AquaIllumination PAR Measurements

[moliken]

man, those readings are so similar to mine, it's amazing. i have slightly more about 90 on the sand bed and proportionately more throughout the water column running 100% just for the test.

[one4gatr]

Originally Posted by summitwynds

That grow panel is interesting, but way to pink for my taste. My freshwater tank is in our living room and I just can't picture it glowing pink.

Yeah... thought the same thing...not sure how "pink" they are in person. LED's never seem to photograph right lol....

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Here is what I got with them at 100% white, 100% blue, 100% royal blue.

Huge difference with the 40 degree optics when you move just an inch or two out from directly under them. The corals that I place on top of the arch are going to be getting all the par really.

Also the par meter would not register above the 2888.

[ksc]

Has anyone tested the par output after a year of use? It would be interesting to see how they are holding up.

[kmu]

Originally Posted by Y-DesygnGuy

Here is what I got with them at 100% white, 100% blue, 100% royal blue.

Huge difference with the 40 degree optics when you move just an inch or two out from directly under them. The corals that I place on top of the arch are going to be getting all the par really.

Also the par meter would not register above the 2888.

Thanks for the par numbers...

[freezetyle]

Originally Posted by ksc

Has anyone tested the par output after a year of use? It would be interesting to see how they are holding up.

very good point. i would like to see how one of the modules running 100% for a year would hold up to its initial numbers. all we have to wait for is to see if anyone can get to running their unit at 100% without bleaching/burning everything. haha

[drtrash]

Nice presentation, way to use all of the program. Have you fired up the T storm yet. Neat toy but too disturbing to me and fish

[Y-DesygnGuy]

Originally Posted by drtrash

Nice presentation, way to use all of the program. Have you fired up the T storm yet. Neat toy but too disturbing to me and fish

Thanks!

I do have the Thunderstorms set to have a 50% chance once a day. It actually went off this morning at 5:30 and I could see it flashing under the door to our bedroom. I got up thinking something was going on, totally forgot that the light would do that!

I was finally able to put that little leather frag I got from you in the tank yesterday, thanks again!

[wickedfish]

T storms at 10% I like them and the fish literally do not react to them.

[wickedfish]

Originally Posted by freezetyle

very good point. i would like to see how one of the modules running 100% for a year would hold up to its initial numbers. all we have to wait for is to see if anyone can get to running their unit at 100% without bleaching/burning everything. haha

No one can so this won't happen. Even at 50-70% your toasting some sps. They will last, my par ratings are the same as they were 4 months ago.

No issues with durability it's the intense light they put out that gets most of us led rookies which we all are.

[reefworldly]

quick question, are the fans on the modules automatic? meaning they will turn when it approaches a certain high temp? because mine dont turn when plugged in.... wondering if its be design or faulty fan

[one4gatr]

Originally Posted by reefworldly

quick question, are the fans on the modules automatic? meaning they will turn when it approaches a certain high temp? because mine dont turn when plugged in.... wondering if its be design or faulty fan

Yup... automatic. Mine doesnt turn on often but when it does it so quiet you need to be right on top of it to hear it.

[reefworldly]

So ive been pouring over as many forum posts about this subject,
i currently have one module over my 30x30x20 rimless cube tank, and it looks great, im figuring to switch out the optics to 70 degrees....
However, my tank is still cycling with nothing it it currently, and i was wondering, will i need to get another 2nd module, ive figured ive needed, but i am unsure,

and i suppose its general consensus that i must switch out the optics to 70 since im only running a 20" deep tank

what do you guys think and your opinion on how many modules i should run over a 30x30x20 rimless cube tank?

[killarsox]

Originally Posted by wickedfish

No one can so this won't happen. Even at 50-70% your toasting some sps. They will last, my par ratings are the same as they were 4 months ago.

No issues with durability it's the intense light they put out that gets most of us led rookies which we all are.

That's not necessarily true. I had my AI Sol White fixture at 90% white, 100% blue and my SPS looked great. There are definitely people out there running these lights at 100% White 100% Blue.

[hazmat319]

I've spent the last week going thru this entire thread. I'm so excited that my AI fixture is coming on Tuesday! I'm replacing my Solar Flare with 2 modules and going to mount them lengthwise. For now I'm keeping the stock optics.

There has been so much helpful information on this thread. Thanks to all who have contributed. I'm sure without it I would have fried my corals even thought the Solar Flare is pretty powerful.

[luibove]

I got my Sol Blue this past week after waiting 100yrs lol, no but it felt like that, I just installed today, I have my single sol 12" above the water line with stock optics, my tank dimension are 24"24"24" & this light kicks ***!!!, I have it controlled with a Profilux 3, didn't order AI crtl. I placed an order with AI for the additional 70 deg. optics, & those are now backordered! just call me the back-ordered king lol! Anyways, hope no one has asked this before, but do you recommend lowering the light after the 70 deg optics upgrade?

[wickedfish]

Originally Posted by killarsox

That's not necessarily true. I had my AI Sol White fixture at 90% white, 100% blue and my SPS looked great. There are definitely people out there running these lights at 100% White 100% Blue.

How long is your photo period at that %? Do you use a screen? How high are they off of the surface of the water? How low in your tank are your Sps? What type of sps? Tank dimensions? How many corals how far apart?

I actually would love for what you claim to be true in all honesty.


Something has to be unique about your setup. And please prove me wrong I have seen similar posts about your settings so I am not surprised to see your response. Updated pictures of your corals would be helpful.

Best Regards,

E

Someone started a settings for timers thread please post there AI owners and especially the veteran Ai owners.

[moliken]

yay heidi! glad to hear you are getting them. i am getting another module to make my 3rd. i am really happy. great PAR readings.

[hazmat319]

Originally Posted by moliken

yay heidi! glad to hear you are getting them. i am getting another module to make my 3rd. i am really happy. great PAR readings.

Yeah, Aquarium specialty had them in stock. And I got the OK from the hubby. Did you feel like 2 were not enough? Also, I couldn't open those pictures you sent. I didn't even realize I got them until a day ago. How are you going to mount the 3? I guess front to back then?

I'm a little apprehensive about burning my corals but there is enough information on here to hopefully prevent that.

[moliken]

i'm gonna go 1 horiz on the front rail and the other two vertical.it'll be perfect for my setup. i felt that 2 were excellent, full coverage horizontally, but 3 wil allow me to lower the rails. congrats on yours. youre gonna be thrilled.

[mnml]

You guys are a very bad influence!



I think I'm going to get a 3rd module tomorrow. Even with them mounted length-wise, I'm still not getting the coverage I'd like (my tank is 48x30x20)

Here's a pic of the pair, please ignore the wiring job. It'll be cleaned up once I get everything figured out.

Now I need to read through all the past threads to get an idea on the light settings. Suggestions welcome. I'm mostly a LPS, softies tank with a few clams.

[wickedfish]

So you went from ati to ai? Btw nice dimensions and I like your scape. When your nubs turn into colonies it will look sweet.

[mnml]

Yup ATI to AI. I'll be putting up my PM for sale next week. I've only had a few hours to play with the AI but so far I'm impressed with the controllable it is. Hopefully the corals will dig it too

[InfernoST]

Originally Posted by Y-DesygnGuy

Here is what I got with them at 100% white, 100% blue, 100% royal blue.

Huge difference with the 40 degree optics when you move just an inch or two out from directly under them. The corals that I place on top of the arch are going to be getting all the par really.

Also the par meter would not register above the 2888.

Thanks for taking the time to take and share the PAR readings.

This answers a lot of questions for me, now I know why I was cooking some of my corals when the lighting was 4" above the water running at 75%.

[CalmSeasQuest]

Great job on the PAR data Y-DesygnGuy!

One word of caution when comparing the PAR data....500 PAR under MH or TC is NOT the same thing as 500 PAR under LED.

PAR meters significantly underestimate PAR when sampling very blue or red light. I personally beleive this error to be far in excess of 20% at bluer settings. Here's an excerpt from another thread that contains a verification of this error from Apogee...

"I can tell you that the reason LED's are underestimated by the quantum sensor is due to the sensor's spectral response. As the attached graph illustrates, the sensor's spectral response is greatly limited in the blue and red regions. Essentially, this graph shows that the weighting factors are different for each wavelength. And the sensor itself works as a broadband sensor that integrates all wavelengths of light incident on it. So, since the weighting factors are different at each wavelength there is no practical way of knowing the contribution of each wavelength to the broadband signal that the sensor outputs.

In regards to specific testing and data for various types of LED's, unfortunately we do not have this information available. Sorry I could not be of more assistance.

Best Regards,

Jacob Bingham
Applications Engineer"

You can read the entire post here.

This might also partially explain how those running whiter settings are able to use higher PAR settings without bleaching (less deviation ifrom the PAR meter.)

Use the PAR data as a rough benchmark and adjust your initial settings for the error rate (tricky as it varies and no standard deviation is available.) The best way to determine ideal power settings is to make changes slowly and watch the response from your livestock.