apogee SQ-420 readings from led

Renzema · 03/24/2016, 10:15 AM

I'm really hoping I'm doing something wrong because my light levels look really low. I know PAR readings are very accurate with led's, but what I'm getting doesn't seem helpful at all.

I have a a Nano-Box Duo Plus M. The current settings for day time light is 80% on all channels other than white, which is 40%.

Using the SQ-420, hooked into a laptop. I have it set to daylight, and has been calibrated.

My readings are about 300 at the center surface of the tank. By the time I reach the first coral(about 4" under) it is at 150. Once to where most of my sps is(about 6-8" under) it is reading 90-100. At the bottom near my clams, I'm getting of reading of 60-70.

This just doesn't seem right since, my corals are growing an have decent color. The clams aren't trying to move, and look very healthy. I have looked at their webpage, and even at maxed out I'm not getting the readings they have on their page.

Any advice is appreciated, and thank you for the help.

alton · 03/24/2016, 12:16 PM

Your whites will always read better with PAR, so with them turned down to 40% is probably your reason for your lower numbers? Also most Sps do not require a ton of PAR, I have had great luck only using numbers around 150

Renzema · 03/24/2016, 12:36 PM

Thank you that is very helpful. A lot of them came out of tanks with around 250 par. So was concerned about losing that great color.

Also worried about the squamosa at the bottom.

zsuman101 · 03/24/2016, 02:27 PM

Squamosas' do not require as intense light as maxis or or croceas' IME. As far as your corals go you said everything thing is looking nice and growing , doesn't get better than that mr good luck

03/24/2016, 10:15 AM	#1
Renzema Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 297	apogee SQ-420 readings from led I'm really hoping I'm doing something wrong because my light levels look really low. I know PAR readings are very accurate with led's, but what I'm getting doesn't seem helpful at all. I have a a Nano-Box Duo Plus M. The current settings for day time light is 80% on all channels other than white, which is 40%. Using the SQ-420, hooked into a laptop. I have it set to daylight, and has been calibrated. My readings are about 300 at the center surface of the tank. By the time I reach the first coral(about 4" under) it is at 150. Once to where most of my sps is(about 6-8" under) it is reading 90-100. At the bottom near my clams, I'm getting of reading of 60-70. This just doesn't seem right since, my corals are growing an have decent color. The clams aren't trying to move, and look very healthy. I have looked at their webpage, and even at maxed out I'm not getting the readings they have on their page. Any advice is appreciated, and thank you for the help.

03/24/2016, 12:16 PM	#2
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	Your whites will always read better with PAR, so with them turned down to 40% is probably your reason for your lower numbers? Also most Sps do not require a ton of PAR, I have had great luck only using numbers around 150

03/24/2016, 12:36 PM	#3
Renzema Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 297	Thank you that is very helpful. A lot of them came out of tanks with around 250 par. So was concerned about losing that great color. Also worried about the squamosa at the bottom.

03/24/2016, 02:27 PM	#4
zsuman101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 434	Squamosas' do not require as intense light as maxis or or croceas' IME. As far as your corals go you said everything thing is looking nice and growing , doesn't get better than that mr good luck