Chinese black box, how bright should it be.

Tgreen182 · 11/15/2015, 01:15 PM

I'm pretty sure my retrofit job may be overkill. I've got a 120watt Chinese black box. It has 27 14000k white and 28 460nm blue LED. They are on separate dimmer knobs. I placed the LED panel inside my stripped 29 biocube hood. All that's in the hood is upgrades fans and the panel. I extended the black box portion to be mounted in my stand, it's a pretty cool setup to me I'm enjoying it. BUT, if I have mostly softies and some sps what should the dimmers be set to. It's only a few inches from the waters surface. And I don't want to blast to much light. Any input is appreciated.

Ron Reefman · 11/15/2015, 02:55 PM

Brightness is absolutely no indication of PAR. Our eyes and coral 'see' light very differently. In order to get a real safe way to tell, you need to borrow a PAR meter from somebody.

Or just start very low and slowly work the power levels up over weeks until you are happy or you bleach a coral.

Tgreen182 · 11/15/2015, 04:21 PM

I have access to a par meter. What Par am I looking for on an 18inch depth.

11/15/2015, 01:15 PM	#1
Tgreen182 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Monmouth County, NJ Posts: 19	Chinese black box, how bright should it be. I'm pretty sure my retrofit job may be overkill. I've got a 120watt Chinese black box. It has 27 14000k white and 28 460nm blue LED. They are on separate dimmer knobs. I placed the LED panel inside my stripped 29 biocube hood. All that's in the hood is upgrades fans and the panel. I extended the black box portion to be mounted in my stand, it's a pretty cool setup to me I'm enjoying it. BUT, if I have mostly softies and some sps what should the dimmers be set to. It's only a few inches from the waters surface. And I don't want to blast to much light. Any input is appreciated.

11/15/2015, 02:55 PM	#2
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Brightness is absolutely no indication of PAR. Our eyes and coral 'see' light very differently. In order to get a real safe way to tell, you need to borrow a PAR meter from somebody. Or just start very low and slowly work the power levels up over weeks until you are happy or you bleach a coral. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

11/15/2015, 04:21 PM	#3
Tgreen182 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Monmouth County, NJ Posts: 19	I have access to a par meter. What Par am I looking for on an 18inch depth.