From t5 to led

[machome79]

Hey all,
I have made the decision to switch up lighting. I am switching from a 48" 4 bulb t5 light to 3 nicrew hyperreef LEDs for my 6 ft 135 gallon mixed reef.
I know I can't just turn these lights on full throttle right away, so may please have some suggestions as to how to make this change over?
I have heard things such as 50% blue channel and 10% white for the first week and increase it over 2 week time span. If any of you fellow reefers
have a made a change over to these specific lights I would like to know what you did and did it go well, or what would you have done differently?

 

[leepink23]

I have never used those particular led bit when I switched from halide/t5 to led I wish I would have tested par. I have a meter now and it helps tremendously. I was under lighting my tank when I thought I was giving too much,

 

[machome79]

Good point. I was thinking of renting one or if I can find an inexpensive one I'll buy it.

 

[GlassMunky]

Good point. I was thinking of renting one or if I can find an inexpensive one I'll buy it.

The Photone app for phones is pretty darn close in terms of accuracy compared to an apogee meter and cost like maybe $15

I’ve been using it for a while and like it.

Underwater PAR Measurements for Reef Aquariums

The entire reef ecosystem depends on light for photosynthesis, which is measured as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). But without correction, PAR meters calibrated in air provide only relative values underwater. This article explains how to take accurate PAR measurements underwater.

growlightmeter.com