Used from Reef Central - $200 US.

spsmike I am planning a 15 gallon instead of a 10 24*12*12 and I chose T-5's over MH just becasue of the heat issue. Even on my 40 gallon Discus tank when i had the MH over it the tank would raise 4 degrees by the end of the day. If you were seriouse about sps i would definalty go with 75w mh and a couple fans on the hood.

DO a search I did a bunch of posts with readings from my meter on a few different tanks and bulbs.

about 6" under the water I am getting about 800 to 900 PAR from my SA 250 watt MH. at 24" deep I am getting about 400 PAR

which meter did you get?

Steve

Hi Steve,
You are certainly getting a hell of a lot of light - much more than on the article I posted above. Are you overdriving it? You are getting more light than Mike Kirda measured with 2x400w Ushio bulbs.

Your readings at 6" are similar to calculated ocean values at 5 - 8 m depth near the equator, and your 24" readings are in the range of 9-15 m. Pretty decent.

My 24" readings are less than the light at 20 m.

The meter is a Quantum QMSS.