Disappointing MH PAR numbers?

crusso1993 · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
Love it. Par readings without a white bucket are much more reasonable. Question. Should I avoid running the LEDs while the halides are on due to their close proximity. will the additional heat destroy them? The LEDs add about 100 par at all points top to bottom

Gee that sure is purty!

I know many people run their LEDs in conjunction with their MH. I cannot speak to the heat when running both with certainty but would imagine it would be a potential problem. My buddy @dantimdad is pretty much an LED expert and can hopefully give some insight.

Oh, did I mention it sure is PURTY!

dantimdad · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
Love it. Par readings without a white bucket are much more reasonable. Question. Should I avoid running the LEDs while the halides are on due to their close proximity. will the additional heat destroy them? The LEDs add about 100 par at all points top to bottom

As long as there is adequate air flow, I wouldn't worry about it. You can run them at the same time.

The best way to tell is with an IR thermometer and check temp limits with the manufacturer.

topjimmy · Mar 9, 2019

Just replaced my bulbs, two Hamilton blue t5 and a 20k 250 , also added two blueacro half mega pucks. To get light spread to the edges of the tank since the MH is in the center.

Par is now about 500 just under the surface 160-200 on the sand.

crusso1993 · Mar 9, 2019

dantimdad said:
As long as there is adequate air flow, I wouldn't worry about it. You can run them at the same time.

The best way to tell is with an IR thermometer and check temp limits with the manufacturer.

@dantimdad - thanks buddy!

topjimmy · Mar 9, 2019

A few pictures of the new lighting

Bpb · Mar 9, 2019

crusso1993 said:
Gee that sure is purty!

I know many people run their LEDs in conjunction with their MH. I cannot speak to the heat when running both with certainty but would imagine it would be a potential problem. My buddy @dantimdad is pretty much an LED expert and can hopefully give some insight.

Oh, did I mention it sure is PURTY!

Thanks for the reply. I agree it is purty. And the best part about it.... the whole setup cost under $100

dantimdad · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
Thanks for the reply. I agree it is purty. And the best part about it.... the whole setup cost under $100

Dude! You stink!

LOL!!!

It really is nice.

Knapp870 · Mar 9, 2019

Went out looking for reflectors today. Found two but they didn't match for 50 each... Decided to pass.. The hunt is still on

Smarkow · Mar 9, 2019

If this is a well established tank, consider checking your water for yellowing compounds by putting some in a white bucket. Run some carbon and recheck PAR in a few days

Bpb · Mar 9, 2019

Made the switch and par mapped the tank. All estimations were absolutely correct. Top of the rocks averages out between 450-600 par, mid way hangs out in the 300-400 range, and sandbed level is between 250-300 from end to end. There’s a predictable dip under the center brace but otherwise the par numbers are right where I wanted them.

The color of this hamilton 14k is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve missed this color so much. Might even like it more than I liked my radiums years ago but they look so similar.

Going to start out with a 4 hour photoperiod of halides with 10 hours LEDs at 50%. I’ll increase led strength by a hair and halide time by 30 minutes a week until I get to 6 hours and I’ll evaluate from there. Thanks for the help guys.

crusso1993 · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
Thanks for the reply. I agree it is purty. And the best part about it.... the whole setup cost under $100

Wow! Sweet deal!

Dana Riddle · Mar 9, 2019

The PAR sensor is cosine-corrected, meaning it is good at collecting light from all angles. This is unnatural in an aquarium. A black bucket would give results that are more meaningful.

Bpb · Mar 9, 2019

crusso1993 said:
Wow! Sweet deal!

Now the question is how long do I hold onto my ati sunpower before I let it go

crusso1993 · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
Now the question is how long do I hold onto my ati sunpower before I let it go

20 minutes... lol

Better yet, good reason to set up another tank!

Bpb · Mar 9, 2019

crusso1993 said:
20 minutes... lol

Better yet, good reason to set up another tank!

I wish. I have a 150 sitting in the garage I’ve been intending to upgrade to when we move but the timeline is so tentative. Could be this year. Could be in 2-3 years. If everything wasn’t doing so well I’d just swap tanks in house but I’ve crashed tanks in the past attempting that.

crusso1993 · Mar 9, 2019

Bpb said:
I wish. I have a 150 sitting in the garage I’ve been intending to upgrade to when we move but the timeline is so tentative. Could be this year. Could be in 2-3 years. If everything wasn’t doing so well I’d just swap tanks in house but I’ve crashed tanks in the past attempting that.

That's a tough call and I can relate. I've been holding off a bigger set up too because of a few reasons amongst which is future move too. If all goes well, we'll be heading to FL in a little over a year. Fingers crossed for both of us!

Knapp870 · Mar 11, 2019

I could throw some pfo perpendicular reflectors inside the current fixture for about $60. Would that be worth it or no? I tested my sbreef Blackbox and my Chinese over the tank as well which were very interesting results. At 100% intensity I could hit the 200-250 par mark on the sand but then end up at around 500 toward the top of the rock work which could be a little high.

Knapp870 · Mar 22, 2019

Update. I added some pfo perpendicular reflectors in the fixture and had huge jumps in lux. It was a cheap/easy way to test how much i was losing with the square built in reflectors. Radiums went up 4-7k lux and the hamilton was 3-4k i believe. Alot of this is probably dependent on the angle/bulb positions inside the reflector.

oreo54 · Mar 22, 2019

Knapp870 said:
Update. I added some pfo perpendicular reflectors in the fixture and had huge jumps in lux. It was a cheap/easy way to test how much i was losing with the square built in reflectors. Radiums went up 4-7k lux and the hamilton was 3-4k i believe. Alot of this is probably dependent on the angle/bulb positions inside the reflector.

you can guessitimate the PAR increase from these conversion factors..
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/review

3000Lux increase radium = 59PAR increase..
I'm assuming "blue" is 20000K
Or are you referrring to an increase of 4000-7000Lux?

Knapp870 · Mar 22, 2019

oreo5457 said:
you can guessitimate the PAR increase from these conversion factors..
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/review

3000Lux increase radium = 59PAR increase..
I'm assuming "blue" is 20000K
Or are you referrring to an increase of 4000-7000Lux?

An increase of 4-7000 lux. I was roughly figuring 80-110 par increase