High Tide Aquatics

PAR data

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Gablami

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As @yellojello suggested in the PAR meter borrowing thread, maybe it would be helpful for some to have data posted regarding PAR levels at different depths, as many of us have similar equipment. Given that there are differences in tank size, light height/configuration, this may still be useful.

I have a 5 foot long, Reefer XL 525. I have two AP700 units oriented parallel to the tank, spaced relatively evenly. The pucks are 12 inches from the water surface.

I tested at water surface (just above water), ~5 inches below, ~10 inch below, ~15 inch below and at the sand (~18.5 inches). Tested at whitish/blue lighting, at 30% intensity, 50% intensity, 75% intensity and 100% intensity. Point A is between two pucks on one unit, and point B is between the two AP700 units. As I got closer to the sand I needed to move towards the glass given the rock work, so it might be why the numbers increased down low.

8896f88f6f41256705244e7208f510b7.jpg


@100%
Depth A B
0 640 400
-5 370 300
-10 300 260
-15 270 250
sand 270 280


@75%
Depth A B
0 530 340
-5 300 240
-10 250 220
-15 220 210
sand 220 230


@50%
Depth A B
0 370 280
-5 240 180
-10 180 170
-15 170 160
sand 170 170


@30%
Depth A B
0 280 170
-5 160 120
-10 120 120
-15 110 110
sand 110 110

Note, I also tested directly under the puck, and it was within 5% of between the two pucks. Also, I previously tested with the slight diffusion kits, and it reduces PAR about 30% at multiple intensities.

If we can have similar testing posted with Radions, Hydras, etc, this might be helpful to others.
 
Like this thread! Nice start! PAR info is good stuff, but I think lighting schedule is just as important. Perhaps that data should be included as well.


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It'll also be interesting to see how PAR values changes through the day as you're going through your own light cycle.
 
And then I'll toss the monkey wrench into the works when we're discussing Kessils (and perhaps other LED's.) Kessil insists and has the data to support that PAR value is meaningless with Kessils. It's PUR value that's the pertinent measurement. The early rule of themb was to add 20% to PAR value for Kessils, but that's very imprecise at various levels. So -- who has a PUR meter? :)
 
Haha yeah, I'll leave that to others. But I think it's helpful to have a ballpark. Like I said, every tank is going to be a different, but at least people will have an idea whether their corals are under 100 or 300 light, for instance.


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Bruce Spiegelman said:
Also you only tested directly blow the pucks. What about the edges of the aquarium? Or between the lights? :)
Click to expand...
And I did test between pucks and below pucks. They surprisingly weren't that different for me. I've got a whole nother row of numbers that I didn't type in.


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Bruce Spiegelman said:
And then I'll toss the monkey wrench into the works when we're discussing Kessils (and perhaps other LED's.) Kessil insists and has the data to support that PAR value is meaningless with Kessils. It's PUR value that's the pertinent measurement. The early rule of themb was to add 20% to PAR value for Kessils, but that's very imprecise at various levels. So -- who has a PUR meter? :)
Click to expand...
The seneye gives a PUR measurement.
 
Here are my numbers:

The first five photos I just used the same photo with all lights on and same distance, so the color is not representative of some of the charts like LED only and T5 only.

Display tank setup: Dual 250w Radium SE in Lumen Bright reflectors with LuxCore 250w ballasts Super Lumen setting, Single T5 54w ATI Purple Plus in back, Single 48" Reefbrite Tech LED Actinic Blue in front, 120g 48x24x24, center brace on top middle

Dual 250w Radium SE, a little over 1 year old, bottom of reflector 7.5" from water, bulb an extra 3". T5 is off, but I think I forgot to turn off the Reefbrite LED which might boost a tiny bit:

IMG_8254_PAR-RADIUM-OLD-BULB 7.5in.jpg


Dual 250w Radium SE, Brand new, few days old, bottom of reflector 7.5" from water. T5 and LED are off:

IMG_8254_PAR-RADIUM-NEW-BULB 7.5in.jpg


Same as previous, but bottom of reflector is 11" from water:

IMG_8254_PAR-RADIUM-NEW-BULB-11in.jpg


Reefbrite LED only, 7" from water. MH and T5 off:

IMG_8254_PAR-RADIUM-Reefbrite.jpg


T5 on only, 7" from water. MH and LED off:

IMG_8254_PAR-RADIUM-T5-Purple.jpg


Frag Tank Setup: 4 Bulb T5 39W, staggered 2 x ATI Blue Plus, 2 x ATI Coral Plus. IceCap 660 Ballast. 40g breeder 36x16x15.

12" from water:

IMG_8253-PAR-Frag-Tank-12in.jpg


6" from water:

IMG_8252-PAR-Frag-Tank-6in.jpg
 
Last edited:
Measured at 11 A.M. yesterday. Also took measurements at 12:30, 3, and at 6:40. The average for the difference was less than 10% in either direction. These lights are still on acclimation mode which completes in a couple of days, so this is pretty much what the tank has been seeing. The left Vega color is definitely brighter than the right one which I had suspected.

PAR_values_061917_11am_small.jpg
 
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