Par equipment?

Mikenroe · 01/20/2016, 01:02 PM

Hi there, I live in Gilbert AZ. My system profile is included in my signature. However does anyone have or know of anyone that would let me borrow their par meter? I'm not sure if any of the LFS would have them. However I feel like I should be getting more growth than I am. I have 3 regular ai hydra over my tank. I don't have the 52's, would that be better to upgrade to? My corals are growing just not as fast as I want. My water parameters are great. No3- .1, PO 4- 0.03 (working on getting this lower), Ca- 435, alk- 8.3, Mg- 1380, salinity 1.025. Any suggestions on getting better growth on my sps specifically. I run chem pure elite in my sump and change it every two months, I also have a really good skimmer, I run a uv sterilizer (however the bulb is in need to be changed), I have just got a apex and I'll be getting a doser pump to simplify my dosing but as it is now I dose daily ca and alk. I also add red seas coral color supplements twice weekly at 1 mL for parts A-D. I add fuel once a week, way under the recommended dose, plus twice week I add 1 mL of oyster feast and roti feast. I do a water change every other week of 35 gal. Any advice?

scooter31707 · 01/20/2016, 01:28 PM

Since you already have the Apex, just go-ahead and purchase this. Then you will have your own for a lifetime.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/par-mo...e-systems.html

slief · 01/20/2016, 02:35 PM

Check the local/regional club section below. The local clubs often have them available for local members to use. I would post in the club section closest to you and see if anybody in your are has one you can borrow.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=537

Mikenroe · 01/21/2016, 08:11 PM

Thanks guys! Great advice!

C3hutson · 01/22/2016, 12:49 AM

For SPS I would think with what I am assuming is a 6 foot tank, you should have 4 hydra 52s mounted parallel with the short width of your tank. IE when you look at your tank straight on, you should be looking at the narrow end of 4 hydras.

Mikenroe · 01/22/2016, 09:32 AM

C3Hutson, my 3 hydra's are mounted the opposite direction. Why do you say to mount them parallel to the short side of the tank. I don't have the ai 52's. Mine are the updated wireless 26. Do the 52's put out more. Maybe I should look to upgrade to the 52 and add another light.

C3hutson · 01/22/2016, 12:01 PM

The idea is that you are able to hit the front and back of coral by arranging them like this rather than just a thin row of spotlights. Think about the shading that you get on the front and back of the SPS with the clusters in a line vs the clusters staggering the front and backside of the corals

Mikenroe · 01/25/2016, 08:39 PM

Interesting, I have 7 sps in my tank and all are doing great but if I think about it they are all kind of in the middle. Maybe I'll look to get two more and I'll get the 52's and then upgrade my other three to 52's. Thanks the suggestions.

01/20/2016, 01:02 PM	#1
Mikenroe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 129	Par equipment? Hi there, I live in Gilbert AZ. My system profile is included in my signature. However does anyone have or know of anyone that would let me borrow their par meter? I'm not sure if any of the LFS would have them. However I feel like I should be getting more growth than I am. I have 3 regular ai hydra over my tank. I don't have the 52's, would that be better to upgrade to? My corals are growing just not as fast as I want. My water parameters are great. No3- .1, PO 4- 0.03 (working on getting this lower), Ca- 435, alk- 8.3, Mg- 1380, salinity 1.025. Any suggestions on getting better growth on my sps specifically. I run chem pure elite in my sump and change it every two months, I also have a really good skimmer, I run a uv sterilizer (however the bulb is in need to be changed), I have just got a apex and I'll be getting a doser pump to simplify my dosing but as it is now I dose daily ca and alk. I also add red seas coral color supplements twice weekly at 1 mL for parts A-D. I add fuel once a week, way under the recommended dose, plus twice week I add 1 mL of oyster feast and roti feast. I do a water change every other week of 35 gal. Any advice? __________________ System: 160 gal, AI Hydra Lights x 3, Vortech MP 40 x 2, Eshopps RS 300, Bubble Magus NAC 9, Emperor UV, ATO Top off. Filtration: 180lbs Live Rock, 240lbs live sand, 10lbs Rubble, Chaeto Ball. Current Tank Info: 160 gal mixed reef w/ a sump and refugium.

01/20/2016, 02:35 PM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	Check the local/regional club section below. The local clubs often have them available for local members to use. I would post in the club section closest to you and see if anybody in your are has one you can borrow. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=537 __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476

01/21/2016, 08:11 PM	#4
Mikenroe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 129	Thanks guys! Great advice! __________________ System: 160 gal, AI Hydra Lights x 3, Vortech MP 40 x 2, Eshopps RS 300, Bubble Magus NAC 9, Emperor UV, ATO Top off. Filtration: 180lbs Live Rock, 240lbs live sand, 10lbs Rubble, Chaeto Ball. Current Tank Info: 160 gal mixed reef w/ a sump and refugium.

01/22/2016, 09:32 AM	#6
Mikenroe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 129	C3Hutson, my 3 hydra's are mounted the opposite direction. Why do you say to mount them parallel to the short side of the tank. I don't have the ai 52's. Mine are the updated wireless 26. Do the 52's put out more. Maybe I should look to upgrade to the 52 and add another light. __________________ System: 160 gal, AI Hydra Lights x 3, Vortech MP 40 x 2, Eshopps RS 300, Bubble Magus NAC 9, Emperor UV, ATO Top off. Filtration: 180lbs Live Rock, 240lbs live sand, 10lbs Rubble, Chaeto Ball. Current Tank Info: 160 gal mixed reef w/ a sump and refugium.

01/25/2016, 08:39 PM	#8
Mikenroe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 129	Interesting, I have 7 sps in my tank and all are doing great but if I think about it they are all kind of in the middle. Maybe I'll look to get two more and I'll get the 52's and then upgrade my other three to 52's. Thanks the suggestions. __________________ System: 160 gal, AI Hydra Lights x 3, Vortech MP 40 x 2, Eshopps RS 300, Bubble Magus NAC 9, Emperor UV, ATO Top off. Filtration: 180lbs Live Rock, 240lbs live sand, 10lbs Rubble, Chaeto Ball. Current Tank Info: 160 gal mixed reef w/ a sump and refugium.

01/20/2016, 01:28 PM	#2
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Since you already have the Apex, just go-ahead and purchase this. Then you will have your own for a lifetime. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/par-mo...e-systems.html

01/22/2016, 12:49 AM	#5
C3hutson Moved On Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 358	For SPS I would think with what I am assuming is a 6 foot tank, you should have 4 hydra 52s mounted parallel with the short width of your tank. IE when you look at your tank straight on, you should be looking at the narrow end of 4 hydras.

01/22/2016, 12:01 PM	#7
C3hutson Moved On Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 358	The idea is that you are able to hit the front and back of coral by arranging them like this rather than just a thin row of spotlights. Think about the shading that you get on the front and back of the SPS with the clusters in a line vs the clusters staggering the front and backside of the corals