How much PAR does this Sundial fixture produce?

I have a series of PAR reading tests that I would like show the results of. These are real measurements of usable light intensity in various size aquariums with certain light setups. I have an Apogee Instruments Quantum Meter calibrated for electric light sources that reads PAR in µmol m-2 s-1. I want to take all these measurements inside the aquariums I am testing. I feel that this type testing will give numbers that are useful on a hobby level and will be a good reference point for deciding on light systems for aquarium setups.

What the heck is PAR anyway?

PAR
The expression Photosynthetically Active Radiation, often abbreviated PAR (sometimes shown as Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF)), designates the spectral range of solar light from 400 to 700 nanometers that is useful in the process of photosynthesis.
From Wikipedia

Useful PAR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

24g Custom 12" tall frag tank. 150w HQI Sundial w/ 2x32w dual actinic PC (214w total). 150w HQI lamp is 14,000K Ushio. Electronic ballast and all bulbs are less than 3 months old. Bulbs 6" above water.

So the Sundial produces a respectable amount of PAR in this situation. This is a good range for especially for the SPS, anemone and Clam in this tank. Note that I later moved the Clam up on the rocks.

View all the PAR tests in my Gallery.

So what is a good PAR range for a reef tank?
I have heard recommendations of 200 to 600 PAR from the bottom of the reef to the top of the reef (Tyree 1999) with this being an acceptable range for "low, medium and high" light corals.

Sprungs Coral Reference Guide shows lighting values in a scale from 1-10 (low to high).  In Adam Blundell's Lighting Article he proposes using these values as PAR by multiplying by 100. The scale next to each coral in the book can then be used to reference a PAR value (range) it will likely do well under.
Here are some examples:

Green Star Polyp (Pachyclavularia)
Lighting
(Sprung value) 3-9
(PAR minimum) 300
(PAR average) 600

Frogspawn (Euphyllia)
Lighting
(Sprung value) 3-8
(PAR Minimum) 300
(PAR average) 550

Acropora (Acropora)
Lighting
(Sprung value) 4-10
(PAR Minimum) 400
(PAR average) 700

Check out this article:
How Much Light?! Analyses of Selected Shallow Water Invertebrates' Light Requirements
by Dana Riddle

The article shows PAR data for photosynthesis saturation points and photo inhibition points both from labaratory tests and also light readings from various locations on the worlds reefs. This shows a good reference range of PAr reequirments.

Coral Coloration
Two things on the coral affect coloration - Pigment and Zooxnthellae.

Zooxanthellae are a symbiont algae that are present in photosynthetic corals. These algae generally come in 3 shades...brown, brownish tan and brownish brown.

The colors like red, blue and green that you see in corals are pigments that the coral produces that reflect light. These pigments may also be present as sort of a blocker for excessive light in certain parts of the spectrum.

In general blue and purple corals are found higher on the reef (Tullock 1997) and are receiving lots of red light. These blue pigments may act as a filter for the intense red light (opposite end of the spectrum). Red and orange corals are generally found lower on the reef and are receiving more blue light. These red pigments in these corals may act as a filter for the overall blue light (other end of the spectrum).

Take a look at how water changes the spectrum of light and this starts to make a bit more sense:

Pigment Layer and Zooxanthellae Layer
The pigments(color) may respond to light by moving in front of or behind the zooxanthellae(brown) layer. This depends on the lighting that the corals receive. If the light intensity is low the brown algae layer may come to the front to make photosynthesis easier. If the light intensity is high or a coral is exposed to a certain spectrum the color layer may move to the front to protect the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae.

This layer of pigment color may be influenced by a certain spectrum or intensity of lighting. Swithcing to a different kelvin bulb will certainly influence different colors, especially on SPS corals. Other factors such as water chemistry, phosphates and water flow are contributors as well and is discussed here.

Non-photosynthetic corals like Sun Corals (Tubastrea) and Strawberry Corals (Dendronepthya) typically have unusually bright yellow, orange and red colorations. These corals do not produce zooxanthellae and typically do not have a brown appearance. You see only the pigment of the coral without the brown symbionts.

Hopefully this sheds some light on coral coloration. (no pun intended)