Light loss?

[Jack]

I finally got around to hanging my canopy from the ceiling. The 250w bulbs were 4 inches from the water but now they are 8 ish. Tank is 24" deep. I have a two part question: One, how much light am I loosing and two, is this a dumb question? :neutral: I just like my SPS.

[Samw]

This link has some tables on light loss for certain reflectors over distance.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm

For example, this data shows light loss from 6" to 12" for each reflector tested.

Table 3. Percent of PAR lost from 6” to 12” from the lamp

3x3' area
2x2' Area
1x1' Area

Diamond Light
7%
18%
36%

PFO Perpendicular
15%
30%
52%

PFO Parallel
19%
31%
52%

Spider Light
24%
36%
59%

Synthetic Sun
25%
39%
49%

[Jack]

Thanks for the info Sam. It's appreciated. You sure lose PAR with an aditional six inches. Hmm..

[stephane]

Sam wath kind of reflector is diamond light? any link?

[Samw]

Unfortunately, I don't Stephane. You might have to contact the authors for a definite answer.

[Quinn]

what's with the products we've never heard of being the best. first we find out the salt some of us use is potentially the worst, then we find out that the spiders, which i think many of us have, are on the low end of the reflector scale.

[StirCrazy]

Start looking in hydroponic places.. and others that might have stuff like that.. you'll be surprised what you find.

Steve

[Aquattro]

Teevee, the diamonds are good, but fairly large. Spider reflectors I believe were discontinued a couple of years ago. PFO reflectors are a decent alternative. Certainly not bad reflectors!!