T5 PAR output and fixture temps - good vid from BRS

[gregzz4]

I don't know how I missed it, but this vid came out a year ago.
I've since dropped my fan speeds from 7.5v to 4.5v and my growth has changed drastically for the good.
Only reason I didn't drop my fans down to 3v is my ATI Powermodule fans won't run at that voltage.

So, I've potentially increased my PAR from 201 to 226, or somewhere in that range, according to the BRS testing. See video link at the end of this post.
Now that is all relative to each tank, but I'll take a 12% increase if it's there.
Or if not, I'll tell ya my corals love what I've done whatever % increase it is.

I changed my fan speeds by 1 step per week. 7.5 to 6, then 6 to 4.5.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you probably don't have a 3.5vdc-12vdc ac/dc converter for your fans.

Be warned that your ballasts will not last as long.
I've potentially increased my ballast temps by 15 degrees and am still well within mfg specs, but expect some failures in the near future after having not replaced a ballast from factory since the fixture was new in 2011.

I've mentally weighed the cost of ballasts against bulb output/bulb costs and feel I'll stick with the higher potential PAR for now.
I've had crazy coral growth since changing my fan speeds.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video...-investigates/