what kind of lighting do i have?

squishifishi · 03/11/2013, 10:19 PM

My light is an RGB 10 watt LED lightbulb. it is placed about 1/2 inch away from the water surface of my 2.5 gallon aquarium. so, all 10 watts are going directly into the tiny tank, but less than half of that is blue light and i'm unsure if the other colors are usable to coral. Would this be considered low, medium, or high light for growing corals. I assumed it was low bt the LFS guy suggested otherwise. It'scalled a KULER bulb if you're curious.
thanks for any replies!!!

squishifishi · 03/13/2013, 08:35 PM

anyone have thoughts on this? i just don't want to go blow a ton of money on a high light coral only to have it die from not enough light, or on the other end, a low light coral that will never fully open under the glare.
please, all replies are greatly appreciated!

nikon187 · 03/13/2013, 09:20 PM

You will never know without a par meter to tell you the avalible par at given depths. Unfortunatly a par meter is 300 bucks

squishifishi · 03/13/2013, 09:37 PM

what???

nikon187 · 03/13/2013, 11:50 PM

par meters measure how much usable light you have at any depth under the water. Corals require a certain ammount of light to grow ( all are different ) The meter would tell you what kind of growing power you had with your light. That would be the only way to determine what you could grow with your light.

A par meter costs about 300 bucks so not a cheap option, only other way would be to try some corals and see.

Google t5, metal halide , led par readings and take a look.

Michigan Mike · 03/14/2013, 02:48 AM

It sounds like the wattage is enough but less than half are blue isnt a good sign.

squishifishi · 03/14/2013, 06:43 AM

so, does 3.3333333334 watts of blue light+ other colors+overflow from other tanks and room=enough to grow...high light corals... or other.
whew, that was waay confusing sorry!
thanks!

03/11/2013, 10:19 PM	#1
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	what kind of lighting do i have? My light is an RGB 10 watt LED lightbulb. it is placed about 1/2 inch away from the water surface of my 2.5 gallon aquarium. so, all 10 watts are going directly into the tiny tank, but less than half of that is blue light and i'm unsure if the other colors are usable to coral. Would this be considered low, medium, or high light for growing corals. I assumed it was low bt the LFS guy suggested otherwise. It'scalled a KULER bulb if you're curious. thanks for any replies!!! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

03/13/2013, 08:35 PM	#2
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	anyone have thoughts on this? i just don't want to go blow a ton of money on a high light coral only to have it die from not enough light, or on the other end, a low light coral that will never fully open under the glare. please, all replies are greatly appreciated! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

03/13/2013, 09:20 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	You will never know without a par meter to tell you the avalible par at given depths. Unfortunatly a par meter is 300 bucks __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

03/13/2013, 09:37 PM	#4
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	what??? __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

03/13/2013, 11:50 PM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	par meters measure how much usable light you have at any depth under the water. Corals require a certain ammount of light to grow ( all are different ) The meter would tell you what kind of growing power you had with your light. That would be the only way to determine what you could grow with your light. A par meter costs about 300 bucks so not a cheap option, only other way would be to try some corals and see. Google t5, metal halide , led par readings and take a look. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

03/14/2013, 02:48 AM	#6
Michigan Mike Freedom costs a buckofive Join Date: May 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,002	It sounds like the wattage is enough but less than half are blue isnt a good sign.

03/14/2013, 06:43 AM	#7
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	so, does 3.3333333334 watts of blue light+ other colors+overflow from other tanks and room=enough to grow...high light corals... or other. whew, that was waay confusing sorry! thanks! __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp