Saturation PAR levels

[snaza]

Just reading this article where it lists the saturation point of SPS

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007...ew?searchterm=

Anyway it appears that the saturation of most is about 200-300 PAR. If thats the case then why do so many tanks have SPS that get 500-1000 PAR. Is that just a waste or am i missing something?

Thanks

[SunnyX]

Great article. I find this interesting but not surprising:

"After years of examining lighting systems and tinkering with various lighting combinations (and ‘asking’ zooxanthellae how much light they prefer), it seems obvious that relatively low light levels are better than higher levels for most of the animals/zooxanthellae examined. Certainly, it appears that 200-300 µmol photons·m²·second (~10,000 – 15,000 lux) is enough light to saturate photosynthesis in many cases."

[dean1977]

The LFS has 250 watt MH on a 1600gal tank that is at least 40 inches deep and they have high color acros and clams growing like crazy more than halfway down the tank. I dont think there are any acros on the bottom but the clam is (a huge T.max) The lowest acros are probably about 3 feet deep.

[noboddi]

Originally posted by snaza
Just reading this article where it lists the saturation point of SPS

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007...ew?searchterm=

Anyway it appears that the saturation of most is about 200-300 PAR. If thats the case then why do so many tanks have SPS that get 500-1000 PAR. Is that just a waste or am i missing something?

Thanks

The last Ritteri anemone I kept parked itself directly under a 250 watt MH bulb 10" above it. I am dubious about the 300 PAR saturation because that is just not me experience

[kruxy]

i haven't seen tanks with 500 to 1000 at the bottom of the tank. The higher wattage lamps are usually used to get acceptable pars at depth... that there is excess at the top is a byproduct of making use of the whole volume of water.