63s3xHZ7ngfj--d8sVkRPanvo4aAhX08P8HAQ

you cant do it close up as you'll only read the spectrum of the single emitters, and you'll blind yourself..

 

[Michael Montgomery]

I busted out the mars 300w fixture and the par meter and took some tests. All measurements through air at 24". 100% on both channels the wattage was 203w and par was 715 directly under. At 100% blue and 50% white the wattage was 150w and par was 607. At 100% blue and no white wattage was at 106w and par at 395. The other black box fixture's were no where near this intense.

Any tests with the 165w fixtures?? Judging from these 300w results, I probably should turn mine up.... To 100%blues and at least 50% whites

 

[luke33]

Any tests with the 165w fixtures?? Judging from these 300w results, I probably should turn mine up.... To 100%blues and at least 50% whites

I actually took a few 165w bb fixture par numbers.

First viparspectra/wellpar/bloomspect timer fixture. This one is rebranded a few different ways but the same light. I'm very impressed with the build and timer for the price. This fixture will cover more width than the mars so the lens are designed better for spread vs intensity, but it still has plenty of pop!

At 24" below at 100% on par was 475 at 110w, .94amp. 100% blue, 50% white par was 400 at 92w, 100% blue only, 55w at 235 par. I'm running two over my 36-24-12" frag tank 20" above at 100% blue and 50% white.