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Wrasse/Angelfish nut!
Hi Everyone!
TLDR: Enjoy this Reef lighting DLI made simple calculator I made to make choosing your lighting settings easier. Target DLI over SPS of 10.5 (7-12.5 range) DLI, and
Target DLI over LPS of 5 (2-7 range) DLI.
So I went down the PAR & DLI rabbit hole because I haven't been 100% happy with my current light settings over my reef. I have a Hybrid fixture with 4x ATI T5s + 3x AI Hydra 26HD over my 100G main display. I don't really mess with my lighting, but I have felt for quite a few months that my corals could get even better colors. My PAR values have been mostly good (measured with my Apogee 520), but with all the flexibility on different spectrum options with LED sliders, ramp times, peak PAR, etc it can get quite complicated.
Most everyone is focused on peak PAR, Spectrum, and even coverage, which are all important... however I also believe that DLI also needs to be brought into the equation. When you add all those into the mix it can sometimes make setting ones lights pretty daunting. It's why I've considered ditching my hybrid fixture with dimmable LEDs, and making the switch back to solely a ATI T5 fixture, or maybe more simple to control LEDs with easy on/off switches.
So into the DLI calculator creation rabbit hole we go...
I decided to re-read the Ecotech Marine Coral Lab papers again:
Reef Wholesale - paper that gave us all the AB+ led settings that so many have used
World Wide Corals - Flow Basics paper but with good details on their lighting specs over their farm
Summary:
Reef Wholesale DLI over SPS - zone 1 - 300 PAR
7.56 peak - 7 hour
1.08 ramp - 2 hour total
8.64 total - 9 hour total
Reef Wholesale DLI over SPS - zone 2 - 225 PAR
5.67 peak - 7 hour
0.81 ramp - 2 hour total
6.48 total - 9 hour total
Reef Wholesale DLI over LPS - zone 1 - 75 par
1.89 peak
0.27 ramp
2.16 total
Reef Wholesale DLI over LPS - zone 2 - 50 par
1.26 peak
0.18 ramp
1.44 total
WWC
WWC DLI over SPS - assuming 250 par and no Blue/White period difference:
10.80 peak- 12 hour
0.90 ramp - 2 hour total
11.70 Total - 14 hour total
WWC DLI over SPS - assuming 250 par and a blue/white period:
5.40 white peak- 6 hour (250 par) or 5.94 if 275 par.
4.86 Blue peak - 6 hour (225 par)
0.90 ramp - 2 hour total
11.16 Total - 14 hour total
WWC DLI over LPS - 100 par
4.32 peak
0.36 ramp
4.68 Total
THEN
I watched through the WWC/BRS Hyrbid videos to get a complete understanding on the PAR levels and complete photoperiod that WWC uses over their 900G SPS, 500G SPS, and 293G Mixed Reef.
WWC DLI average over 900G SPS - 250 par 5 hour peak, and 200 par 7 hour blue
4.50 white peak- 5 hour (250 par) or 5.40 if 300 par.
5.04 Blue peak - 7 hour (200 par)
0.45 ramp - 1 hour total (125 par)
9.99 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (250 par)
10.89 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (300 par)
WWC DLI average over 500G SPS - 300 par 5 hour peak, and 225 par 7 hour blue
5.40 white peak- 5 hour (300 par) or 6.30 if 350 par.
5.67 Blue peak - 7 hour (225 par)
0.54 ramp - 1 hour total (150 par)
11.61 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (300 par)
12.51 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (350 par)
WWC DLI average over 293G Mixed LPS/SPS - 130 average par 5 hour peak, and 100 par 7 hour blue
2.34 white peak- 5 hour (130 par) or 4.41 if top by SPS par (245 par.
2.52 Blue peak - 7 hour (100 par) or 4.66 if top by SPS par (185 par).
0.22 ramp - 1 hour total (60 par).
5.08 Total - 12.5/13 hour total ( 130 average peak par.
9.29 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (245 by SPS peak par).
LASTLY
I on R2R, I asked Sabellafella for a detailed breakdown of his PAR, photoperiod, etc because he has some of the most incredible coral coloration I can think of. This is what he shared according to this post: Sabellafella's reply to me on his build thread. @Sabellafella , I hope you don't mind that I used the info you shared to create this.
I made a few assumptions on the PAR as listed below based on what he told me.
Sabellafella - high par area towards top of tank, 400-450 par. Lighting is 6x ATI T5, 2x Reefbrite XHO
8.64 full peak - 6 hour (400 par) or 9.72 if 450 par.
2.16 2x Blue plus & reefbrite ramp - 3 hour (assuming 200 par)
0.86 Reefbrite ramp - 3 hour total (assuming 80 par)
12.3 Total (450 par peak) 11 hour total
11.22 total (400 par peak) 11 hour total
Sabellafella - low par area towards bottom of tank, 250-300 par. Lighting is 6x ATI T5, 2x Reefbrite XHO
5.40 full peak - 6 hour (250 par) or 6.48 if 300 par.
1.62 2x Blue plus & reefbrite ramp - 3 hour (assuming 150 par)
0.65 Reefbrite ramp - 3 hour total (assuming 60 par)
7.67 Total (250 par peak) 11 hour total
8.75 total (300 par peak) 11 hour total
IN SUMMARY:
You'll probably notice the similarities in all of the DLI numbers from the different examples I pulled from. Basically: Target DLI over SPS of 10.5 (7-12.5 range), and Target DLI over LPS of 5 (2-7 range).
This all lead me to create this excel spreadsheet I could use to shoot for what I believe to be the ideal DLI numbers (when also making sure to hit the appropriate PAR, Spectrum, etc) to have your lighting set ideal for healthy, growing, and colorful corals.
Here are a screenshot of the calculator. Feel free to download and use the attached excel spreadsheet.
I think it would be awesome if this could be used to help aquaculture facilities, coral vendors, and hobbyist's show their lighting in detail to help advance the hobby and make choosing the right PAR, photoperiod, ramp periods, etc easier with all the possible lighting combinations out there. If you like this, please tag your favorite coral farmers to see if they might share their findings.
P.S. I hope you all don't mind getting tagged, but you're some of the best I can think of. @WWC @TSA Corals @Sabellafella @Pieces of the Ocean @Tidal Gardens @Reef Raft USA @Dana Riddle @uniquecorals @SBB Corals @Bulk Reef Supply
Let me know your thoughts, good & bad.
TLDR: Enjoy this Reef lighting DLI made simple calculator I made to make choosing your lighting settings easier. Target DLI over SPS of 10.5 (7-12.5 range) DLI, and
Target DLI over LPS of 5 (2-7 range) DLI.
So I went down the PAR & DLI rabbit hole because I haven't been 100% happy with my current light settings over my reef. I have a Hybrid fixture with 4x ATI T5s + 3x AI Hydra 26HD over my 100G main display. I don't really mess with my lighting, but I have felt for quite a few months that my corals could get even better colors. My PAR values have been mostly good (measured with my Apogee 520), but with all the flexibility on different spectrum options with LED sliders, ramp times, peak PAR, etc it can get quite complicated.
Most everyone is focused on peak PAR, Spectrum, and even coverage, which are all important... however I also believe that DLI also needs to be brought into the equation. When you add all those into the mix it can sometimes make setting ones lights pretty daunting. It's why I've considered ditching my hybrid fixture with dimmable LEDs, and making the switch back to solely a ATI T5 fixture, or maybe more simple to control LEDs with easy on/off switches.
So into the DLI calculator creation rabbit hole we go...
I decided to re-read the Ecotech Marine Coral Lab papers again:
Reef Wholesale - paper that gave us all the AB+ led settings that so many have used
World Wide Corals - Flow Basics paper but with good details on their lighting specs over their farm
Summary:
- Reef Wholesale aims for 300 par over Acros, and 225 for other SPS. 50 - 75 par for LPS
- Reef Wholesale - lower NO3 & PO4
- WWC aims for 250-275 par for Acros, and 75 - 100 par for LPS in farm grow out
- WWC - higher NO3 & PO4
Reef Wholesale DLI over SPS - zone 1 - 300 PAR
7.56 peak - 7 hour
1.08 ramp - 2 hour total
8.64 total - 9 hour total
Reef Wholesale DLI over SPS - zone 2 - 225 PAR
5.67 peak - 7 hour
0.81 ramp - 2 hour total
6.48 total - 9 hour total
Reef Wholesale DLI over LPS - zone 1 - 75 par
1.89 peak
0.27 ramp
2.16 total
Reef Wholesale DLI over LPS - zone 2 - 50 par
1.26 peak
0.18 ramp
1.44 total
WWC
WWC DLI over SPS - assuming 250 par and no Blue/White period difference:
10.80 peak- 12 hour
0.90 ramp - 2 hour total
11.70 Total - 14 hour total
WWC DLI over SPS - assuming 250 par and a blue/white period:
5.40 white peak- 6 hour (250 par) or 5.94 if 275 par.
4.86 Blue peak - 6 hour (225 par)
0.90 ramp - 2 hour total
11.16 Total - 14 hour total
WWC DLI over LPS - 100 par
4.32 peak
0.36 ramp
4.68 Total
THEN
I watched through the WWC/BRS Hyrbid videos to get a complete understanding on the PAR levels and complete photoperiod that WWC uses over their 900G SPS, 500G SPS, and 293G Mixed Reef.
WWC DLI average over 900G SPS - 250 par 5 hour peak, and 200 par 7 hour blue
4.50 white peak- 5 hour (250 par) or 5.40 if 300 par.
5.04 Blue peak - 7 hour (200 par)
0.45 ramp - 1 hour total (125 par)
9.99 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (250 par)
10.89 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (300 par)
WWC DLI average over 500G SPS - 300 par 5 hour peak, and 225 par 7 hour blue
5.40 white peak- 5 hour (300 par) or 6.30 if 350 par.
5.67 Blue peak - 7 hour (225 par)
0.54 ramp - 1 hour total (150 par)
11.61 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (300 par)
12.51 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (350 par)
WWC DLI average over 293G Mixed LPS/SPS - 130 average par 5 hour peak, and 100 par 7 hour blue
2.34 white peak- 5 hour (130 par) or 4.41 if top by SPS par (245 par.
2.52 Blue peak - 7 hour (100 par) or 4.66 if top by SPS par (185 par).
0.22 ramp - 1 hour total (60 par).
5.08 Total - 12.5/13 hour total ( 130 average peak par.
9.29 Total - 12.5/13 hour total (245 by SPS peak par).
LASTLY
I on R2R, I asked Sabellafella for a detailed breakdown of his PAR, photoperiod, etc because he has some of the most incredible coral coloration I can think of. This is what he shared according to this post: Sabellafella's reply to me on his build thread. @Sabellafella , I hope you don't mind that I used the info you shared to create this.
I made a few assumptions on the PAR as listed below based on what he told me.
Sabellafella - high par area towards top of tank, 400-450 par. Lighting is 6x ATI T5, 2x Reefbrite XHO
8.64 full peak - 6 hour (400 par) or 9.72 if 450 par.
2.16 2x Blue plus & reefbrite ramp - 3 hour (assuming 200 par)
0.86 Reefbrite ramp - 3 hour total (assuming 80 par)
12.3 Total (450 par peak) 11 hour total
11.22 total (400 par peak) 11 hour total
Sabellafella - low par area towards bottom of tank, 250-300 par. Lighting is 6x ATI T5, 2x Reefbrite XHO
5.40 full peak - 6 hour (250 par) or 6.48 if 300 par.
1.62 2x Blue plus & reefbrite ramp - 3 hour (assuming 150 par)
0.65 Reefbrite ramp - 3 hour total (assuming 60 par)
7.67 Total (250 par peak) 11 hour total
8.75 total (300 par peak) 11 hour total
IN SUMMARY:
You'll probably notice the similarities in all of the DLI numbers from the different examples I pulled from. Basically: Target DLI over SPS of 10.5 (7-12.5 range), and Target DLI over LPS of 5 (2-7 range).
This all lead me to create this excel spreadsheet I could use to shoot for what I believe to be the ideal DLI numbers (when also making sure to hit the appropriate PAR, Spectrum, etc) to have your lighting set ideal for healthy, growing, and colorful corals.
Here are a screenshot of the calculator. Feel free to download and use the attached excel spreadsheet.
I think it would be awesome if this could be used to help aquaculture facilities, coral vendors, and hobbyist's show their lighting in detail to help advance the hobby and make choosing the right PAR, photoperiod, ramp periods, etc easier with all the possible lighting combinations out there. If you like this, please tag your favorite coral farmers to see if they might share their findings.
P.S. I hope you all don't mind getting tagged, but you're some of the best I can think of. @WWC @TSA Corals @Sabellafella @Pieces of the Ocean @Tidal Gardens @Reef Raft USA @Dana Riddle @uniquecorals @SBB Corals @Bulk Reef Supply
Let me know your thoughts, good & bad.
