Reefer 250 lighting help

[Digitalfirex]

I have a redsea reefer 250 with a kessil ap700. I tested my par with an apogee 500 par meter. Light is 10" above waterline... and about 6" below water at 100% I was barely hitting 300 par. (Ie 297 par). While I want to eventually hit that 300 par, I don't think running my light at 100% is smart or recommended? Right now my schedule peaks at 60% mid day. I'm considering adding some sort of supplement light, but I also like the clean look of the ap700 above the tank. Looks clean and high end. Any recommendations for additional light that won't look dumb next to the ap700?

 

[Reef - Tripp]

T5 hybrid

 

[Kessil]

I have a redsea reefer 250 with a kessil ap700. I tested my par with an apogee 500 par meter. Light is 10" above waterline... and about 6" below water at 100% I was barely hitting 300 par. (Ie 297 par). While I want to eventually hit that 300 par, I don't think running my light at 100% is smart or recommended? Right now my schedule peaks at 60% mid day. I'm considering adding some sort of supplement light, but I also like the clean look of the ap700 above the tank. Looks clean and high end. Any recommendations for additional light that won't look dumb next to the ap700?

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You can run the light at 100% intensity without any major issues - just keep the fan and vents clean and free of dust so there's adequate airflow. Pop the top panel off of the AP700 every months or so and use a can of compressed air and cotton swabs + rubbing alcohol to clean the vents and heat sink fins.

Just FYI - 300 PAR is a TON of light. Our SPS dominant system here at the office peaks out at about 250 PAR. I'd start off the lamp at about 70% and see how the coral respond.

One other thing to consider is you can also increase the intensity by lowering the light an inch or two - it makes a bigger difference than you may realize.