What PAR levels are your happy chalices getting?

Acroholic · Feb 10, 2009

Has anyone checked the PAR levels for their chalices that are growing well in their systems. Please share if you have. Thanks!
Dave

Acroholic · Feb 10, 2009

No one has ever checked the PAR levels their chalices are receiving?

AquaWorldPSC · Feb 10, 2009

Mine range from 175-225

mpoletti · Feb 10, 2009

Mine does well on the sandbed

Hypertek99 · Feb 10, 2009

Yeah mine does well on the sanbed or shaded area. Don't have a par meter to check.

fragfarmer · Feb 28, 2009

Mine seem to continue having problems bleaching and fading under T-5's. I even tried adding more Blue light's and still no luck. Any one getting good colors and growth under T-5's?

dieselab · Feb 28, 2009

I found with T5's, its best to place them under a cliff with no direct light.

Alti · Feb 28, 2009

Mine seem to grow best between 100-150. Higher light brings out some nicer colors, but I dont consider them happy at those levels. The growth is actually slower. They start to brown out completely at 80 or less but they still grow just as fast if not faster at the lower levels.

fragfarmer · Feb 28, 2009

Is the T-5 Lighting higher, lower or the same PAR as MH? I know it depends on what wattage your are comparing to, but are we underestimating the brightness of these bulbs?

The combination below I am using now I had great results with on my last tank. It did take 6-9 months for the corals to adapt to the lights back then. Not sure what it is but it is frustrating.

Here is the combination I am using and have used before with success. TEK-5 8 bulb Fixture

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI AB Special
ATI Pro Color
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Actinic
ATI Blue Plus

Everything seems faded and bleached....

Ladipyg · Feb 28, 2009

I have ordered T5 lighting for my upgrade to my 120 tank. 8 bulb fixture. I have seen friends with T5's and their colors are unbelievable, but they have had to shorten their photo period considerably to prevent the corals from bleaching out. I think our club has a PAR meter I can borrow...when my tank is set up I am going to check the difference from the MH / T5 combo I run now and what straight T5's will be. Right now my chalices sit on the bottom of my tank on the sand bed. They all seem to be doing just fine.

fragfarmer · Feb 28, 2009

I would hate to lose these new pickups

sharkbyte1023 · Feb 28, 2009

Very nice pick ups Eric! Get them happy and then get them on the site. It's been a long time since i have seen anything new.

FaviaFreak · Feb 28, 2009

Eric, try placing them under the eggcrate or off to the side out of the way of the direct light, so that the light they are getting is diffused and low, sounds like your bleaching might be too much light, also I know certain Mg levels can affect chalices but I am willing to bet it is the lights. I think they need more time to adjust to the higher par levels and just a flicker of diffused light will keep them happy. I have a Mummy EYe that gets barley a flicker and it has unbelivable colors...worth a try

BTW those are all gorgeous pieces!!!!

fragfarmer · Feb 28, 2009

Favia Freak, after posting in quite a few threads and reading even a few more, it seems that high light might be the case here. MG, CA and KH are all in range. Tank is a little to on the sterile side. The tank is only 14" and everything is on the SB with the lights being at least another 14" from waterline.

These T-5's are ptting out more par than we think then, right:neutral:

fragfarmer · Feb 28, 2009

sharkbyte1023 said:
Very nice pick ups Eric! Get them happy and then get them on the site. It's been a long time since i have seen anything new.

Yes it has been way too long. Still a little ways to go. Trying to find the right help that knows what they are doing:cry:

FaviaFreak · Mar 1, 2009

fragfarmer said:
Favia Freak, after posting in quite a few threads and reading even a few more, it seems that high light might be the case here. MG, CA and KH are all in range. Tank is a little to on the sterile side. The tank is only 14" and everything is on the SB with the lights being at least another 14" from waterline.

These T-5's are ptting out more par than we think then, right:neutral:

yes, and these pieces are fresh from the ocean where they were prolly collected under overhangs and in deeper waters not getting a ton of light, so if you have a seperate tank to place all your enchino's you could try placing them all in one of your holding tanks soley dedicated to enchino's and then either riase the lights even higher or using screening to diffuse the light to a flicker, I bet after a week or two you will seem them all begin to color up and be happy once again, are these pieces for your wholesale customers?

I love that first one!