Supplemental Reefbrite LED Add-on and PAR

[kml505]

OK all you lighting gurus. I have a question regarding Par. I was running two XR30 G5 Blues at 48% and was getting around 150-160 PAR on my sand bed which is perfect for my euphyllias. I was running the AB+ program with only 15% whites, 15% greens and 0% reds. All other spectrum were at 100% with a peak period of 5 hours daily. I just added the Reefbrite XHO-K30 Add-On Kit to both lights for some additional pop to the corals. This LED lights run only in the blue and violet spectrum but when I measured the PAR in the sand, it is now 230-240. My question is, should I bring down my XR30 to 33% to fall back in the 150-160 PAR range that I was looking for or will the limited spectrum of the Reefbrite LED make a huge difference and damage the corals at the now 250 PAR? I only plan to run the reefbrite lights during the PEAK hours only. Thoughts?

 

[Ron Reefman]

IMHO a PAR of 240 to 250 at the sand is kind of high... unless all you have in the tank is sps. I'd dial back the XR30's and get back close to what you had before, at least while the bars are on during peak lighting. Your choice as to whether you dial back more white , more blue or some combination of the two. It becomes more about the overall color you want in the tank.

 

[kml505]

IMHO a PAR of 240 to 250 at the sand is kind of high... unless all you have in the tank is sps. I'd dial back the XR30's and get back close to what you had before, at least while the bars are on during peak lighting. Your choice as to whether you dial back more white , more blue or some combination of the two. It becomes more about the overall color you want in the tank.

Agreed. I decided to keep the peak settings the same and just turn the bar on at night for the pop i wanted to see. I dialed down the XR30s down to 20% at night so with the bar, it's barely 100 in the sandbed. The peak settings are still giving me 150 in the sand without the bar on. Really appreciate the inputs!