Looking for a light

[chubbyhubby]

Hi iv got the 600mm long one on my 900mm long tank and every thing seems happy

 

[ReefLEDLights]

Its amazing the Different PAR readings I've seen with various LED Fixtures...

We generally focus on the 410-480nm range which is the Primary for Coral Photosynthesis. Fixtures with a strong 410-480 range should be dialed back and acclimated especially in shallow tanks less than 24" deep.

Bill

 

[Pmj]

Compared to what Bill is offering up, the BB's are lower par. Acclimation is def key and nutrints play a huge role in the amount of light you can deliver. Many folks report the same bleaching issue with much much less powerful lights like the Kessil 360 and Ap700, and a BB has a LOT more Power than them. Many folks don't ever put a meter on different kinds of lights, and the differences can be rather dramatic. I have a 150mh with a great ballast and reflector, with a 20k radium bulb, its more powerful than a BB. Put a 14k in and its got even more par.

I just think we are pretty much at a point where just more power is not necessarily the answer. My first LED was a flood light with a two 20w multi-chips, one cool white & one royal blue, within a reflector. That thing grow coral amazingly well on a 34g cube and had a great shimmer.
If I had a canopy I would simply opt for more lights at lower settings at different angles for spread and coverage or add a few T5s. Since I don't, I went with higher end lights that hopefully will accomplish the goal in a nice looking package, but more power wasn't the main thing I was looking for. BTW, none of my systems have ever been ULNS and I still ran into too much intensity with black boxes. I will say both of my tanks thus far have only been 20" high though.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just think we are pretty much at a point where just more power is not necessarily the answer. My first LED was a flood light with a two 20w multi-chips, one cool white & one royal blue, within a reflector. That thing grow coral amazingly well on a 34g cube and had a great shimmer.
If I had a canopy I would simply opt for more lights at lower settings at different angles for spread and coverage or add a few T5s. Since I don't, I went with higher end lights that hopefully will accomplish the goal in a nice looking package, but more power wasn't the main thing I was looking for. BTW, none of my systems have ever been ULNS and I still ran into too much intensity with black boxes. I will say both of my tanks thus far have only been 20" high though.

I agree power isn't the issue or answer it's just another technique. That's really a tank to tank thing. And it does seem tanks find thier sweet spot. Likey based in the chemistry weather we see it or not.

I actually run a canopy on one of my tanks and even installed diffusers. I'm still running higher or equal to what a bb will do. Those are three ai sol's on a standard 55g

On my other tank I'm on a sbreeflight bb and I've got it cranked up pretty high. Looking at what others are doing mines quite high relatively.

I will say I do note that a lot of folks running underpowered lights seem to have more probs with PH and cyano and other common maladies that I just don't see as regularly in tanks with adequate light. And quite often it seems it's better to go over than under. I also note many old school mh guys having difficulty with led. IMO it's because many of the led don't put out the power of a 250 or 400w mh. Combine that with using percentages and presets that have little to do with thier tanks needs.

Fwiw what many forget or don't or have never metered a light. If you have a basic 100 par in the sand. Your gonna have 400 500 at the top or even more. If you aim for 200 to 250 to have a clam on the sand it's obviously going to be a LOT more at the top. Make that a deep tank and and your looking at 1000+ at the top.

The truly interesting thing about corals is how much light they take. In my 24in deep. I have Xenia growing at the top of the overflow. That's around 700 par or so. Palys too. It's the same par and tank I have my acros in.

And adding a single t5@ 12in from the top of the water will add about 150 par or so btw.

 

[Patis55]

Ok so lights finally arrived.
Less then stellar for sure and the seller failed to mention a few things or i did not ask the right questions.
One light it looks like the little batter that keeps time and setting was removed at one time and the holder broke and looks like it was glued back in. Problem is the glue did not hold and the battery falls out.
The other i have not dug into yet but it has a few dents on it. Maybe from shipping i don't know.
Both the lights say 100W and you can control White and Blue separately and adjust intensity separately. Lights are 18in long. Both controllers work fine and either controller will work both lights.
Both controls mounted on the lights seem to work ok but one will not hold its settings(broken battery holder) All LED's work.
Im capable enough to mount a new battery holder so i suppose for $120 not to bad a deal just wish there was full discloser before the sale.