The Modified Black Box Thread

[Mrx7899]

I just picked up 3 viparspectra black boxes for my 225. They are mounted 8 inches off the water line thats as high as I can go because of my canopy. The light has all 90 degree lenses I was thinking about taking them all off to get a little better spread. My tank is 27 inches deep do you guys think I'll get good penetration without the lenses.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I just picked up 3 viparspectra black boxes for my 225. They are mounted 8 inches off the water line thats as high as I can go because of my canopy. The light has all 90 degree lenses I was thinking about taking them all off to get a little better spread. My tank is 27 inches deep do you guys think I'll get good penetration without the lenses.

I think @saltyfilmfolks can answer that?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just picked up 3 viparspectra black boxes for my 225. They are mounted 8 inches off the water line thats as high as I can go because of my canopy. The light has all 90 degree lenses I was thinking about taking them all off to get a little better spread. My tank is 27 inches deep do you guys think I'll get good penetration without the lenses.

Oh yes. The penetration will change only slightly (why and how are stupid technical), but what we look at mostly is intensity. (Nobody worries about t5 penetration for example)
I only have reports of par number changes and haven’t done a full experiment on loss, but you will def be able to hit 400+ par at the top, and more then most likely hit 100par at the bottom.
We’re i to do (or when I fact ) I’m going to temp mount one of the lights. Measure the intensity at 8 12 and 30 inches. Lux or par. Then pull the lenses and do the same.
It’s a dry test. Water cuts minimally imo , unless it’s real dirty.
Similar to this.

I believe @Flippers4pups might be a lensless black boxer. I do forget.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Oh yes. The penetration will change only slightly (why and how are stupid technical), but what we look at mostly is intensity. (Nobody worries about t5 penetration for example)
I only have reports of par number changes and haven’t done a full experiment on loss, but you will def be able to hit 400+ par at the top, and more then most likely hit 100par at the bottom.
We’re i to do (or when I fact ) I’m going to temp mount one of the lights. Measure the intensity at 8 12 and 30 inches. Lux or par. Then pull the lenses and do the same.
It’s a dry test. Water cuts minimally imo , unless it’s real dirty.
Similar to this.
View attachment 710317 View attachment 710318

I believe @Flippers4pups might be a lensless black boxer. I do forget.

Yes I'm lensless. Lol

 

[reeferfoxx]

I just did a par map this last weekend with lenses, maybe i'll experiment without the lenses.

 

[Mrx7899]

Thanks guys I m going to pull them I have a lux meter so I will do before and after reading.

 

[bryan3536]

Thanks guys I m going to pull them I have a lux meter so I will do before and after reading.

I put my lenses back on, I didn’t like how the blues overpowered the whites with the white lenses off. The disco effect I thought I saw (which is reason I removed lenses in first place) doesn’t seem to be an issue now that I have all three going. Mine are also relatively high - didn’t measure but I think about 12”. I have no coral yet and haven’t done par map, so bear that in mind.

 

[Mrx7899]

I actually would like my tank to be a little more Bluer right now I'm running my blues at 30% and whits at 1% I think when the whites are on it's not blue enough for me.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Ok removed the lenses but left the 390nm and the 3 moonlights on the 3rd channel.

I saw significant PAR loss without the lenses. More than half actually. Whites at 20%, Blues at 75%.

The light fixture itself is mounted 9 inches above water. I tested PAR with the same intensity settings as before.

Before with lenses -

After without lenses -

The 160 par around the Acans was interesting and more likely from glass reflection? Although, Seneye measures on a cosine.

 

[reeferfoxx]

After doing the par tests I set the light to 50% white and 100% blues to achieve 380 par at the top water line.

After an hour my strawberry shortcake acro started doing this.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ok removed the lenses but left the 390nm and the 3 moonlights on the 3rd channel.

View attachment 711916
View attachment 711922
View attachment 711923
View attachment 711917

I saw significant PAR loss without the lenses. More than half actually.

The light fixture itself is mounted 9 inches above water. I tested PAR with the same intensity settings as before.

Before with lenses -
View attachment 711931

After without lenses -
View attachment 711942

The 160 par around the Acans was interesting and more likely from glass reflection? Although, Seneye measures on a cosine.

You rock!

Looking.

And yea, could still be reflective from the glass , if it comes in from the perfect angle.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

After doing the par tests I set the light to 50% white and 100% blues to achieve 380 par at the top water line.

After an hour my strawberry shortcake acro started doing this.

View attachment 711948

Well it seems like pulling the lenses evened out the coverage pretty darn well.

The overall loss is def more than a lot of folks report.

Why the acro is doing that , silly wild guess would be it’s now getting hit with more different spectrums becuse the blending is better.
We could ask Dana I’d he’s seen this .
I’d think that would be chemical signals though. Weird.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well it seems like pulling the lenses evened out the coverage pretty darn well.

The overall loss is def more than a lot of folks report.

Why the acro is doing that , silly wild guess would be it’s now getting hit with more different spectrums becuse the blending is better.
We could ask Dana I’d he’s seen this .
I’d think that would be chemical signals though. Weird.

Maybe we could get a #mod to move this thread to the lighting forum and maybe @Dana Riddle can give some insight on this coral response?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Definitely some kind of contaminant. My blue vermiculata started RTN'ing at the base. Threw in some carbon and a poly filter pad. Reduced the light intensity back to where it was. Not sure what happened....Only difference this time when taking par measurements was using a fresh pair of rubber gloves.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Contaminant or coral chem maybe ?
Maybe they don’t like Starbucks?

 

[Mrx7899]

Ok removed the lenses but left the 390nm and the 3 moonlights on the 3rd channel.

View attachment 711916
View attachment 711922
View attachment 711923
View attachment 711917

I saw significant PAR loss without the lenses. More than half actually.

The light fixture itself is mounted 9 inches above water. I tested PAR with the same intensity settings as before.

Before with lenses -
View attachment 711931

After without lenses -
View attachment 711942

The 160 par around the Acans was interesting and more likely from glass reflection? Although, Seneye measures on a cosine.

What percentages are you running for the test

 

[reeferfoxx]

What percentages are you running for the test

Percentage for before and after pictures with par map is 20% whites and 75% blues.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Ok removed the lenses but left the 390nm and the 3 moonlights on the 3rd channel.

View attachment 711916
View attachment 711922
View attachment 711923
View attachment 711917

I saw significant PAR loss without the lenses. More than half actually. Whites at 20%, Blues at 75%.

The light fixture itself is mounted 9 inches above water. I tested PAR with the same intensity settings as before.

Before with lenses -
View attachment 711931

After without lenses -
View attachment 711942

The 160 par around the Acans was interesting and more likely from glass reflection? Although, Seneye measures on a cosine.

Thank you for this. The drop is way bigger than I expected. I think I am going to leave my lenses on (not even set up yet) and try diffusion first. Barbizon Lighting in Manhattan has pieces for around $8 that are 20”x 24” which is about perfect. I plan to test some and at least try 1/8 and 1/4 diffusion to start. I have the Seneye to test PAR. Probably not for a couple of weeks or so, but I will post the results when I do. Nice thing about this is these gels are for professional lighting so I know they can handle the warmth from my SB Reef LED.

 

[mcarroll]

After doing the par tests I set the light to 50% white and 100% blues to achieve 380 par at the top water line.

After an hour my strawberry shortcake acro started doing this.

View attachment 711948

Are those sweepers??

 

[mcarroll]

I interpret that response as "what the heck?????"