Hello,
I have done some similar experiments only with different lights. As some have suggested, (as to not be a parrot) mother colonies etc and same wayer parameters. Now from a science point of view, Having two tanks with exact parameters honestly doesn’t happen. They are similar and close but that’s like comparing apples to oranges. They are both good but different, both fruit you get the idea.
So may I share what we did in our lab experiment, we used a little larger tank. We for example put a radion on the left and a hydra 5200 on the right. Same tank, same parameters then when we purchased coral, we but two of each from the same mother colony. We also placed them at the exact same location (mirror effect) of each other.
We then did weekly photos of each coral for 6 months actually it was 12 months but a semester is only 6 months. You get the idea. Then (we used 125 most of the time), some 90s etc, but we also threw in no name brands, or less common name brands.
Since this was a lab experiment, we found the critical angel for every light, which was different based on lens. We also used a ly-cor 1500 par meter, and then also tested against one from apogee. Now the fact this was at my undergraduate school, they had a bigger budget. With budget in mind, maybe check with some universities in your area. Where I attended the school either bought the items needed, or people donated tanks etc, and the local aquarium was very helpful.
This may give you more consistent numbers and results. In doing this one wants to elimate as many what if(s) as possible. We did not that most of the leds were not that far from being different, other than bells and whistles. There are only sooo many led manufacturers out there and most companies source from them anyway.
I’d love to follow along and see how your experiment goes and the results that follow.