PAR Myths?

[Salt Addiction]

Is this accurate? If so I just realized my problem with having a glass top on my tank for evaporation...


And this?


I ask because I have these, and after doing some research for an SPS tank I am considering pitching them in favor of halide. It just throws me off because my LFS has a downright beautiful display tank with acros that is run off two of these at 9" off the water level.

Red Sea RL90

 

[Crustaceon]

Not that big of a deal IMO. Rent a par meter and adjust intensity as needed. If your par is still low, you can always increase the photoperiod.

 

[lpsouth1978]

I am not a lighting expert, but I do not believe this information is 100% accurate. #dana riddle would be the best person to shed some light here. Keep in mind that these videos were produced to help Red Sea sell these lights, which only have blue and while LED's, NO other colors. Of course they will try to sell you on their ideas behind that choice.

 

[NS Mike D]

I am not a lighting expert, but I do not believe this information is 100% accurate. #dana riddle would be the best person to shed some light here. Keep in mind that these videos were produced to help Red Sea sell these lights, which only have blue and while LED's, NO other colors. Of course they will try to sell you on their ideas behind that choice.

white is a blend of RGB so the "other colors" are there. you just have less customizing options

 

[homer1475]

Looks like the Red Sea marketing team is well on their way to another marketing award.

Red Sea does make some decent products, but 90% of their stuff is marketing hype.

Kind of funny seeing them say that corals do not use any light in any other spectrum besides blue. I never realized the sun only put out blue light?

 

[NS Mike D]

Looks like the Red Sea marketing team is well on their way to another marketing award.

Red Sea does make some decent products, but 90% of their stuff is marketing hype.

Kind of funny seeing them say that corals do not use any light in any other spectrum besides blue. I never realized the sun only put out blue light?

in the water it will appear that way. light starts filtering out rapidly once it hits the water, with red disappearing in the first 50 feet. Might explain why corals don't use light spectrums the same way as terrestrial plants

ever wonder why the ocean looks blue????

 

[oreo54]

Is this accurate? If so I just realized my problem with having a glass top on my tank for evaporation...

I ask because I have these, and after doing some research for an SPS tank I am considering pitching them in favor of halide. It just throws me off because my LFS has a downright beautiful display tank with acros that is run off two of these at 9" off the water level.

Orphek OR 60 Blue Sky LED Light : Product Review by Danna Riddle

Orphek’s ‘Blue Sky’ LED Light By Dana Riddle "The Photosynthetically Usable Radiation output of the ‘Blue Sky’ fixture is about 15% greater than sunlight."

orphek.com

PAR, Spectrum and everything in between, this is the Red Sea ReefLED - BRStv Investigates

The wait is over for Red Sea’s ReefLED aquarium light and of course, we immediately put it through the gauntlet of rigorous PAR and spectrum testing to see if it produces a viable light energy source capable of sustaining corals’ metabolic functions. We also share our thoughts about

www.bulkreefsupply.com

ati blue plus and red sea (light violet) spectrums.

 

[homer1475]

I get that @NS Mike D , but most of the coral we keep in the hobby(with the exception of a few LPS) are really found in the shallows where they are blasted with high par and full spectrum.

Ever wonder why T5's and metal halide were so popular? They provided full spectrum with 0 issue of playing with the spectrum.

LEDS have brought on a whole new set of problems we never used to have. It's because everyone "plays" with their lights. There is no simple on/off

Again Red Sea has an awesome marketing Dept. And this video proves it. Now we'll see even more pics of windex tanks.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Orphek OR 60 Blue Sky LED Light : Product Review by Danna Riddle

Orphek’s ‘Blue Sky’ LED Light By Dana Riddle "The Photosynthetically Usable Radiation output of the ‘Blue Sky’ fixture is about 15% greater than sunlight."

orphek.com

PAR, Spectrum and everything in between, this is the Red Sea ReefLED - BRStv Investigates

The wait is over for Red Sea’s ReefLED aquarium light and of course, we immediately put it through the gauntlet of rigorous PAR and spectrum testing to see if it produces a viable light energy source capable of sustaining corals’ metabolic functions. We also share our thoughts about

www.bulkreefsupply.com

ati blue plus and red sea spectrums.

WOW! that red sea light has a very narrow peak in the blues and not much else.

 

[homer1475]

Orphek OR 60 Blue Sky LED Light : Product Review by Danna Riddle

Orphek’s ‘Blue Sky’ LED Light By Dana Riddle "The Photosynthetically Usable Radiation output of the ‘Blue Sky’ fixture is about 15% greater than sunlight."

orphek.com

PAR, Spectrum and everything in between, this is the Red Sea ReefLED - BRStv Investigates

The wait is over for Red Sea’s ReefLED aquarium light and of course, we immediately put it through the gauntlet of rigorous PAR and spectrum testing to see if it produces a viable light energy source capable of sustaining corals’ metabolic functions. We also share our thoughts about

www.bulkreefsupply.com

ati blue plus and red sea spectrums.

So according to red sea we all should be just running blue+ bulbs?

 

[lpsouth1978]

I get that @NS Mike D , but most of the coral we keep in the hobby(with the exception of a few LPS) are really found in the shallows where they are blasted with high par and full spectrum.

Ever wonder why T5's and metal halide were so popular? They provided full spectrum with 0 issue of playing with the spectrum.

LEDS have brought on a whole new set of problems we never used to have. It's because everyone "plays" with their lights. There is no simple on/off

Again Red Sea has an awesome marketing Dept. And this video proves it. Now we'll see even more pics of windex tanks.

If I didn't live in the desert with temps up to 120 at times. I would have a MH/T5 system. I simply can't deal with the heat of them. The most successful tanks I've had were MH/T5!

 

[oreo54]

WOW! that red sea light has a very narrow peak in the blues and not much else.

You have to be a bit careful when dealing w/ relative spectrums.. Dimming the blue (bringing the "1" peak down) raises the others..
W/ their whites that means curve will look richer in greens to red..It's not like "pure actinic" which would have no other colors but blues.
ALMOST pure actinic, just enough green and amber to "whiten" it:

The green spike and some amber.. (basially RGB) make halides look whiter (more colorful) than what one would expect from a "20000K" type light especially since that 20000k is not even close to what their "real" K is..

 

[NS Mike D]

So according to red sea we all should be just running blue+ bulbs?

we do close to that now, who is running the red and greens much above 10% and they account for a small percent of the arrays in the first place. could very well be the splash of red and green are for our eyes

 

[oreo54]

we do close to that now, who is running the red and greens much above 10% and they account for a small percent of the arrays in the first place. could very well be the splash of red and green are for our eyes

w/ out red or green ect you can't see any other colors but blue (excluding flourescence)

 

[homer1475]

I for one do not run all blue+ bulbs, and do not run LED's.

I hate looking at windex tanks.

 

[Salt Addiction]

So...if I am understanding this correctly...Using 3 fixtures evenly spaced starting in the middle I should be good so long as I don't put them on the last 12" of either side, which I had not planned on aside from LPS there.

 

[oreo54]

Depends on tank, design, and target goals ........
See par chart..

The ReefLED G2 Series - More power. More glow. More options.

Enjoy smart reef lighting with a rich blue spectrum and strong reef-white light (8,000K–23,000K), enhancing fluorescence, color, and coral growth.

www.redseafish.com

w/ dimmable lighting there is never any harm (except to your wallet) w/ too much light..
4 50's is only $170 more than 2 90's.. but cheaper than 3 90's
Light overlap will fill some of the gaps (more even spread) than 2 90's..
You actually can put them closer to the end using glass reflections to bounce the light in..
Depends on where your bracing is though.

Oh and possible hanging heights..some people have restrictions and tank width somewhat determines height.

 

[Salt Addiction]

I currently have 3 RL90s on my standard 125 lol. Im trying to figure if I need a 4th or not. I am fairly certain I should be good based on BRS's vid for PAR values, but wanting to make sure I have enough to do anything I want in the tank, hence the possible 4th light. Is 450 - 500 too high of PAR though? If I added a 4th according to their video the center would be in the 450 - 500 range. Tank is about 18" deep with most of the aquascape / coral area being 12" or less.

 

[Bpb]

Looks like the Red Sea marketing team is well on their way to another marketing award.

Red Sea does make some decent products, but 90% of their stuff is marketing hype.

Kind of funny seeing them say that corals do not use any light in any other spectrum besides blue. I never realized the sun only put out blue light?

Agree