Reefbreeders photon v2 pro settings?

[McKendree]

Hello, this is my first saltwater tank. I have NO idea what I am doing as far as lighting is concerned. I have had an acan, Kenya Tree, green toadstool, and GSP in my tank for several months now and have noticed no growth whatsoever. I have read that Kenya trees and GSP are fast growers. So I am concerned my lighting might be off?

I have a 48" Photon V2 hanging 18 inches above my 46 gallon bow front tank. (36" wide) I know this isn't the right size for the tank, but I got it used for a ridiculous deal that I couldn't pass up at like 10% of the price new.

I watched the videos by BRS on this light, which is why I hung it at 18 inches above the water. I followed their recommended percentages except white I have at 100% so that I can see better. My understanding is that whites are just for us visually. Is that accurate? Am I cooking my corals with that light?

Thank you for your help!

 

[Floyd-]

I have a 24" that I use the BRS recommended settings with. The ratio was blues 100%, whites 50% and green and red was 10%. Keep in mind that is a ratio.
Mine is 50% blues, 25% whites and 5% red and green using that ratio.

 

[McKendree]

I have a 24" that I use the BRS recommended settings with. The ratio was blues 100%, whites 50% and green and red was 10%. Keep in mind that is a ratio.
Mine is 50% blues, 25% whites and 5% red and green using that ratio.

I don’t understand the ratio part. How do you determine when to reduce it?

 

[VintageReefer]

The brs values are insane and trying to get max performance for comparison reasons to other fixtures

I run my photon 48 on the mounting legs . About 12” off the tank

1 0%
2 0%
3 30-40%
4 5-10% (white is just to add aesthetic. I like my tank more blue )
5 - 30-40
6 30-40%

Generally 3,5,6 are the same. And then adjust 4 to be as white as you want the tank to be.

You Should get a par meter to see what your getting ar the rocks and sand. Aim for 100 sand and 250ish at top of the rocks.

Your corals are all considered low light. You probably don’t need to have any channel over 40%

 

[McKendree]

The brs values are insane and trying to get max performance for comparison reasons to other fixtures

I run my photon 48 on the mounting legs . About 12” off the tank

1 0%
2 0%
3 30-40%
4 5-10% (white is just to add aesthetic. I like my tank more blue )
5 - 30-40
6 30-40%

Generally 3,5,6 are the same. And then adjust 4 to be as white as you want the tank to be.

You Should get a par meter to see what your getting ar the rocks and sand. Aim for 100 sand and 250ish at top of the rocks.

Your corals are all considered low light. You probably don’t need to have any channel over 40%

Even with it being 18 inches off the water?

 

[exnisstech]

I have 2 photon 36s over one tank and a 24 over another all 11" off the water. My setting are similar to @VintageReefer. Green and red 5% white 6% all the rest 35% with a 45% peak mid day.

 

[McKendree]

I have 2 photon 36s over one tank and a 24 over another all 11" off the water. My setting are similar to @VintageReefer. Green and red 5% white 6% all the rest 35% with a 45% peak mid day.

How would you adjust that if the light is hanging 18” from the top of the water? The light is too long to mount on the brackets so I hung it from the ceiling and that’s as low as I can get it.

 

[VintageReefer]

How would you adjust that if the light is hanging 18” from the top of the water? The light is too long to mount on the brackets so I hung it from the ceiling and that’s as low as I can get it.

Can you show a picture of it hanging so we see the situation your working with

 

[McKendree]

Can you show a picture of it hanging so we see the situation your working with

 

[exnisstech]

How would you adjust that if the light is hanging 18” from the top of the water? The light is too long to mount on the brackets so I hung it from the ceiling and that’s as low as I can get it.

I have to use a par meter. I tried guessing and all I did was starve my clams.

 

[McKendree]

I have to use a par meter. I tried guessing and all I did was starve my clams.

My LFS is going to let me borrow their par meter. I’ll get it dialed in, I guess that’s the only way to be sure.

 

[SliceGolfer]

What is the measured distance from the light fixture to the bottom of the tank?

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s only 6” higher than I have my light. I would think it’s a small impact

If I can grow this at 30%, 12” height

I think 40%, 18% height would be fine.
try this setup
1 and 2 = 5%
3 = 40%
4 = 6%
5 = 40%
6 = 40%

I bet that’s enough to grow almost any coral at 18” and should have a nice overall color. Adjust 4 up or down a few points if you want to customize the look. 3.5.6 are the growth channels. 1, 2, 4 are more for appearance

 

[McKendree]

What is the measured distance from the light fixture to the bottom of the tank?

35”

 

[McKendree]

It’s only 6” higher than I have my light. I would think it’s a small impact

If I can grow this at 30%, 12” height

I think 40%, 18% height would be fine.
try this setup
1 and 2 = 5%
3 = 40%
4 = 6%
5 = 40%
6 = 40%

I bet that’s enough to grow almost any coral at 18” and should have a nice overall color. Adjust 4 up or down a few points if you want to customize the look. 3.5.6 are the growth channels. 1, 2, 4 are more for appearance

Beautiful tank!! Thanks for the help.

 

[VintageReefer]

This doesn’t show the hanging system

Also either that’s not a photon 48, or it’s not a 36” tank, or it’s some very weird distorting angle. My photon 48 is 48” long and that looks to be the same width as the tank

 

[McKendree]

This doesn’t show the hanging system

Also either that’s not a photon 48, or it’s not a 36” tank, or it’s some very weird distorting angle. My photon 48 is 48” long and that looks to be the same width as the tank

Yeah it’s a weird fisheye angle. The reactor on the side hangs off 5” or so and you can see the wire dangle beyond it. Actually when I measured the light, I believe it might be the 50” model but was sold to me as 48”.

 

[X-37B]

I run 2 50's 12" off the surface and 19" to the bottom of the tank.
Red and white 30% the rest 75%.
For me to much white drowns out the color. I was at 50%.
Im getting 300 par on the bottom with 350-400 at the top of the rocks. Getting good color and growth. Tank is 3 months now with 20+ hard corals in the system and growing.

 

[VintageReefer]

I think you’d be fine for softies and lps using the settings I suggested. They don’t need 300 par at the sand.