Can someone tell me where I officially stand in the lighting range?

[jeremyTR]

Pic of how I have it set up

Bulbs are two aqueon colormax 6" 10w CFLs and the one 24" 17w fluorescent 8,000k

Sent from my HTC Evo 4G

[Hoppy]

I assume you use those lights over a 40 breeder tank. That tank is about 17 inches high, and you probably have about 2 inches of substrate, so the lights are about 15 inches from the substrate. The two CFL bulbs in those reflectors should give you about 35 micromols of PAR under each of them, but two isn't enough to cover the 36 inch length of the tank. The T8 bulb should give you about 15 micromols of PAR under it, but one bulb won't cover the whole 18 inch front to back depth of the tank. So, you very likely have low light that varies a lot over different areas of the substrate.

[jeremyTR]

dang man. *high five* thanks for the awesome answer.

i was thinking about picking up two more of the same dome reflectors and either buying 4 13W CFLs or keeping the two 10W colormaxes and adding two 13W CFLs

Would that make much of an improvement?

[Hoppy]

That should give you much more uniform light. With 13 watt bulbs you should be around 40-45 micromols of PAR, where with 10 watt bulbs, you should be around 35 micromols. With 2 of each you have that much variation in the intensity across the length of the tank. I would be reluctant to use the 13 watt bulbs without using Excel, or better yet, pressurized CO2.

[jeremyTR]

Awesome man. I almost love you hahaha

[samamorgan]

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

Awesome man. I almost love you hahaha

How can you not? Hoppy is the Chuck Norris of aquarium lighting.

Hoppy doesn't estimate PAR, he roundhouse kicks the light and the PAR reading is all that's left.

LED lighting isn't the future, the future is the light that shines from Hoppy's knowing smile.

[99problems]

Where did you get those dome reflectors? And are they considered "good" or "fair" reflectors? Thanks... I'm setting up a medium-high 40B too, so any help would be awesome!

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

dang man. *high five* thanks for the awesome answer.

i was thinking about picking up two more of the same dome reflectors and either buying 4 13W CFLs or keeping the two 10W colormaxes and adding two 13W CFLs

Would that make much of an improvement?

[jeremyTR]

Home Depot I got the 8.5" diam. ones. I'm not sure what the quality of reflection is on these things. I'd personally say good enough with 13W bulbs in them lol

and 40Bs are awesome tanks!

[99problems]

Sweet- thanks so much!