I took lots of PAR measurments on my Radion

[kevensquint]

Hi, I am new to LED and in the past used 10k+14k+20k MH at different times throughout the day to get a similar natural day light effect that the Radion does so easily. But, since we have the option of building our own programs to our taste and needs, I thought, how can I just make a program without knowing the PAR values at different settings ? My brain is still in MH where 6500k-10k bulbs give very high PAR and 12k-20k less....My measurments show that the Radion does not work the same way. So I took and apogee quantum meter and attached the sensor to a PVC pipe that was straight in the tank between the 2 LED units. I measured at 7" deep, 12" deep and 18" deep. BTW, this is only for information to get a rough idea of PAR since my method and or instrument may not be as good as a laboratory.
7" deep:
Pre-programmed in the radion color temps:
5k= 220
7k=290
10k=355
12k=400
14k=380
18k=330
20k=310
everything at 50%=145

12" deep:
5k=185
7k=240
10k=295
12k=396
14k=305
18k=270
20k=255
Deep blue=110
all blue=195
blue=85
white/royal=210
white=105
white/red=115
red=20
everything set to 50%=115

18" deep:
5k=115
7k=150
10k=180
12k=205
14k=170
18k=170
20k=160
everything set to 50%=75

I noticed that when I increased or decreased the red and the green LED's the PAR barely changed at all, so for myself I will use those colors for esthetic ajustments only. Hope this helps Radion owners build programs that suit their needs.

[coopj]

What are the PAR at 100%? I thought sps growth would be best at 400+ PAR. Can you get 400+ PAR at 12" with the Radion set at 80-100%?

[manchreef7]

Honestly those numbers seem kinda low. Maybe the programmibility, aesthetics, etc.. Justify the high price tag

[kevensquint]

The 12k readings are everything at 100% so at 12" its just about 400. I would say it may be more than 400 in reality because my water is not cristal clear and the surface distortion from the power heads will lower the reading a bit. Either way my LFS has them over his display since they came out last fall and his sps look great and have growth. I would'nt use the PAR values so much as a higher is better kinda thing, more like a guide so you know what your dealing with when building a program. Remember reefers have success for corals with many kinds of lighting even less PAR emitting types.

[karsseboom]

Seem about right. Skull tested his radion and the results looked about the same. 200 on the sand bed is fine for sps.

[manchreef7]

How high above surface is fixture?

[kevensquint]

10" above the water

[manchreef7]

Is it simply the optics that cause the ai fixture to have higher numbers?

[rodneyri]

numbers look similar for LED, i measured my illumina at 20" depth with 100% on all chanels i had 220 on the sandbed

[m2434]

Originally Posted by manchreef7

Is it simply the optics that cause the ai fixture to have higher numbers?

Yes of course. They essentially use the same LEDs and the Radio. Has almost twice the power. So, the Radion really has to have roughly twice the light output. Point estimates of PAR just tell you how focused the light is. Heck I tested a little laser pointer and got almost 500 PAR LOL. PAR is useless without considering spread. However most LEDs on the market should have roughly the same efficiency, so, if you want to get a sense of the total output, PAR and spread, wattage will give you a pretty good idea.