Got my lights...so

Wxguy23 · Jan 23, 2019

Got two 165watt wifi adjustable box lights for my 75gal.

I have a bleached seabea and will be given a green star and Xenia tomorrow that I will island.
How do I know at what intensity to set the lights at. All I can find is "not too much" brightness or I will finish killing my anemone.

I have looked around, but can't find understandable info. I have preset season settings, but adjustable brightness setting too.

Thanks everyone!

Crabs McJones · Jan 23, 2019

Can you share a picture of your lights with us? If they're the fixtures i'm thinking of, they are a powerhouse of focused light and don't need to be turned up much. I would start low and slowly ramp them up over the course of several weeks. Somewhere around 20 to 30 % intensity.

Wxguy23 · Jan 23, 2019

Crabs Mcjones said:
Can you share a picture of your lights with us? If they're the fixtures i'm thinking of, they are a powerhouse of focused light and don't need to be turned up much. I would start low and slowly ramp them up over the course of several weeks. Somewhere around 20 to 30 % intensity.

Don't smack me for not getting "the best", but here is what I purchased two of. They are about 10" from the top of the water...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F1BJB8B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

eggplantparrot · Jan 23, 2019

*Smack*

redfishbluefish · Jan 23, 2019

I would suggest picking up a Lux meter (a poorman's PAR meter) and set the lights at about 25 to 30 thousand LUX. You can buy them for 10 - 15 bucks. Here's the one I use.

You'll also want to set the percentages between predominantly white and blue channels that you find pleasing to your eye. In my case, it's about 70% blue, 30% white.

Crabs McJones · Jan 23, 2019

Wxguy23 said:
Don't smack me for not getting "the best", but here is what I purchased two of. They are about 10" from the top of the water...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F1BJB8B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Absolutely not. These are great lights that have been proven time and time again to grow coral and produce great results

No smacking around here unless its a high five for a job well done

And @redfishbluefish 's suggestion above is great advice. It'll help get you in the ball park, and you can tweek and adjust from there

redfishbluefish · Jan 23, 2019

Your lights are commonly referred to as "Chinese Black Boxes," and there are very many successful tanks out there that are using these types of lights. (I'm one of them, but don't tell anyone.

) You will find "haters," but I think they are just mad because they spent way too much for their lights and need to vent somehow.

Wxguy23 · Jan 23, 2019

eggplantparrot said:
*Smack*

Yikes

Wxguy23 · Jan 23, 2019

redfishbluefish said:
Your lights are commonly referred to as "Chinese Black Boxes," and there are very many successful tanks out there that are using these types of lights. (I'm one of them, but don't tell anyone. ) You will find "haters," but I think they are just mad because they spent way too much for their lights and need to vent somehow.

In the end, aren’t they all Chinese made?

redfishbluefish · Jan 23, 2019

Wxguy23 said:
In the end, aren’t they all Chinese made?

Wxguy23 · Jan 23, 2019

redfishbluefish said:
I would suggest picking up a Lux meter (a poorman's PAR meter) and set the lights at about 25 to 30 thousand LUX. You can buy them for 10 - 15 bucks. Here's the one I use.

You'll also want to set the percentages between predominantly white and blue channels that you find pleasing to your eye. In my case, it's about 70% blue, 30% white.

Thanks!