Too much light?

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

I have a waterbox 20, 18''x18'' cube. I currently have 1 ai primehd but thinking about adding another. Is this over kill? I am going for mainly SPS. I do also plan on getting a bigger tank in the future as well so just wondering if I should buy the light now and add it or if it will be to much.

mcshams · Apr 28, 2020

for an 18x18 inch...I can't see why you'd need another. I believe their spread is 20x20 or even larger. We own one and while I don't grow exclusively SPS I have tested PAR on our small tank and you can easily get to numbers consistent with growing them.

lapin · Apr 28, 2020

Thoughts:
You can add it now, if you feel the need. It will give you a new thing to play with.
You do not have to run both lights at a high setting.
You might get more even coverage on your tank, or not.

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

mcshams said:
for an 18x18 inch...I can't see why you'd need another. I believe their spread is 20x20 or even larger. We own one and while I don't grow exclusively SPS I have tested PAR on our small tank and you can easily get to numbers consistent with growing them.

do you have a PAR diagram of when you tested and what settings you are running?

mcshams · Apr 28, 2020

lapin said:
Thoughts:
You can add it now, if you feel the need. It will give you a new thing to play with.
You do not have to run both lights at a high setting.
You might get more even coverage on your tank, or not.

I was just rethinking my response when this came in. You might like the look of two lights even if you don't need the power. Just be sure to check PAR as that will be a lot of light!

mcshams · Apr 28, 2020

mmarine9 said:
do you have a PAR diagram of when you tested and what settings you are running?

I do... but it's at home. I work away from home and will be back Thursday. What is great about the AI lights is that you can look up other people's shared light settings and import them. So my wife researched a bunch of refers with years of experience and downloaded their profile.

I will produce all this information for you this Thursday. !

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

mcshams said:
I do... but it's at home. I work away from home and will be back Thursday. What is great about the AI lights is that you can look up other people's shared light settings and import them. So my wife researched a bunch of refers with years of experience and downloaded their profile.

I will produce all this information for you this Thursday. !

I think I have a pretty good lighting profile I tweeked a bunch of peoples settings who had great success. I would post a screen shot but I am also at work.

mcshams · Apr 28, 2020

Wife sent this. I'll attach the download or can send it if you like it. These settings are slightly ramped up because we turned our mixed reef into a nem tank. I believe it was 15% more than the original across all spectrum.
I'll get details of the PAR... but we ran the light mounted 10 inches off tank. PAR in lower corners was 95ish. Central floor was 125. Top of rock was 225 to 280 depending on how close to center. We ran 24g cube with 18x18x18 dimensions.

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

mcshams said:
Wife sent this. I'll attach the download or can send it if you like it. These settings are slightly ramped up because we turned our mixed reef into a nem tank. I believe it was 15% more than the original across all spectrum.
I'll get details of the PAR... but we ran the light mounted 10 inches off tank. PAR in lower corners was 95ish. Central floor was 125. Top of rock was 225 to 280 depending on how close to center. We ran 24g cube with 18x18x18 dimensions.

Thank you our settings are pretty similar i will grab a screen shot of mine when i get home from work!

lpsouth1978 · Apr 28, 2020

BRS did some testing and for an SPS dominant system, they recommended 1 prime per 12". 1 Prime would workif you keep all SPS within that 12" range, but 2 will allow you to place them anywhere you want and give you more even coverage.

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

lpsouth1978 said:
BRS did some testing and for an SPS dominant system, they recommended 1 prime per 12". 1 Prime would workif you keep all SPS within that 12" range, but 2 will allow you to place them anywhere you want and give you more even coverage.

Yea that is what i was thinking and after watching that video it seems the PAR really dies off on the edges. Trying to justify the purchase here haha.

lpsouth1978 · Apr 28, 2020

mmarine9 said:
Yea that is what i was thinking and after watching that video it seems the PAR really dies off on the edges. Trying to justify the purchase here haha.

I get ya. Really, considering what we spend on this hobby, $200 is nothing.

Dana Riddle · Apr 28, 2020

Advertisements for this light state a coverage of 24" x 24" with light intensity of 100 PAR at 24". If this is correct, I don't think you need one immediately. Maybe later on when the Acros get bushy.

lpsouth1978 · Apr 28, 2020

Dana Riddle said:
Advertisements for this light state a coverage of 24" x 24" with light intensity of 100 PAR at 24". If this is correct, I don't think you need one immediately. Maybe later on when the Acros get bushy.

Not to question the lighting guru, but....

Isn't the advertised coverage and PAR based on having the light at all channels 100% power? I have not met a reefer yet that runs their lights this way. IME, the Prime may get you 100PAR @ 24" DIRECTLY below the light, if placed relatively close the the water surface (on settings reefers use). However, there would be a significant drop off as you move away from center. The light could be moved higher off the water to even out the distribution, but at the cost of lower PAR.

Now, I'm not saying the OP NEEDS to get a second light, but that he would benefit in some ways by having 2,

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

Yea i would say the light is more than suitable for a mixed reef and growing corals if placed correctly. I want to do a SPS reef and not be limited on keeping them only near the center. I have a handful of Acro and other SPS that is currently doing very well under the 1 light but I just want the extra coverage/less shadowing.

MichaelReefer · Apr 28, 2020

A bit overkill in my opinion. One is more than enough for that size tank.

Dana Riddle · Apr 28, 2020

lpsouth1978 said:
Not to question the lighting guru, but....

Isn't the advertised coverage and PAR based on having the light at all channels 100% power? I have not met a reefer yet that runs their lights this way. IME, the Prime may get you 100PAR @ 24" DIRECTLY below the light, if placed relatively close the the water surface (on settings reefers use). However, there would be a significant drop off as you move away from center. The light could be moved higher off the water to even out the distribution, but at the cost of lower PAR.

Now, I'm not saying the OP NEEDS to get a second light, but that he would benefit in some ways by having 2,

Feel free to challenge me, it's how I learn. I was basing my opinion on the specs BRS posted on their website. Can't vouch for the veracity since I haven't tested the light, but BRS seems to do pretty good work. However, if 100 PAR is the light at 100%, that could be a game changer.

mmarine9 · Apr 28, 2020

mcshams said:
Wife sent this. I'll attach the download or can send it if you like it. These settings are slightly ramped up because we turned our mixed reef into a nem tank. I believe it was 15% more than the original across all spectrum.
I'll get details of the PAR... but we ran the light mounted 10 inches off tank. PAR in lower corners was 95ish. Central floor was 125. Top of rock was 225 to 280 depending on how close to center. We ran 24g cube with 18x18x18 dimensions.

Here are my current light settings, any input or criticism is welcome!