par reading of my t5

chadfarmer · Oct 13, 2008

I am using a 7 bulb Constellation

bulbs are as followed
bulbs are the following
Front
Aquablue +
Aquablue +
Ati Blue+
Aquablue +
Ati Blue+
Aquablue +
Ati Blue+

Light is 8 inches over the tank
bulbs are a week old

killingseed2000 · Oct 14, 2008

what are you using to get the readings?

chadfarmer · Oct 14, 2008

Apogee Model QMSW-SS

Reef Pets · Oct 14, 2008

From the readings it seems as if the water does not weaken the PAR much. It seems as if the PAR weakens as the light gets further away. Good to know

chadfarmer · Oct 14, 2008

i would say that is it but depending on water clairity

cparka23 · Oct 14, 2008

Thanks for the info. I'd be interested in knowing how much PAR you lose without the fans aimed across the fixture. The lighting gurus are always saying that it's a significant decrease in intensity, bulb life, etc.. but I've never seen any numbers. Would you be interested in measuring that?

Edit:
forgot to ask. How tall is the tank?

Hypertek99 · Oct 14, 2008

I need one of those

Dihydrogen Monoxide · Oct 14, 2008

What size tank is the photo of? What are the depths of the measurements? Reflectors? Also are those average readings or peak readings?

Good info!

chadfarmer · Oct 14, 2008

its a 120

to turn off the fans I would have break open the fixture , that is too much work for me

bamachamp92 · Oct 14, 2008

i think he was talking about the fans on the back of your tank. i measure all my par readings with my closed loop on and all the normal surface disruption so i can see what the par is on a normal basis, if you turn the fans off and minimize surface disruption you will get a false reading of what the corals are going to get normally

chadfarmer · Oct 14, 2008

the fans on back of the tank have nothing to do with the light it has internal fans

well i will have to get eh par meter back to see what you mean

i wanted to measure with ozone to see how much of a difference that would make also