Mars Aqua PAR levels

Michael Montgomery · May 2, 2017

I've seen several other LED light fixtures various par levels at different depths underwater. However I am having a difficult time finding such information for the Mars aqua lights. Can anybody shed some light on this? No pun intended LOL

Michael Montgomery · May 2, 2017

Pur, par, lux..... Whew!

Any info would be great...

Maritimer · May 2, 2017

I'd be curious myself - I managed to afford a couple of the lights ... but the PAR meter's out of reach, at least for now. (>_<)

~Bruce

Ben Weaver · May 2, 2017

Following for some info as well!

Michael Montgomery · May 3, 2017

As I sit here with FOUR of these things... I plucked the lenses off one to see the larger spread possibilities. Guess I should have taken pics.

...When I get home I'll post them up.

saltyfilmfolks · May 3, 2017

Here's a little of what I found. These are from a galaxy hydro.
[Blue/white @100%][under waterline 1100][5"845][10"565][15"370][20"195][25"140][Blue/white@50/50][under waterline 480[5"330][10"240][15"145][20"90][25"35][Blue/white@60/40][under waterline 465][5"290][10"220][15"155][20"100][25"62]
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/led-par-value.245883/#post-2887090

They differ slightly from others so far a bit, slightly low in fact.. The mars seem more capable of 1500 par ish at 12in w a max of about 100,000 lux at 12in. with full lenses.
the lux par conversion number seems to hold at about 63-65. I typically use and recommend 60 for most leds at full for the estimate.

Michael Montgomery · May 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Here's a little of what I found. These are from a galaxy hydro.
[Blue/white @100%][under waterline 1100][5"845][10"565][15"370][20"195][25"140][Blue/white@50/50][under waterline 480[5"330][10"240][15"145][20"90][25"35][Blue/white@60/40][under waterline 465][5"290][10"220][15"155][20"100][25"62]
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/led-par-value.245883/#post-2887090

They differ slightly from others so far a bit, slightly low in fact.. The mars seem more capable of 1500 par ish at 12in w a max of about 100,000 lux at 12in. with full lenses.
the lux par conversion number seems to hold at about 63-65. I typically use and recommend 60 for most leds at full for the estimate.

I figured you'd chime in... Glad you did! I'm a little confused. Are you saying the Mars have been LOWER (lesser) than the Galaxy's?

I really need to beg/borrow/steal a meter and really see what's going on... There is a pretty big difference with lenses off versus on. The 60 degree lenses (stock configuration) really do shoot light in a targeted manor. I'll post up the pics when i get a chance tonight.

saltyfilmfolks · May 3, 2017

Michael Montgomery said:
There is a pretty big difference with lenses off versus on.

There is. On my sbreeflight it was a 30% or so decrease in intensity. I picked and chose what lenses to pull. I left all or most of the whites and blues on.

Michael Montgomery said:
Are you saying the Mars have been LOWER (lesser) than the Galaxy's?

its a different spectrum, and I suspect colors changed from time to time. And Im also running on others multime par tests and they are really inconsistent.

Some top out at 1600 par some at 11oo par depending on the meter.

anit77 · May 3, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
There is. On my sbreeflight it was a 30% or so decrease in intensity. I picked and chose what lenses to pull. I left all or most of the whites and blues on.

Would you tell me which lenses you removed and the difference you're seeing?

Michael Montgomery · May 3, 2017

anit77 said:
Would you tell me which lenses you removed and the difference you're seeing?

After the blues and whites, there arent THAT many lenses to pull off. LOL Maybe 8??

saltyfilmfolks · May 3, 2017

anit77 said:
Would you tell me which lenses you removed and the difference you're seeing?

this is an sbreeflight over a 20x20x20 cube . the fixture is 16 x 8. When I initially hung it at 12 and 14in it did not fill the 20x20 square at the top. buy pulling 69 and 90 degree lenses it makes it 160 degrees.
Had I left the lenses in I would have had to hang it at probably 20 inches or more t to fill the square. One mistake I think many make is to aim at the bottom and not at the top if that makes sense. In a MH it t5 to blows light everywhere and lest is bounces around from the glass etc increasing ambient light cutting down on shadowing issues.

I tested a Maxspact here so you can see what I men about how I estimate the light spread and best hanging height. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/