What PAR are SPS reefers running?

[Jimbo327]

I'm planning to measure my PAR this or next weekend. I was wondering what other SPS reefers are rocking on their tanks. And what kind of lighting do you guys use to get that PAR.

I'm thinking like 300-400 up top. 200's in the middle. And 100's on the sand. Right? But I also see others hitting like 500-700 up top.

 

[JojosReef]

Unintentional SPS here. I run a Saxby-type schedule with ups and downs throughout the day. Peaks at top of rocks are around 350. Sand around 200, tapering down to 100 at the edges. Easy SPS mostly, but a few acros hanging in there. Lighting is 3x Noopsyche K7 Minis over a 40 long AIO.

 

[bakbay]

I run 2x Radion G6 Blues using AB+ at 85%. Just set it and forget it — never measured PAR tbh.

I think the more important question to ask for SPS is flow. How many wavemakers and types or random flow? Sorry — I digressed.

 

[Daniel]

Definitely have a range - but most of mine are sitting around 350-550 PAR. I'm running 6x Orphek OR3 bars and one supplemental illumagic pixel.

 

[Jimbo327]

Wow, that's a neat tank. That light mount with those beefy aluminum. I like what you did with the lights. That's really good PAR for mounting the lights that high up.

 

[Jimbo327]

Unintentional SPS here. I run a Saxby-type schedule with ups and downs throughout the day. Peaks at top of rocks are around 350. Sand around 200, tapering down to 100 at the edges. Easy SPS mostly, but a few acros hanging in there. Lighting is 3x Noopsyche K7 Minis over a 40 long AIO.

Thanks for showing me your office reef when I picked up the RC group buy. That's a pretty cool office tank you got going.

 

[NickleCheese]

On average, from middle to the top, maybe 300.
I would recommend you get a PAR meter and good -quality light

 

[drexel]

For sps in general, I think 200 - 400 is a good range, but for acropora, that range may shift up a little. Intensity is only part of the equation, spectrum, quality and distribution (along with photo period) all play a role in success. You also don't want your lights to max out at 400 and not be able to drive them more (I'm talking LEDs here), halides and T5's are a different animal. I would much rather have quality of light at a slightly lower output, than more power with a narrow spectrum. Yes, I'm talking to the blue spectrum lovers, if you're keeping acropora and not providing them with warm whites or a more daylight spectrum at some point in the photo period, you're doing your animals an injustice.

 

[mchain275]

I run about 400 PAR towards the top and about 200 down on the sandbed. That's on a six foot tank with 3 XR30's at 55% point intensity and 4 60" Reefbrite strips at full intensity.

 

[NickleCheese]

For sps in general, I think 200 - 400 is a good range, but for acropora, that range may shift up a little. Intensity is only part of the equation, spectrum, quality and distribution (along with photo period) all play a role in success. You also don't want your lights to max out at 400 and not be able to drive them more (I'm talking LEDs here), halides and T5's are a different animal. I would much rather have quality of light at a slightly lower output, than more power with a narrow spectrum. Yes, I'm talking to the blue spectrum lovers, if you're keeping acropora and not providing them with warm whites or a more daylight spectrum at some point in the photo period, you're doing your animals an injustice.

This is similar to a problem i got for my tank in the past. i wanted to do SPS dominated tank but 4 of AI Hydra 32 couldnt provide enough light spectrum. My tank very matured and stable but some of the SPS still dying.
Then i bought some extra LED bars that provide more white light. The manufacture said the bars provide AB+ spectrum. Then measuring PAR lvl. Right now, all the SPS are good, no matter what kind of SPS.

 

[five.five-six]

Im just running 250 HQI lamps, think I'm 600 op top.

 

[Poochaku]

Definitely have a range - but most of mine are sitting around 350-550 PAR. I'm running 6x Orphek OR3 bars and one supplemental illumagic pixel.

View attachment 112492

what chair is this?

 

[Letsgotothezoo]

Daniel, mind you sharing the Orphek bar type from front to back ? The color looks amazing. How do you manage those 6 orphek power supplies ?

Definitely have a range - but most of mine are sitting around 350-550 PAR. I'm running 6x Orphek OR3 bars and one supplemental illumagic pixel.

View attachment 112492