Is my lighting sufficient? Please help!

[dvgyfresh]

Hello everyone,

I am currently upgrading my lighting , I run a mixed reef primarily focused on BTAs. My tank is a 40breeder. I am running 3 Orphek OR3s mounted 8inch above the water. I am worried my Nems won’t be getting enough par, should I lower the lights ? Any suggestions ? Thanks

 

[tsouth]

Should be okay. Orphek's site state that the 36" units hit about ~60-80 par at peak at a very, very high height. Putting your three together at 8" is more likely way more than suitable. BTA's are wanting 2-250 par level's if i'm not mistaken. I think you're fine

Reference: https://orphek.com/about/led-par-test/

 

[Bepis]

You have enough light. Are your params stable and tank mature. What LR3s do you have. In my 29g I have 2 blue plus and 1 reef day plus, does yours make one side more white than the other because of the single orange bulb?

 

[dvgyfresh]

You have enough light. Are your params stable and tank mature. What LR3s do you have. In my 29g I have 2 blue plus and 1 reef day plus, does yours make one side more white than the other because of the single orange bulb?

Yea it does a little bit there is also some light spillage on the right side , I’m running the same setup 2 blue plus and one day plus. My parameters are stable and the tank is 7 months old now.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Should be okay. Orphek's site state that the 36" units hit about ~60-80 par at peak at a very, very high height. Putting your three together at 8" is more likely way more than suitable. BTA's are wanting 2-250 par level's if i'm not mistaken. I think you're fine

Reference: https://orphek.com/about/led-par-test/

Here’s hoping so! I had the orphek around 3inches before mounting because I didn’t have the mount yet , just worried the loss in par would stress the Nems and I don’t have a par meter

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Yea it does a little bit there is also some light spillage on the right side , I’m running the same setup 2 blue plus and one day plus. My parameters are stable and the tank is 7 months old now.

Often are you testing to consider stable? You really need to test alk every day at the same time for say a week to determine stable. Saying it’s 7.0 dkh and next week is 8.0 dkh is not stable that he a good bit of a swing.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Often are you testing to consider stable? You really need to test alk every day at the same time for say a week to determine stable. Saying it’s 7.0 dkh and next week is 8.0 dkh is not stable that he a good bit of a swing.

I try for atleast 3x a week, I just ran out of my Red Sea test kit for alk so I got a Hanna meaning I can now check alk daily! Just ran parameters and they are alk 11 dkh , Ca 410 Mg 1400 , ph 8.0, 0 ammonia .25 nitrite, 10 ppm nitrate , .25 ppm phosphate.

My alk has always been on the higher side , my lfs run about 9.8 on alk and I have started dosing would like to get my calcium up , I am dosing only 1 part for the calcium currently.

I am also running high nutrients because I hate Dino’s lol if I water change they will bloom

 

[Midrats]

Don't those bars have different options for optics when you order them? That will determine the optimal height.

 

[dvgyfresh]

Don't those bars have different options for optics when you order them? That will determine the optimal height.

Yes I’m running two blue plus and one reef day plus

 

[Midrats]

I actually meant the lenses. Are they for instance 120°? Maybe I'm thinking of another brand. Anyway, if the optics are tight, say like 60°, they are designed to be up high above the tank because the light is focused. Think magnifying glass.