PAR #'s
- Thread starter xabo
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mcarroll
10K Club member
That may be a little "high", but that depends on what the corals had previously been acclimated to at least as much as it depends on your current light level.
It also depends whether that's the level your corals are actually getting.
Are your lights generating a significant hot spot which accounts for that number? If so, then corals outside of that zone may have dramatically less light available.
Not too many people have good success with PAR that high from LEDs, including Radion G4s, but there are some outliers. That kind of PAR is totally Ok with other light sources.
As stated above, this is likely a hot spot directly under the pucks... the PAR should fall off quickly outside of this cone-shaped area.
As stated above, this is likely a hot spot directly under the pucks... the PAR should fall off quickly outside of this cone-shaped area.
If you have 6, then that might be pretty even coverage - most do not buy that many... well done. Go slow, keep it low and then see how it goes.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Well, again it can all be pretty relative, but that sounds like a lot of light across the board.
One G4 per "hole" could probably technically be enough – two just makes for excellent coverage....so if you're mimicing anyone else's light setup, you should be prepared to turn it down as much as 50%.....which hypothetically you could do. (Not yet tho!
)Do you have 90º lenses on them? If so, then I'd say yes try moving them up to 12" to see if your coverage gets even better. You might start spilling light over the front and back before you quite get to 12" though....see what you think.
Also, what PAR numbers do you currently get at the surface?
...and around sand bed level?
BTW, are these planning questions for a new tank, or for changes to an existing tank?
Others will have to help you with this... I am not a fan of LED over acropora, so I just know what my friends have done, what I read about online and what I hear discussed at shows. ...so take this for what it is worth. Lots of the shops that have good success with Radions raise them way up and turn them up pretty high. Dr. Joshi uses this method as well. There does not appear to be a lot of risk to having them up higher.
500+ par is no issue to my acropora using MH. People do have issues with LEDs up this high. Having said this, not all acropora "need" this much light, but they certainly do appear to benefit from it in my house. I would get them around 350 where you are going to be keeping the "nicer" acros and then slowly increase 1% at a time maybe every few weeks.
In the mean time, perhaps somebody that actually has had good success with the lights over acros will chime in.
BTW - you will get better advice if you list out what types of SPS that you want to keep. Acropora have different lighting and care requirements than most Montis, Birdsnest, Poci and Stylphora (MBP&S). ...it can get tricky taking advice about caring/lighting a monti and then apply it to a more difficult acropora.
500+ par is no issue to my acropora using MH. People do have issues with LEDs up this high. Having said this, not all acropora "need" this much light, but they certainly do appear to benefit from it in my house. I would get them around 350 where you are going to be keeping the "nicer" acros and then slowly increase 1% at a time maybe every few weeks.
In the mean time, perhaps somebody that actually has had good success with the lights over acros will chime in.
BTW - you will get better advice if you list out what types of SPS that you want to keep. Acropora have different lighting and care requirements than most Montis, Birdsnest, Poci and Stylphora (MBP&S). ...it can get tricky taking advice about caring/lighting a monti and then apply it to a more difficult acropora.
OP
OP
xabo
Valuable Member
199-284
Existing tank with about 12 frags. Frags looking pale as I've just finished treating for Dinos (which I never had until switching to led) with blackouts and dosing peroxide.
mcarroll
10K Club member
Ah...a guess is that maybe LED's (along with all other factors as well) gave you more growth which drew nutrient levels down lower than they had been...which if it went too low for too long could prompt a dino bloom. (BTW, did you treat your dino's chemically or naturally?)
Dana Riddle
2500 Club Member
I've seen some very successful shallow frag tanks using Radions, where PPFD values are 150-175. I don't own Radions, but have personally grown an Acropora species (formosa?) under LEDs at about 300.
I can grow dragons and some other deep waters under 200 PAR, but most seem to want a lot more. Even some of the other "lower light" stuff like echinata, lorpies and granulosa seem to like to be at 300, or more. Most acros seem to suffer under 200 PAR when they get beyond frags and get harder to light.
Remember that growing them is not your only concern. You want them to look good, as well.
Remember that growing them is not your only concern. You want them to look good, as well.
AQD-Seneye
Active Member
Just an FYI for those that really are into matching lighting to coral requirements. In a few months Seneye will be launching the Seneye Spectra, this device which incorporates a high sensitivity under water light meter will match your corals species to the required light output! Simply select your species from the menu, the software will give you the correct lighting requirements for that species, averages can be calculated for mixed species reef.
If interested in this technology for your tank please keep a tag on the Seneye sponsor forum here on R2R.
Beta testing is imminent and current Reef users will be selected to participate.
All the best
Michael
If interested in this technology for your tank please keep a tag on the Seneye sponsor forum here on R2R.
Beta testing is imminent and current Reef users will be selected to participate.
All the best
Michael
OP
OP
xabo
Valuable Member
Understood.....................I mean, the owner of a LFS in my area advised me to run them at 100% out the box. Huh I said. He says yes, SPS needs a lot of light to survive. This is the same guy who recommended Fluconazale to battle Dinos.
Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
This is awesome! Looking forward to seeing this!
BluewaterLa
Active Member
So a 220 gallon tank, I suppose its 30'' deep then ??
If so that would answer my question in a post I made a while back about using the radions over such a tank with that depth.
You are running at 65% and getting between 200 and 280 on the sand bed, that is right on target for my tank and scape.
Thanks for sharing this information
If so that would answer my question in a post I made a while back about using the radions over such a tank with that depth.
You are running at 65% and getting between 200 and 280 on the sand bed, that is right on target for my tank and scape.
Thanks for sharing this information
