How high are your LEDs off the water?

[Frop]

My hydra 26HD is 6-7" inches above the waterline.

Scratch that.. I walked into the kitchen this morning and realized my estimate was wrong so I grabbed a ruler. It's 10.5" above the water line. ;p


Btw my lights are JUST turning on that's why the color is a little strange ;p

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Why would you think something was wrong with the app I tried?

Because I own 20 or so light meters and a few dozen cameras.
Meters and cameras work differently. And there are different kinds of light metering. And ccd sensors and bayer sensors work differently In digital cameras than a selenium cell like in a lux or par meter.
And the algorithm in the exposure processing in the phone camera is different in each one. Esp if it's determining exposure on a ccd or bayer sensor. Not to mention the questionable accuracy of the algorithm used to average and then interpolate the reading from a third party free app.
And overall, to gain the correct reading needed here to determine par, you need to determine the amount of light falling on an object so you need an incidental reading not an averaged reflective one that a camera is or might be correctly giving you.

Plus
I tested 14 lux apps in four four devices. iPhone android Samsung phone iPad and android tablet only two were close to the $14 dollar lux meter and it took a long time for even me to make it kinda close.
The $14 lux meter was as accurate as my $500 one. And takes two seconds to use.

And I don't want to hold my phone over my tank. Really.

Oh I got the red lux meter from Amazon it was on sale recently for 12.99. Darn I coulda saved two bucks.

Oh your reading was 399 lux. That's about as bright as a candle.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Man that's pretty.

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

Because I own 20 or so light meters and a few dozen cameras.
Meters and cameras work differently. And there are different kinds of light metering. And ccd sensors and bayer sensors work differently In digital cameras than a selenium cell like in a lux or par meter.
And the algorithm in the exposure processing in the phone camera is different in each one. Esp if it's determining exposure on a ccd or bayer sensor. Not to mention the questionable accuracy of the algorithm used to average and then interpolate the reading from a third party free app.
And overall, to gain the correct reading needed here to determine par, you need to determine the amount of light falling on an object so you need an incidental reading not an averaged reflective one that a camera is or might be correctly giving you.

Plus
I tested 14 lux apps in four four devices. iPhone android Samsung phone iPad and android tablet only two were close to the $14 dollar lux meter and it took a long time for even me to make it kinda close.
The $14 lux meter was as accurate as my $500 one. And takes two seconds to use.

And I don't want to hold my phone over my tank. Really.

Oh I got the red lux meter from Amazon it was on sale recently for 12.99. Darn I coulda saved two bucks.

Oh your reading was 399 lux. That's about as bright as a candle.

No need to be a dick, I don't know anything about lux or par so I couldn't tell you if my reading was right or wrong, that's why I asked why you thought my app was wrong, so maybe I could understand lux and par a little more. I guess that's why they call you salty.

 

[kaigoss69]

Thanks Salty, I learned something from your posts.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No need to be a dick, I don't know anything about lux or par so I couldn't tell you if my reading was right or wrong, that's why I asked why you thought my app was wrong, so maybe I could understand lux and par a little more. I guess that's why they call you salty.

sorry dude, didnt mean to be so salty.
if you read my scribbles in the boring monotone i actually think them in its not so sharp a statement.
again I'm sorry. Please no name calling.

Id gladly explain the relationship any time.

quick primer
100,000 lux is 2000 par if the light source is the sun (devide lux by 50)
100,000 lux is 1200 par id the light is a fluorescent tube in your garage (divide by 80)
so each light contains a value of spectrum, a constant

A chinese Black box a mars aqua at full 1 to 1 white blue has a value of 63(took a long time to figure this out btw)
An ati t5 array with a 50 50 of coral plus and Blue plus is in the 45 to 50 range.

I like my high light tank to be 40,000 lux at the top of the water. So if i used the....
Sun 800 par
Shop light 500 par
Mars BB 634 par
t5 888 par

No the coral doesnt grow so good under a shop light and you need a lot too, but mainly is the lack of the correct spectrum for the animals we keep need.
And that is Pur. Useful radiation. and that does change from animal to animal.
Many orchid growers use shop lights to grow their flowers. I do. Well the Mrs and her club.

A quick interesting note, at the same intensity, a Mars radion or whatever, with more blue in the mix ratio has less par, this is because it is only a very narrow band of the spectrum.
So a white(not truly white btw) reef 14k light has more par than an actinic.

But as we know many of our animals like it so what that means the light has more Photosynthetically Useful Radiation to those animals.

So high par numbers dont really mean much in fact, and the main use of the meter is to be able accurately get into the ball park and and accurately make changes depending on the reaction of the animal we are lighting.
Just like manipulating Nutrients. In fact actually like manipulating nutrients.
Light is a parameter and needs to be checked accurately , and lux is a very good tool for the average reefer.
And as we just learned now about par and pur, a par meter aint all its cracked up to be either, is it.

this is the one I use on the tank 13.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473867444&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux
a demo of how to use it
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

sorry dude, didnt mean to be so salty.
if you read my scribbles in the boring monotone i actually think them in its not so sharp a statement.
again I'm sorry. Please no name calling.

Id gladly explain the relationship any time.

quick primer
100,000 lux is 2000 par if the light source is the sun (devide lux by 50)
100,000 lux is 1200 par id the light is a fluorescent tube in your garage (divide by 80)
so each light contains a value of spectrum, a constant

A chinese Black box a mars aqua at full 1 to 1 white blue has a value of 63(took a long time to figure this out btw)
An ati t5 array with a 50 50 of coral plus and Blue plus is in the 45 to 50 range.

I like my high light tank to be 40,000 lux at the top of the water. So if i used the....
Sun 800 par
Shop light 500 par
Mars BB 634 par
t5 888 par

No the coral doesnt grow so good under a shop light and you need a lot too, but mainly is the lack of the correct spectrum for the animals we keep need.
And that is Pur. Useful radiation. and that does change from animal to animal.
Many orchid growers use shop lights to grow their flowers. I do. Well the Mrs and her club.

A quick interesting note, at the same intensity, a Mars radion or whatever, with more blue in the mix ratio has less par, this is because it is only a very narrow band of the spectrum.
So a white(not truly white btw) reef 14k light has more par than an actinic.

But as we know many of our animals like it so what that means the light has more Photosynthetically Useful Radiation to those animals.

So high par numbers dont really mean much in fact, and the main use of the meter is to be able accurately get into the ball park and and accurately make changes depending on the reaction of the animal we are lighting.
Just like manipulating Nutrients. In fact actually like manipulating nutrients.
Light is a parameter and needs to be checked accurately , and lux is a very good tool for the average reefer.
And as we just learned now about par and pur, a par meter aint all its cracked up to be either, is it.

this is the one I use on the tank 13.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473867444&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux
a demo of how to use it
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/

I'm sorry I called you that. I felt like you were talking down to me instead of trying to help me. Thank you for breaking it down.

deleted the app!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm sorry I called you that. I felt like you were talking down to me instead of trying to help me. Thank you for breaking it down.

deleted the app!

no sweat. Typed words.
If you need help let me know.
Happy reefing.

PS
How can I get my lady addicted to reefing?(carnation coral)its like a bouquet in the tank.

they dont live long though. But its the thought that counts

 

[danielb333]

If you were to guess on a SB reef light 12 inches above the tank. What percentage would you put your lights at Salty? I believe I remember that you bought or tried out in the past. I know it would be just a suggestion and I need to figure out the exact intensity I need on my own.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If you were to guess on a SB reef light 12 inches above the tank. What percentage would you put your lights at Salty? I believe I remember that you bought or tried out in the past. I know it would be just a suggestion and I need to figure out the exact intensity I need on my own.

...............ahem,,,, cough cough, lux ,cough ....meter.... cough..... ahahemm sorry.

how deep is the tank. what are you growing? im sps and high light stuff

I did buy one and love it

ill look at mine and make a calculated est

 

[ReeferMadness80G]

If you were to guess on a SB reef light 12 inches above the tank. What percentage would you put your lights at Salty? I believe I remember that you bought or tried out in the past. I know it would be just a suggestion and I need to figure out the exact intensity I need on my own.

Docooler 200,000 Lux Digital LCD Pocket Light Meter Lux/FC Measure Tester https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2gE2xb9AQRGGK

 

[Midrats]

I have a NanoBox Duo on a 20x13x13 tank. There are no optics. It's mounted 6" above the tank to the bottom of a cupboard so it can't go any higher. I just received a LX-1010B today and I'm getting 30k at the surface. I was a little surprised since I only have the whites/limes at 20%, royals at 50%, blue/cyan 50%, and violets at 50%. Does that sound right?

 

[danielb333]

...............ahem,,,, cough cough, lux ,cough ....meter.... cough..... ahahemm sorry.

how deep is the tank. what are you growing? im sps and high light stuff

I did buy one and love it

ill look at mine and make a calculated est

Lol I know I know. 24" deep. Mixed reef Zoe's, mushroom, leather, gonipora, frogspawn, torche, and monitpora plates and digi. Thanks for the help on getting a ballpark figure to compare. Had them for a year and been acclimating and was curious if I'm going too high for what I have. Currently at 75% blue 50 % white. Ordered a lux today.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a NanoBox Duo on a 20x13x13 tank. There are no optics. It's mounted 6" above the tank to the bottom of a cupboard so it can't go any higher. I just received a LX-1010B today and I'm getting 30k at the surface. I was a little surprised since I only have the whites/limes at 20%, royals at 50%, blue/cyan 50%, and violets at 50%. Does that sound right?

yea it does actually. No Idea how good the spectrum is so devide by (50 sun) is 600 par , good led (60)=500 par, D riddles led est(68)441par. between 4 n 600.
whats in the tank? how deep?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Lol I know I know. 24" deep. Mixed reef Zoe's, mushroom, leather, gonipora, frogspawn, torche, and monitpora plates and digi. Thanks for the help on getting a ballpark figure to compare. Had them for a year and been acclimating and was curious if I'm going too high for what I have. Currently at 75% blue 50 % white. Ordered a lux today.

hahahaha. thanks for the vote of confidence, but wait for the meter.
but yea it seems a little high to me. but if its fine its fine.
mine is 9.5(bottom of fixture) inches over the tank more than half the lenses are out and im at 80% max at 40k lux. but its a 20 in tank w high light stuff.
different fixture in my 55 w 24 deep higher rock work, still at 40k lux
my shrooms dont seem to like it on the sand so i shade them, if that helps.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

A LUX meter will give you close to a linear reading under a light compared to a PAR Meter...

That said there is a huge difference measured PAR or PUR. Quality fixtures using the latest 410-420 Violet LEDs may read lower depending on the meter.

Its always best to dial back new lights and acclimate...We Ship our XTC at 2/3 max to help with acclimation

Bill

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

A LUX meter will give you close to a linear reading under a light compared to a PAR Meter...

That said there is a huge difference measured PAR or PUR. Quality fixtures using the latest 410-420 Violet LEDs may read lower depending on the meter.

Its always best to dial back new lights and acclimate...We Ship our XTC at 2/3 max to help with acclimation

Bill

yup. Thanks Bill, Ive gotten a lot from our brief chats on par pur and lux.
I do make sure that's all well known.

this is the importance of acclimation. Use a meter and watch the corals. Its a parameter like any other. Over lighting a species is easy to do.

fwiw on an lps shrooms etc 24 in deep water coral tank shrooms, Id actually target 30k lux, and acclimate at 1500 to 2500 lux a week to get there.
Im not even sure Id hit that with a good light and def not w an ATI t5 w 55/50 c+ b+ tubes.

 

[Midrats]

yea it does actually. No Idea how good the spectrum is so devide by (50 sun) is 600 par , good led (60)=500 par, D riddles led est(68)441par. between 4 n 600.
whats in the tank? how deep?

The tank is 13" deep with a one inch sandbed. There's some TBS live rock, an ORA red goniopora, and an ORA neon green finger leather. It's been set up for about six months but I haven't really stocked it yet because it's getting moved soon. I may change directions and do an SPS biotope instead.

Based on your last post I think I should cut the output in half.

 

[rgaston]

I've never used a lux meter. Can you only measure lux at water surface level? Is there a way to measure at different depths in the tank?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I've never used a lux meter. Can you only measure lux at water surface level? Is there a way to measure at different depths in the tank?

water proof probe. Milwaukee makes one. or out the cheap one in a zip lock bag.
If you dont mind very slight variance in the reading(dirty water filter), and I honestly dont believe its that much, Ive put light meters in swimming pools for movies, you can test it dry.
ie set the light the same distance from the meter as it is too the bottom of the tank.
the only thing youll notice is a slight difference in falloff on a lensed led a non lensed led and t5, and that depends on the reflector in most side by side cases. IMO IME

but it will give you an answer on how many lux is at the bottom of the tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/