When you say 200 par and 600 par, what depth are you talking about? If not this light, what light would you recommend?
Measured 12 in from the light.
So the top of the tank.
Like with an a80 , 12in would be about 100 par or less at full.
A BB 12in from the tank will cover (make a pattern) about 20in x 16 in. That area will be about 200 par at 1%. At full that area will be over 600 par.
Kinda like this.
Also this.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/marsaqua-hot-spots.372840/#post-4571305
It’s a fine light to use , it’s just very powerful. Some would say overkill.
But if one wanted to split the difference and make it work , pulling lenses (does not void SB 2 year warranty btw) it gives a wider spread of more even coverage , lowers the intensity a bit (as it’s less focused by the lenses) and you can run at 20%-30% and grow high light animals in a small tank.
Really , when picking a light it’s thre things mainly.
Budget (bells and whistles cost)
Astetics (how does it look on the tank and what color is the light )
Intensity. knowing the par intensity one wants to work in and what the light delivers.
Coverage and spread falls in this area too.but... A 16x 8 Light will have better coverage than a two inch light . It’s just physics. But some folks don’t care that much about coverage And spread.
You could easily put two kessil 160 on that tank and be perfectly happy.
But you won’t have clams in the sand. With four you will.
Something like the SB ultras or reefbreedee photon or maxspect razor bridge the gap between the black boxes mainly becuse they are really pretty light fixtures with high intensity and good coverage.
A pretty light, imo , falls under bells and whistles.
