what is a good PAR

TotalPetsPlus

TotalPetsPlus

New member
I have 108 3watt cree leds turned up about 65-75 percent 1/2 XPE royal blue and 1/2 XPG white . i took a reading of my led lighting i have from 180-220 par on my sand bed and 320-450 PAR as i get closer to the top with my leds turn all the way up i have 350-400 on the sand and 650-700 near top.
what is a good place to have my readings? i would like to get a clam. have some acro lps and softies now.
 
What is your lighting configuration? Number of led per heatsink and number of heatsinks? Your PAR seems low for that many watts of CREE. I'm curious if your drivers are not adjusted properly and you are under-driving the LEDs.
 
With 350-400 PAR on the sand you can keep most SPS, except some of very high light loving acros.You will be able to keep a clam like deresa and maxima.Crocea clams need more light,so you would need to get it on the rocks closer to top of your tank. Any LPS or softies you might want to put in the shade.
 
Well the first set is only at 65% power. The numbers seem right for that and the numbers for full power. With those PAR it's equivalent to a 250w halide and enough to keep maximas on the sand bed. I have mine on the bed getting about 200 PAR and my higher light acros getting 500-700 PAR near the top.
 
I have my royal blues at 750ma and the xpg at 1. what do you think the par should be?
I have a 1-1 ratio i heat sink 5 ft long spaced 1 inch apart and 2 inches on center
 
ToatlPetsPlus said:
I have my royal blues at 750ma and the xpg at 1. what do you think the par should be?
I have a 1-1 ratio i heat sink 5 ft long spaced 1 inch apart and 2 inches on center
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So you only have two rows of led running across pretty much the whole length of your tank? That makes more sense then, the par does sound about right for that configuration, and yes your drivers are adjusted properly for the LEDs. Most people will make smaller fixtures with clusters of led and hang several of those spaced out across the tank, which results in higher par levels underneath the fixtures, but the way you have it works just as well. I would stick between 80% to 100% with the fixture based on the numbers you are reading.
 
the heat sink is 10inches by 60 incheck 2 1/2 thick .i have more than 2 rows 4 rows deep and 26 long with and extra 4 blue leds i cant figure out how to get a picture here or i would upload it
just remeasured the switch must have not been tuned all the way up i have around 450-525 on the sand and at the ends of my tank around 250-325. the top of my tank is 850-900
 
poidog said:
I believe maximas are the most light demanding clam, followed by croceas then squamosas/deseras
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According to J.Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung in "The Reef Aquarium" book Tridacna Maxima "species doesn't require as much light as T.crocea,and can therefore be placed a little lover in the aquarium." Also researching other various forums and books I get the same info.I did once try T.crocea under 250W MH and it not survived,even though my maxima and deresa did great.
 
MMreefcrazy said:
According to J.Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung in "The Reef Aquarium" book Tridacna Maxima "species doesn't require as much light as T.crocea,and can therefore be placed a little lover in the aquarium." Also researching other various forums and books I get the same info.I did once try T.crocea under 250W MH and it not survived,even though my maxima and deresa did great.
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Huh. Didn't know that. Learn something new everyday!
 
You can keep any clam OTHER than Crocea on your sanded. Keep in mind that Crocea area also rock boring clams so they will do better high in your rockwork anyway. Placed on a flat rock in your sand and they will end up boring right through it.

Other than that the most simple break down without getting into individual species is:

  • SPS - 200+
  • LPS 100-200
  • Softies 30-100
  • Crocea Clams 300+
  • Other Clams 150+
 
ToatlPetsPlus said:
the heat sink is 10inches by 60 incheck 2 1/2 thick .i have more than 2 rows 4 rows deep and 26 long with and extra 4 blue leds i cant figure out how to get a picture here or i would upload it
just remeasured the switch must have not been tuned all the way up i have around 450-525 on the sand and at the ends of my tank around 250-325. the top of my tank is 850-900
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Those are more the numbers I was expecting to see from that many LEDs. Glad you figured out why it was so low. You are good for anything you want to keep in there!
 
whats the distance sandbed to lights?

man i really need to get my hands on a PAR meter to see what im putting out in my DT and frag tank. one of these days i guess.
 
WeePee said:
whats the distance sandbed to lights?

man i really need to get my hands on a PAR meter to see what im putting out in my DT and frag tank. one of these days i guess.
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If I can ever get a response from PayPal we can get this loaner going.
 
SkullV said:
You can keep any clam OTHER than Crocea on your sanded. Keep in mind that Crocea area also rock boring clams so they will do better high in your rockwork anyway. Placed on a flat rock in your sand and they will end up boring right through it.

Other than that the most simple break down without getting into individual species is:

  • SPS - 200+
  • LPS 100-200
  • Softies 30-100
  • Crocea Clams 300+
  • Other Clams 150+
Click to expand...

Is there an article somewhere stating those numbers?
 
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