[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:459, topic:9128”]
Honestly, I didn’t read your instructions and just turned the tablet on and figured it out on my own. Before sticking it in the water, I read your directions but I had already used it at work to measure the PAR for our lights in the lounge ;D. I would say it’s pretty user friendly.[/quote]
Sounds pretty user friendly then 
Went with John’s approach and made a bit of a PAR map. Readings were taken with the pumps off and the glass lid covers relatively clean.
What lighting are you running again?
Hydra 26’s now. The crossbrace in the middle kills the PAR there.
And you’re getting 800 par 6†down? Wow! You must have them cranked.
I just turned my whites down after talking to Jeff. A bit too high lol. I’ll re-check tomorrow to see how the PAR decreased.
I’d like to see your PUR numbers too.
It was showing up for me as a percentage Adam. I was getting about 70-80%.
[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:466, topic:9128”]
I just turned my whites down after talking to Jeff. A bit too high lol. I’ll re-check tomorrow to see how the PAR decreased.[/quote]
+1
You have some seriously high par.
I have 4 hydra 26 hd . I can’t wait to see what the numbers are on my tank
[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:468, topic:9128”]
It was showing up for me as a percentage Adam. I was getting about 70-80%.[/quote]
Yeah, that’s what they show for some reason. That’s the percent of your PAR that is usable for photosynthesis.
Since I turned the lights down yesterday, I re-tested today. Learned that they should be turned down more. Turned my cool white down another 20%, will check again tomorrow so that I don’t become chop liver tonight :
Here’s my final program I decided on for the Hydras. I moved the white light percentage way down and have the look of 20K lighting in the tank now. I like a warmer look, but the corals really pop under the blue and turning the whites up drives my PAR way too high. I’ll upload a new PAR chart later today. Giving the meter to Ellen tonight when she passes through 
wow you have yours turned up way higher than I do. Right now I have my UV and Blues at 60% green and red at 15% and CW at 12%. Very glad to be testing tonight because I am guessing my par is low. I do have 4 fixtures over my tank.
How do I get the par meter to settle on a number? It is jumping around so much I am not sure what the reading is?
It seemed very sensitive to me depending upon the angle you held it at. I just tried to hold it in place and take a mental average of the numbers I saw pop up on the screen.
I downloaded the BRS SPS AB+ Full Power program and then turned my whites up a little bit because it was too blue for me.
[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:475, topic:9128”]
It seemed very sensitive to me depending upon the angle you held it at. I just tried to hold it in place and take a mental average of the numbers I saw pop up on the screen.
I downloaded the BRS SPS AB+ Full Power program and then turned my whites up a little bit because it was too blue for me.[/quote]
I have been running the Coral labs LPS/Softie program just turned down quite a bit. I was afraid to fry my corals. I got half of my tank done before the tablet turned off and needs to be charged. I can see I have some room to increase for sure as my highest SPS are at 220-240 par and my sand bed on the right side is 100.
Just set an acclimation mode on the Hydras and turn em up! Mine are still in acclimation mode. I turned the mode off while I took my par readings though. Seems like plenty of people run the BRS AB+ replicas. After I turned mine to the current settings, my PAR readings were much better. I was getting 450 at most high points, 250-350 mid tank and around 125-150 on the sandbed. I did have the same issue with the tablet battery dying pretty quickly. Took me longer than it took you to figure out that was the issue though lol
[quote=“Kyle Mench, post:477, topic:9128”]
Just set an acclimation mode on the Hydras and turn em up! Mine are still in acclimation mode. I turned the mode off while I took my par readings though. Seems like plenty of people run the BRS AB+ replicas. After I turned mine to the current settings, my PAR readings were much better. I was getting 450 at most high points, 250-350 mid tank and around 125-150 on the sandbed. I did have the same issue with the tablet battery dying pretty quickly. Took me longer than it took you to figure out that was the issue though lol[/quote]
Yes. That is what I need to do for sure. I want to finish getting the reading for the other side of the tank at where I have it set now then I am going to crank them up until I get 400 at the top and 130-150 on most of the sand. How long are you running your acclimation mode? I was thinking 6 weeks?
It’s been a while since I posted an update, so I figure I should. Since the last time I posted, I’ve kept my hydras like they were in the PAR map. I was dealing with some turf algae/ brown slimy stuff and after getting the GFO at the last meeting it’s definitely been getting better. Bought a Hanna Checker for Phosphorous and it converts to a reading of 0.05 for phosphate, which is right about where I should be. My main issue recently has been keeping my alkalinity constant, and my pistol shrimp stealing corals : Headed on vacation tomorrow, but I ordered a dosing pump which I’ll get up and running upon my return in hopes of stabilizing my alk.