Par reading from my T5/LED Hybrid

[SchnitzelReef]

Borrowed a par meter from Greg C. (Thanks again Greg). My light is 90-3w bridgelux LEDs and 4-80w t5s.

The highest reading I got was middle of the tank, 6" under the water. I got a reading of 690 par.
This was with all my pumps on and all lights at full blast.

Half way down at the top of my left rock structure.

Bottom of the tank, in the sand bed.

If u look in the back ground, u can see the par meter eye where it gets the reading from. Unfocused, It's sitting there on my sand bed.

Pretty stocked with those numbers. I think I achieved my goal. That should be plenty of light for SPS.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Also, I've changed out about half of my optics to 60*. I was using the 80* optics, but I think they are too diffused and lose par. I checked on the sand bed before switching to the 60* optics and I was getting 200-250ish par. So it def made a difference. In the middle of the tank, where the majority of the 80* optics are left, I noticed about 100 par less then the areas with 60* optics.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Ok so I found a spot on a rock where I was getting consistently 500 par, I turned off my LEDs and BOOM dropped 300 par down to 200. Then I ran all LEDs and no t5s, dropped 200 down to 300 par. So the combo really kicks butt.

I also tested the par about halfway down, and I moved the par meter in front of the ATI Coral + Bulb vs the ATI Blue+ bulb, and the reading was exactly the same. Right around 170-220, regardless of which bulb I was under.

 

[_Alex_]

Very nice I like it.
Any before and after shots of the tank?

-Alex-

 

[b_rad_G]

Nice! Tell us more about the build!

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I built it almost a year ago. Started off as 120 LEDs (full spectrum). Hated the color of my SPS, but loved my electric bill and no humidity in my house. (Went from 3-250w MHs & 2-54w t5s). Decided to ditch most of the white, all green, and all reds an added 2-t5s. I was using the Coralvue 660, so later I was able to add 2 more t5s.

The LEDs are
75- royal blue/normal blue bridgelux
10- 420nm violet
5-6500k white

T5s
3-ATI Blue+
1-ATI Coral+

Everything is retrofit and hidden in my canopy. Also I used aluminum c channel as my heatsink. For drivers, I'm using Meanwell ELN 60-48d. All dimmable, controlled through the VDM on my Apex.

 

[b_rad_G]

Sweet! It looks freaking great. I love the blue look and sps growth is probably insane!