one light vs two

[Scottrshoe]

If I add a second light, that is the same as the first, will I see an increase in PAR, or just better coverage?

 

[Zach B]

Unless the second light is lower I believe you will just have better coverage. There may be a slight increase in par but I don't think much.. Best of luck to you

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Double the input double the par, ???... I'm no scientists

 

[Spare time]

The par increases where they overlap.

 

[Chrisv.]

As @Spare time said, you will see a pretty big bump in the overlap. Bulk reef has some nice videos where they show this. Maybe search their YouTube for videos about spacing ai prime lights. The thing that surprised me was that you get more uniform coverage if the lights are closer to the ends of the tank rather than evenly spaced across the length of the tank.

 

[Scottrshoe]

I will check that out.

I have Low end lights, that do not get good reviews, but rather than waste the money I spent on the first one, I bought a second...of course, why not? I was hoping that, by doubling up on them, I could increase the PAR levels in the blue spectrums, and the over all PAR without having to run the whites so high.
I have two of the Fluval Sea NANO lights on my IM 20g. I Love the app, which I am used to from the FW side of the hobby, which is why I purchased it in the first place. (not knowing at the time that most people do not rate them very well)

 

[Chrisv.]

I will check that out.

I have Low end lights, that do not get good reviews, but rather than waste the money I spent on the first one, I bought a second...of course, why not? I was hoping that, by doubling up on them, I could increase the PAR levels in the blue spectrums, and the over all PAR without having to run the whites so high.
I have two of the Fluval Sea NANO lights on my IM 20g. I Love the app, which I am used to from the FW side of the hobby, which is why I purchased it in the first place. (not knowing at the time that most people do not rate them very well)

I'm not familiar with these lights-- might be worth it to see if a local club or fish store near you has a par meter you can use to get a quantitative idea of how bad (or good) the situation is.

 

[uhgster1]

The PAR will increase where they overlap. It can be dramatic depending on the type of light

 

[oreo54]

The PAR will increase where they overlap. It can be dramatic depending on the type of light

Depends on placement.
Just put more distance between the lights and each closer to the ends.
Diffuses the overlap.

Running each at 1/2 the orig. would also be recommended.

 

[Scottrshoe]

I just ordered a PAR meter from BRS, so I am anxious to see how good or bad these lights actually are. They are fairly new, and none of the normal site for information about reef lights give them any attention, so there is not much info out there that I can find.

 

[Chrisv.]

I just ordered a PAR meter from BRS, so I am anxious to see how good or bad these lights actually are. They are fairly new, and none of the normal site for information about reef lights give them any attention, so there is not much info out there that I can find.

Good call!

 

[Ufjd144]

The par increases where they overlap.

exactly, the par as far as the areas where there is no overlap will mirror what the other light was giving, but truth be told, you will always have some overlap, so the key would be to find the sweet spot where you have enough overlap to stay consistent throughout the tank. Or at least no where your more intense or less intense lighting is and you place the corals based on that.

 

[Ufjd144]

I just ordered a PAR meter from BRS, so I am anxious to see how good or bad these lights actually are. They are fairly new, and none of the normal site for information about reef lights give them any attention, so there is not much info out there that I can find.

i just finished reading your comment above. Was it a lot of help to have the PAR meter?

 

[Hooz]

The PAR meter is essential. Yes, on that tank with those lights, you will get a decent boost in PAR. Just space them out and use the meter to dial in the settings.

 

[rocket098]

You will see a par increase. From my own experiment i added an or3 bar to Kessil lights on a 40 deep tank. The par increase was 20 measured by the apogee 650 at the bottom of the tank.

 

[Scottrshoe]

i just finished reading your comment above. Was it a lot of help to have the PAR meter?

I have not received it yet. Once it arrives, I will map my tank under various light settings and post the results here, or perhaps start a review thread on the lights themself.

 

[rocket098]

Yea it’s a lot of help at first probably better to rent or borrow unless you are doing sps and will need it for placements After you map it out it will just sit there Not used much.