MCMAC Presentation: James Fatheree - A Look at Aquarium Lighting

Beau is hosting the January Meeting this coming Saturday the 14th at 6PM.  It will be BYOB as well as a snack to share and raffle items are always welcome.  It has been requested that there be “NO SHOES” on the carpet due to it being a whitish color.

He doesn’t have a tank to view but we will have plenty to discuss in hopes that it will get the NEW YEAR off to a good start.  The annual membership fees are due, so now would be a good time to get them in to our Treasurer Stacey Hahn.   Fees are $20 per individual or $25 per family

Attendance was low at the election meeting in November and no votes were taken at December’s meeting so we have decided to take votes for anyone that didn’t get the opportunity in November and will be attending this meeting.  
We will add the votes to November’s ballots and the announcement will be made during the meeting so we can go forward.
NOMINATIONS:
President:  Jim & Nacho
V. President: Ed, Bo & Daniel Leigey
Treasurer: Stacey
Secretary: Carmen & Angie

Let’s hope the New Year brings new members, returning members and new ideas.  The club is always willing to take suggestions to get the most out of the hobby we all enjoy.

Please PM Nate C. by clicking here for directions if you are not a club member.  

Club members can click here to go to the club member only forum to get directions.

Hope to see you all there!

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James Fatheree conducted systematic, controlled measuring of light output from different types of lighting to see how they compare in real world environments--that is, in standard aquariums, filled with water, using different reflectors and tank backings.

Reflection from the glass can make a big difference.

Painting the back of the tank (even blue) can decrease the amount of light at the bottom of the back of the tank by as much as 34% due to loss of reflected light.  Taped on plastic does not decrease light reflection at all, though, because of the way reflection happens at the interface of the glass and air.

It is very important to keep the glass clean for optimum light capture.

Simple single reflectors on fluorescent fixtures can more than double the light output, even right under the middle of the light itself.  Individual reflectors on each fluorescent bulb can triple the light in the tank.

Bulbs work best at their optimum temperature. T5s should be about 95 degrees for highest efficiency.  VHOs at 75 degrees.  Proper ventilation is imperative, and housing together with metal halides can greatly harm efficiency.

According to his research with a light meter in various people's healthy, thriving coral tanks, most corals will thrive under 110 PAR, which isn't much.

Almost any 4-bulb T-5 systems can light all of an 18" wide tank to over 100 PAR at 18" under water, which is enough, again, for most corals.  Many 4 or 5 bulb T-5 fixtures can provide over 200 PAR at 18".

The tested LED fixture didn't perform any better at 18" under water than the 4-5 bulb T-5s with good reflectors, but they required much more electricity.

For concentrated intensity, though, nothing beats metal halide, which easily doubles the output of T-5s, especially at the center.

From the Q&A:
Clarity of your water makes a huge difference in light transmission, as well.