LIGHTING (To Target PARS (Slow/Careful) RAMP UP) How quickly? What Increments?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big E
Hi Wally,
....... Get the fixture down to a height where you're at 300-350 par at mid level in the tank. Early on you had the fixture way too high, but I think you know that now. You can work the LEDs back into the mix once the corals are doing good for a few months.
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Ed, I have one important last question.
I can easily Achieve 300-350 PARS at Mid Level as you suggest.
I did these measurements with a Quatum Meter Not too long ago.
[IMG]LIGHTING (To Target PARS RAMP UP) How quickly? What Increments?[/IMG]
Please note my Bulbs are 250W MH [Pheonix 14K] (, but my Ballast is switchable so I can go 150W, 175W, 250W and HQI)
The T5's are 1x [ATI Coral Plus] and 1x [ATI Blue Plus], both with Reflectors.
So based on those measurements
I'm NOW around 200 PARS with (with MH@175W and both T5's ON)
HOW SHOULD I MOVE Towards getting to 300-350 PARS?
I have two ways to get there, and that is my planned approach.
Step 1) Slowly
Lower MH Light Fixture
Step 2) Then
Switch Ballast to Next Power Level and Raise Light Fixture
------> This is to keep PARS same as I enter new Power Level
Step 3) Then continue from Step 1.
So the question is how MANY PARS can I increase (Safely) for each Increment?
And at what rate? (Increase every Week, Every Month,....)
I didn't measure below 12" but I can easily rent the Quantum Meter again.
I mention this since I may not want to use HQI Setting to get to 290PARS at 12" Fixture Height. (Since HQI decreases bulb life)
I will be better off staying at 250W and lower below 12" which I need to measure again.
Going below 12" reduces the Spread and since I have Narrow MH Reflectors, spread gets a bit spotty.