Light intensity

edc_aquarium

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For my nano tank I got a led black box and it has adjustable intensity and I don’t know what intensity to set it at can you help?
 

mcarroll

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Get a light meter – everything between "an overcast day" and "full noon summer sun" is more or less fine, depending on your goals.

(Cost is $free on up, so there's no reason to guess at lighting anymore.)
 

Finhead

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I'll also add once you get a meter you need to adjust your PAR according to what your keeping in the tank. Do you have Softies, LPS or any SPS?
 

mcarroll

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You have a chance to at least check out some of the free lux meter apps for your smartphone yet? Check out "Galactica luxmeter" if you're on IOS...but there are a ton of them on both major smartphone platforms.
 

saltyfilmfolks

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With a B.B. over such a small tank, I would leave white at 1% and the blue probaly only at 20% or so.

That’s based on mounting the light at 12” from the top of the tank.
The closer the Light is the more power obviously. And the B.B. have a LOT of power.

The blue white ratio is mostly for the eye. So if you play with it and find a good color ,balance. just keep that ratio and drop the lower one to 1%.

A fwiw , the 165w in general , at 1:1 ratio at 1% in each channel, the par at 12in from the light is about 200-250. At full it’s about 700-800.
 

Finhead

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BB light's only go down to 10%. So Just mount it a little higher like salty said 12" or more and go with a 3-1 ratio of blue (30%) and white (10%).
 

timnem70

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I have a similar set up. 25 cube. 18x18x18 and have a 16" SB Elite Reeflights 10" above waterline. Mostly LPS or Sand level coral right now but only have blues max out at 40% at peak and 10% peak whites. Could grow SPS at top of center peninsula style rockscape ive created. Very high PAR in center under these lights.
 
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