reef tank and par meter

[cluanar]

I have a 48x19x24 90 gl tank. My AI vegas hang around 10 in above the water. I have a hammer, a mushroom both low in water and several zoa's ( i do not know names yet ). Zoas sit from bottom 2/3 rds to top 3rd. It seems only the zoa's are happy but the prior seem to be thriving.

I have 2 vega modules ( 4 pucks in each ) and have tried many settings. I am now trying
12% wh
10% red
20% gr
50% of the 3 blues.

I am chasing ( bad wording ) stats such as ph, was 8.8 but some exhaling in to my skimmer got it down 8.2 ish. I thought the salinity was fine until I bought a refractometer and find it was 1.032. Now it is 1.024 ish.

Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-15
calcium 420
ammonia 0
I do not have other testers yet but lfs said normal on mag, phosphates.

I have a refug with chaeto but it appears the 500 pods i bought are gone and chaeto wasnt growing. I recently added a kessil h80 and in 3 day sit seems the chaeto and turned dark green and where it wasnt floating now it is. Not sure what that means.


So, question is, is it a must to have a par meter when running or at least starting a reef tank.

Thanks

 

[Dana Riddle]

No, it is not necessary. But it will provide information that can help place corals in the proper place, prevent coral bleaching and perhaps save a little on your power bill.

 

[cluanar]

By default are zoa's typically on the lower ( less light ) part of tank? Or is it zoa type specific. I need to do some reading and know what I buy before i buy it.

 

[lbacha]

See if you can borrow a par meter. Measure your lights at all different setting and record them. With LEDs the par doesn't change so you don't need it unless you change they lights. With t5 and metal halides measuring par over time will tell you if the bulbs have degraded

 

[redfishbluefish]

You could also use a Lux meter to put you in the ball park. @saltyfilmfolks is well versed in using a Lux meter. I think you divide the lux valve by 50 - 60 to get a PAR value. And here's the best news....they only cost about 15 bucks.

 

[cluanar]

You could also use a Lux meter to put you in the ball park. @saltyfilmfolks is well versed in using a Lux meter. I think you divide the lux valve by 50 - 60 to get a PAR value. And here's the best news....they only cost about 15 bucks.

I got one for my android and took a reading above water surface and it bounced all over from 290-425. I guess i couldnt get it perfectly flat and read it.
is the physical one you buy submersible?

 

[oreo54]

I got one for my android and took a reading above water surface and it bounced all over from 290-425. I guess i couldnt get it perfectly flat and read it.
is the physical one you buy submersible?

not normally.. but most at least attempt to be cosine corrected, meaning it's recording light from a larger angle than your phone (less directional).

Some have bagged the sensor..

 

[cluanar]

So i pointed my phone down towards the white sand and received a reading of 40 Lux. the top most rock received between a 800-2600 bounce based on waves i guess. Sounds like a non starter in regards to practical use.

 

[Dana Riddle]

By default are zoa's typically on the lower ( less light ) part of tank? Or is it zoa type specific. I need to do some reading and know what I buy before i buy it.

It depends upon the zoanthid species. In Hawaii, I often saw them living on rock near a 'blow hole' where water spray kept them wet (and obviously exposed to industrial strength sunlight.) Other species contain zooxanthellae types that are less tolerant of high light. As a general rule, keep them in PAR of 100-300.

 

[cluanar]

I know its hard to compare apples to apples but does vega have a matrix that shows with these settings with the lights mounted this high above surface here are the expected par readings . That sort of thing.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I got one for my android and took a reading above water surface and it bounced all over from 290-425. I guess i couldnt get it perfectly flat and read it.
is the physical one you buy submersible?

These numbers aren't right.....should be seeing a five digit number. Are you sure there's not a 100X there?

Spend the 15 bucks and get a real meter. As stated, you could put the meter in a zip-lock if you wanted water readings. They do make a "water" lux for about 70 sawbucks.

 

[cluanar]

These numbers aren't right.....should be seeing a five digit number. Are you sure there's not a 100X there?

Spend the 15 bucks and get a real meter. As stated, you could put the meter in a zip-lock if you wanted water readings. They do make a "water" lux for about 70 sawbucks.

Okay so I figured out my issue, shadow of hand on camera . I read @saltyfilmfolks thread and I am getting an average of 32,000 across the top of tank. This puts it around 427 par? My tank is around 24 in high , 32 from sb to lights. So maybe I need to pump it up a bit. My zoas are pretty much top 3rd of tank. I am thinking i need to lower them.