Lighting don’t understand

[131696]

Ok just got a video in on YouTube and been wanting tomask this question.Tidal gardens has lights 3 foot above frag tank ,I’ve seen wwc does this also ,I know they get 100% cover that way but what about par levels ?at that level,it would be so low around 100 for sps In tanks. Do they know something we don’t? Why so High?Why so low par in tanks? Why 3 foot? They was using Radions.

 

[Waters]

Ok just got a video in on YouTube and been wanting tomask this question.Tidal gardens has lights 3 foot above frag tank ,I’ve seen wwc does this also ,I know they get 100% cover that way but what about par levels ?at that level,it would be so low around 100 for sps In tanks. Do they know something we don’t? Why so High?Why so low par in tanks? Why 3 foot? They was using Radions.

They keep them raised to get better blending of the different colors (and avoid hotspots), but they normally keep them running at 100% intensity to keep higher PAR levels.

 

[131696]

Yea but same lights with BRS testing at 18” 400 par middle max out at 3 foot it would be at 100 par with sps tank so why so high again? I understand about coverag Why so high but par would be so low.BRS videos show going higher 18” 400par you lose lots of par and at 3 foot very little par Corals over there want more light I hear.

 

[LC8Sumi]

The fundamental problem with PAR readings, and concluding things from it is that it depends a lot on the actual spectrum itself. For example if you measure the PAR of a refugium light, it will register a ton more of PAR than a same performance "normal" light would. Yet we are not lighting our tanks with full spectrum lights
So using the PAR measurements really makes sense only when you are comparing two exact same lights, running the same exact spectrum. Only then it will give usable results mounting height wise.
So to draw any conclusions, the minimum information needed would be the exact program/spectrum the light is running apart from its brand/type.

 

[131696]

So why dont we run lights that way then to get better coverage to see colors better like them? Lets all run lights at 3 foot .Im gonna try it actually and see the difference and get my par meter out and see the level at to see if corals sps can survive at low par levels for a period of extended time. Was thinking they are come and go store they get corals in and then they leave so lights that high are to make sure they dont hit there head when grabbing one of them..lol bet there grow out tanks lights are lower at 2 foot or lower.

 

[Silent]

Some of those tanks also have 4x the amount of lighting then we do. Yes they might be 3 foot above the tank but they have many lights.

 

[131696]

They have 3 per tank like we do.

 

[Silent]

Who is "they"?
I have seen WWC videos and others with 8 xr15 radions on a 4 foot tank and the BRS160 had 10 xr15s for a while.

 

[LC8Sumi]

I also think "they" run way more lights when "we" do.

 

[bdare]

I would not want lights 3' above my tank in my house because the amount of light spillage would be unthinkable.

 

[131696]

Newest tidal garden video 3 per tank at 3 foot ,please read start of thread before answering “they“are tidal garden from the beginning of thread.

 

[131696]

It don’t matter how many lights they have at 3 foot PAR level would still be the same 100 low For sps.

 

[LC8Sumi]

It don’t matter how many lights they have at 3 foot PAR level would still be the same 100 low For sps.

It does matter, because intersecting beams will add up to PAR

 

[clown and friends]

It don’t matter how many lights they have at 3 foot PAR level would still be the same 100 low For sps.

Also curious about this video from BRS. Are the numbers you're referencing for PAR drop in water? Cause air effects par much less than water so 3' above the tank wont drop the par nearly as much as a couple inches of water

 

[MTBake]

How much does par drop off traveling through air vs water? I'm honestly not sure as I've never tested this. I would guess that traveling through 3 feet of air vs 3 feet of water would not be the same drop off in par.

Also, alot of frag tanks are not very deep. 12-16" water level in the frag tanks is not uncommon.

 

[131696]

It drops alot at 6 “ at a time,12” above water 550 par Middle .18” above water par 350 middle .do you get the concept now .higher you go the less par you have.watch BRS videos please teach yourself something in reefing before saying a smart comment . Learn it’s fun.I still don’t understand ,I contacted them and asked them. I now we can’t do it because to much overlighting in room light up whole room ,wait it is a concept don’t have to turn on overhead lights on..lol

 

[131696]

Send some radions this way ,I got a par meter And will test this out .I would like to see 1 light vs 2 or 3 radions at 3 ft.Can someone test this out to see the differance please

 

[Sdot]

It drops alot at 6 “ at a time,12” above water 550 par Middle .18” above water par 350 middle .do you get the concept now .higher you go the less par you have.watch BRS videos please teach yourself something in reefing before saying a smart comment . Learn it’s fun.I still don’t understand ,I contacted them and asked them. I now we can’t do it because to much overlighting in room light up whole room ,wait it is a concept don’t have to turn on overhead lights on..lol

Great question, however a few things to keep in mind. Par drop off is much much less in the air than in water. Also i dont think a wholesaler goal is to blast the corals, but rather keep the frags alive long enough to color up and ship.

 

[Hydrored]

Send some radions this way ,I got a par meter And will test this out .I would like to see 1 light vs 2 or 3 radions at 3 ft.Can someone test this out to see the differance please

Also its not only the PAR value, spectrum has a a lot to do with it. What PAR meter do you have?