Reefer525XL delux Par measurments

[takoattack]

Shout out to Aquadome, for having a loaner program for PAR meters.

Equipment: Red Sea Reefer 525XL with 3 AI Hydra26HDs placed equal distant on red sea's brackets. Sun System PAR meter with Apogee sensor.

Experiment 1: Using BRS's recommended AB+ program (based on coral lab studies from Ecotech based on their radion schedule AB+) Measure different locations in tank:

Experiment 2: t est intensity changes of different common program spectrums, and affect of modifying cool white (cw) channel intensity on AB+.

Fixed location:

 

 

Data: 

		Hydra 26 HD
Program Name	PAR	UV	V	RY	B	G	DR	CW
AB+ (BRS calc)	211	118	101	82	65	6	5	19
AB+ whites 30	224	118	101	82	65	6	5	30
AB+ whites 40	234	118	101	82	65	6	5	40
AB+ whites 50	246	118	101	82	65	6	5	50
AB+ whites 60	254	118	101	82	65	6	5	60
AB+ whites 70	263	118	101	82	65	6	5	70
AB+ whites 80	272	118	101	82	65	6	5	80
AB+ whites 90	280	118	101	82	65	6	5	90
AB+ whites 100	294	118	101	82	65	6	5	100
AB+ whites 110	297	118	101	82	65	6	5	110
AB+ whites 120	305	118	101	82	65	6	5	120
AB+ whites 130	312	118	101	82	65	6	5	130
AB+ whites 137	322	118	101	82	65	6	5	137
Saxby (first peak)	294	40	64	114	105	8	11	66
Sexby Lo (first peak)	261	40	64	101	99	8	11	44

 

Key takeaways:

Ripple in surface water can cause +/- 30 PAR excursions, based on bending light. Testing was performed with pumps off. 

Hydra26 spread was mostly even in the middle of the tank, however the front and back of the tank lost a lot of light. I think I will eventually build a floating hood fixture and add supplemental T5s in the front and back. Those Hybrid fixtures with LED pucks in the middle would be ideal. 

I was running Saxby for a while, which was a little too much PAR in my opinion. AB+ program at 100% seems to be a good balance for mixed reef. 

My left island is mostly low in the middle and tall in the back. The low middle spots get more PAR than the back top. I did not expect that, and may add some more height to this island.

If I add diffusers to my hydras (I may) I will increase CW channel from 19% to something more like 50-70% to offset a loss of 15-20% PAR.  

 

[eddius-maximus]

How funny. I think I saw you in there today (Aquadome). I was upstairs buying a Linckia starfish. I would've introduced myself and said hello had I known!

[takoattack]

Ah yes, your 750 looks great.