Trying to understand lux and leds

[Coastie Reefer]

Granted I haven't used a lux meter but I have a lux app "lux-o-meter" (Windows phone) I'm getting readings of readings of just over 45,000 at the surface of water with all lights and around 35,000 when it switches over to just my blue settings. The light is an AI Prime on an 18" flex mount, so it's about 15" above the water. I just don't know what to expect, I've tried to Google lux and leds and used our search engine but I'm not finding a whole lot. Any article links or advice would be greatly appreciated.

10 gallon mixed reef, and everything is doing fine and growing. I have a monti cap that seems to be thriving, but I want know if I have enough light to add a couple acros, stags, or milis....

TIA

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

the apps are unreliable by the nature of the camera and how it meters. I tested 14 on three devices on andriod and iphone 2 were ok. the $14 red lux meter on amazon is great.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/

depending on the monti it may not like that much light but honestly i could not tell you from here.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

if its a true 45,000 its probably good for the SPS. odd the blue is 35000 unless there is an error or you mix is that blue.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

I have the blue ramped up pretty good and the whites are only about 30%.

 

[mcarroll]

U sampling at the water surface?

If those numbers were sample that the water surface then you should be good for about any coral.

So called lagoon corals like Montipora seem to be adaptable to both very bright and very dim/obscured light.

I've had scions of the same M. cap. colony growing right at the water surface under a 150 Watt metal halide as well as at the bottom of a 19" high tank than only got about 10,000 lux at the surface.

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Basically putting my phone as near the water as possible without actually touching the water. I have zoas, candy canes, and mushrooms and they're all doing fine. I figured if it was truly 45,000 they be screaming "it burns it burns" guess the next step is to get an actual lux meter or try another app.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So called lagoon corals like Montipora seem to be adaptable to both very bright and very dim/obscured light.

THX Mac! I wasnt sure. mine hate it so far.

Basically putting my phone as near the water as possible without actually touching the water.

Quit that!............

 

[mcarroll]

Well...maybe generalizing at the genus level wasn't my intent......I doubt all Monti's are lagoon corals. ;P I think many of the old school ones are, however.

 

[mcarroll]

Basically putting my phone as near the water as possible without actually touching the water. I have zoas, candy canes, and mushrooms and they're all doing fine. I figured if it was truly 45,000 they be screaming "it burns it burns" guess the next step is to get an actual lux meter or try another app.

45,000 might be 900 PAR.....not off the charts (on the high side of normal).

But I don know that a Prime generates 900 PAR at 18" even according to the mfgr. Does it?

Possibly more than your tank needs, if so.