PAR settings in your tank

[Lavey29]

I was able to maintain pretty much of the coralline I had from the reboot (pretty much the back wall). But the SPS might be challenged because my parameters wander a bit

I found after a tank year my tank went through an evolution and became much more stable and predictable. Then I didn't ever lose any SPS frags I added and 38 of them grew into colonies.

So sounds like you are on a good path with knowledge. Maybe the tank just needs a few more months of stability.

 

[mike550]

Also what is your lighting like and what PAR meter are you using?

Reefbreeders Photon 48 Pro V2 and Apogee 420X Par Sensor Head

 

[mike550]

I have the same tank. I run 90-120 at the sand bed depending on location as I keep trachys, scolys, and acanthos on the bed. Yes, what lights are you using?

ReefBreeders 48 Pro V2

 

[cougercruiser]

I found after a tank year my tank went through an evolution and became much more stable and predictable. Then I didn't ever lose any SPS frags I added and 38 of them grew into colonies.

So sounds like you are on a good path with knowledge. Maybe the tank just needs a few more months of stability.

Are you still running Radion G6 XR15?

 

[Lavey29]

Are you still running Radion G6 XR15?

I run 2 XR15s. Gen 5

 

[cougercruiser]

I run 2 XR15s. Gen 5

How is your par and coral growth? I’ve got a 3’x21”x21” and curious if two XR15 are enough to grow sps

 

[Lavey29]

How is your par and coral growth? I’ve got a 3’x21”x21” and curious if two XR15 are enough to grow sps

I run them at 100% on the AB plus setting. I have 38 SPS frags that have grown into colonies now. I get 350 par just below the surface. They are weak lights but manageable for 3 foot tank.

 

[cougercruiser]

I run them at 100% on the AB plus setting. I have 38 SPS frags that have grown into colonies now. I get 350 par just below the surface. They are weak lights but manageable for 3 foot tank.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[X-37B]

How is your par and coral growth? I’ve got a 3’x21”x21” and curious if two XR15 are enough to grow sps

2 xr 15's will be fine.
I run 4 on a 48x24x16" growout system. 3 would be ideal but 2 will work just fine.
You want growth pics as I have many from my 80g. Its been up for 14 months now.
I run full ab+ at 1hr up/down and 10hrs peak.
This is 14 months growth.

 

[RichReef]

After fumbling and bumbling with a borrowed meter for 3 weeks I just ended up setting my lights so I had 150 on the sand bed in the center of the tank. The rest is what it is going to be. I then recorded the PARs where I had places to put corals. I bought and placed my corals based on these recordings.

 

[minus9]

ReefBreeders 48 Pro V2

How about posting a FTS so we can see what you have now. All of these numbers are arbitrary until we know what animals you're keeping.

 

[mike550]

How about posting a FTS so we can see what you have now. All of these numbers are arbitrary until we know what animals you're keeping.

“FTS”?

 

[minus9]

“FTS”?

Full tank shot

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Hello! I’m struggling to find the sweet spot of PAR lighting vs coral placement. Lately it looks like I’ve bleached out some new corals so I’m thinking maybe my PAR settings are a bit high. My tank is a 120G and about 24” deep, and I’d like this to be a mixed reef tank.

Question for the group. What are your suggestions for PAR at the sand base, then lower third (16” deep), and upper third (8” deep)?

Thanks in advance.

I have a 120g also 48×24 deep? but I'm getting about 300 par on the bottom, I'd have to take some par readings again since it's been a while but I could definitely do that, in fact I will because now I'm curious, but my light also changes all day long with multiple light sources it's only full strength for about 2-4hours in the day. I have 3 kessil 360x 's, 3 ai prime 16hd's, 4 48" t5 lamps (2×blue plus and 2×true actinic) and 2×48" reef brite xho blues and they all have their own schedules and intensities throughout the day.

here's my fts' from last friday

 

[The_Paradox]

I’m surprised so many people are keeping lower numbers. My LED tanks are around 350 at the top rocks and my MH are over 500.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’m surprised so many people are keeping lower numbers. My LED tanks are around 350 at the top rocks and my MH are over 500.

no build thread? no fts?

 

[mike550]

I have a 120g also 48×24 deep? but I'm getting about 300 par on the bottom, I'd have to take some par readings again since it's been a while but I could definitely do that, in fact I will because now I'm curious, but my light also changes all day long with multiple light sources it's only full strength for about 2-4hours in the day. I have 3 kessil 360x 's, 3 ai prime 16hd's, 4 48" t5 lamps (2×blue plus and 2×true actinic) and 2×48" reef brite xho blues and they all have their own schedules and intensities throughout the day.

here's my fts' from last friday

Thanks @thatmanMIKEson I’m new to corals and still trying to figure out what PAR ranges should be since “low”, “medium” and “high” aren’t great measures. Haha.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Thanks @thatmanMIKEson I’m new to corals and still trying to figure out what PAR ranges should be since “low”, “medium” and “high” aren’t great measures. Haha.

Lights aren't built the same either. The ability for a light to "punch" down into the tank can very.

One Fixture can have 550 at the surface and 350 at the bottom of the tank, while another will only have 100. There's so many variables that the only way to dial your particular lights in is to use a par meter.

People have given you good rule of thumb advice. But you need to know if you're comparing your apples to their oranges.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Thanks @thatmanMIKEson I’m new to corals and still trying to figure out what PAR ranges should be since “low”, “medium” and “high” aren’t great measures. Haha.

i would figure out what type of coral your trying to keep and get something similar to someone's set up that you like and that is working for them.

what lights are you using? what type of tank and corals are you trying to keep?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Lights aren't built the same either. The ability for a light to "punch" down into the tank can very.

One Fixture can have 550 at the surface and 350 at the bottom of the tank, while another will only have 100. There's so many variables that the only way to dial your particular lights in is to use a par meter.

People have given you good rule of thumb advice. But you need to know if you're comparing your apples to their oranges.

agreed! in Florida we're definitely working with oranges! lol