T5 Lamp Pictures

The Grim Reefer · #1 07/10/2007, 02:56 AM

They ain't great but I gave it a shot. PAR readinga are next to the lamp names

ATI Aquablue 341 - KZ Coral Light 342 - Aquascience DUO 334 - Aquascience Spec. 15K 320 - GE6500 348 - GE3000 319*

*The GE 3000K lamp has been in use for about 5 months

ejocam · #2 07/10/2007, 03:03 AM

Gret job

I like the ATI's color. Do you have any pics of other bulbs like Aqua Sun, Actinic and so on?

Thanks again for posting this.

The Grim Reefer · #3 07/10/2007, 03:03 AM

Same rules

Blue Plus 308 - Actinic Plus 318 - Aquascience 22000K 302 - Current 460 Actinic 275 - Aquaz Blue Pro 282 - KZ Fiji Purple 320
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The Grim Reefer · #4 07/10/2007, 03:13 AM

UVL Super Actinic 232 - Sfigoli Super Blue Actinic 209 - D&D Gmann Pure Actinic 167 - ATI Actinic Blue 140 - UVL Actinic White 308 - KZ Fiji Purple 319

Alternate View

Just Actinics

Super Actinic - Sfigoli Actinic Blue - D&D Giesemann Pure Actinic - ATI Actinic Blue

Super Actinic - Sfigoli Actinic Blue - D&D Giesemann Pure Actinic - KZ Fiji Blue

The Grim Reefer · #5 07/10/2007, 03:18 AM

Phillips 4100K - Current 10K - Aquascience Special 15000K - GE 3000K - GE 6500K ATI Actinic Blue

No PAR Readings

Sorry I couldn't get better pics.

Quis · #6 07/10/2007, 06:34 AM

Grim is the KZ Fiji Purple a blue lamp or an actinic lanmp? I'm thinking of replacing the UVL super actinic(not bright enough) with the fiji purple. Is the fiji purple noticeable brighter than the UVL super actinic?

luke33 · #7 07/10/2007, 07:07 AM

Great info Grim, and good pics. So what is the distance you measured this at?

kolokefalo · #8 07/10/2007, 07:46 AM

Here is an interesting study translated to English about ATI vs Aquascience bulbs.

ATI vs Aquascience pdf

Here are some pics of a tank with the 12 bulb ATI powermodule on it:

Pic 1 is 10 KZ Coral Lights and 2 KZ Fiji purple bulbs.

Pic 1

Pic 2 is 7 KZ Coral Lights and 5 Fiji Purples

Pic 2

Thanks to Grim Reefer I will definately be getting a Fiji purple bulb. I was worried they were only cosmetic to bring out the reds in corals. However, they also have a good PAR reading in comparison to the other bulbs. Thanks tons Grim

George

ejocam · #9 07/10/2007, 12:19 PM

Wow, you are quick! Thanks alot for the very helpful info

Flint&Eric · #10 07/10/2007, 12:28 PM

guess i missed this lol, ran across that pdf and posted a separate thread. grimms tests dont exactly back it up in terms of PAR...

The Grim Reefer · #11 07/10/2007, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quis
Grim is the KZ Fiji Purple a blue lamp or an actinic lanmp? I'm thinking of replacing the UVL super actinic(not bright enough) with the fiji purple. Is the fiji purple noticeable brighter than the UVL super actinic?

Not actinic and despite my typo (what can I say, it was late) not blue. I need to set up a single lamp rig and see what the effect is. I think it is much too bright to provide the same effect of an actinic but that doesn't mean it wouldnt look good.

The Grim Reefer · #12 07/10/2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luke33
Great info Grim, and good pics. So what is the distance you measured this at?

Don't worry about that (but it was about 1 inch from the lamp) All these numbers are good for is comparison for these lamps and I didn't do a burn in either on some of these. The only reason I even broke out the PAR meter was someone had asked for PAR readings on the Sfigoli vs. Super Actinic. The numbers should be ballpark although the ATI blue Plus has always done better than the other blues in the past but the Giesemann blue had the best PAR this time out. Have to play with the blues a little to see what was up with that. Both the lamps are fairly recent stock so there might have been a design change. I will report back on that.

The Grim Reefer · #13 07/10/2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kolokefalo
Here is an interesting study translated to English about ATI vs Aquascience bulbs.

ATI vs Aquascience pdf

Here are some pics of a tank with the 12 bulb ATI powermodule on it:

Pic 1 is 10 KZ Coral Lights and 2 KZ Fiji purple bulbs.

Pic 1

Pic 2 is 7 KZ Coral Lights and 5 Fiji Purples

Pic 2

Thanks to Grim Reefer I will definately be getting a Fiji purple bulb. I was worried they were only cosmetic to bring out the reds in corals. However, they also have a good PAR reading in comparison to the other bulbs. Thanks tons Grim

George

Cool KZ pics. For the record it is my opinion that the KZ coral Light and the ATI Aquablue are the same lamp. PAR is the same, light produced looks the same and the physical appearance of the lamps are identical.

As far as the ATI vs Aquascience test goes assuming it was done straight up it show a more white lamp like a Special will grow corals better than a little more blue lamp like a Aquablue or Aquascience DUO. I personally wouldn't use those lamps for a majority of my light. If you were to hold a gun to my head and say I could only have 2 lamps I would take a more white lamp like the Aquascience Special and add Blue Pluses.

neyugn0w01 · #14 07/10/2007, 12:59 PM

Great Post

The Grim Reefer · #15 07/10/2007, 01:09 PM

Starting at the left is the ATI Aquablue and the KZ coral Light. Both are crisp white with a noticable blue hue to the light. Next is the Aquascience DUO 15000K. It appears to be a little more blue than the ATI and KZ lamps. Next is the Aquascience 15000K Special. Why they called this lamp a 15K as well is beyond me If 10000K is pure white I would call this 11000K. It has just a tweak of blue in the light when compared to a straight up 10000K lamp like the Current 10K. If 10000K was a perfect white I would call the GE 65000K daylight 9000K. It has about as much hint of yellow ar maybe a tad more than the Special lamp has blue. Last up is the GE 3000K. It looks as orange as the picture shows. I like to run it with a lot of blues/actinics. The UVL Aquasun which idont currently have provides a similar effect on a smaller scale, It helps bring out pink and purple colors like the 3000K.

The Grim Reefer · #16 07/10/2007, 01:15 PM

As far as the blues I can't see much difference in them. All things being equal I can't say I would have a favorite. Only thing I don't like is the NARVA lamps (Giesemann and Aquascience) have about 2 inches at one end of the lamps that don't light up while the other lamps only have maybe 3/4" but thats kinda splitting hairs.

This shot shows the burn pattern. Notice the dark area extending out from the Giesemann lamp (3rd from left) compared to the others.

E-A-G-L-E-S · #17 07/10/2007, 02:27 PM

Very cool Grim, appreciate the work

...I notice those first tests of the KZ lamps were unfortunately not accurate like you had thought. Their PAR isn't through the roof. The unique coloration is still amazing. A great couple of lamps to throw in the mix

Still waiting on my lamps, been over two weeks.

PaulErik · #18 07/10/2007, 05:11 PM

GE, Osram, Philips and Narva manufactured T5 HO lamps are built to the same type of standard. They will not light up at the labeled/stamped end of the bulb for a good reason. This is called the cold spot in the lighting industry.

In a fluorescent lamp the light output is determined by the mercury vapor pressure which is determined by the temperature of the liquid mercury. Liquid mercury is deposited on the inner wall of the bulb at the coolest spot. In a stabilized T5HO lamp equipped with a cold spot the liquid mercury will be at the labeled/stamped end of the tube.

With these lamps the cold spot is usually cooled to maintain stable light output and doesn’t require cooling of the whole tube. This technology keeps the lamp very stable because the liquid mercury is located in one spot.

When testing a T5 HO lamp with a cold spot the lamp generally requires a few on/off (heating and cooling) cycles so all of the liquid mercury goes to the cold spot. The lamp should be seasoned for approximately 100 hours. Generally in the lighting industry the recommendation is to re burn (burn in) the lamp for additional 4 hours minimum if the lamp has been switched off for 12 hours or more. A re burn (burn in) is also needed if the lamp is moved or oriented differently. A T5 HO lamp is considered stable if changes in light output are less than 0.5% over a 5 minute period after the burn in period.

Metal halide and fluorescent lamps can be very sensitive and should be tested carefully or the readings will be useless. This is why the lighting industry has standards and specifications on lamp testing.

The Grim Reefer · #19 07/10/2007, 06:22 PM

Cool Stuff Paul. I saw where you had mentioned it briefly in another thread. Nice to have the detailed discription. Thanks

As long as I got a spare fixture now I will do a full burn in and see if there is any change. Too bad the lighting industry wont publish their tests.

TryTheChi · #20 07/15/2007, 05:21 AM

Great info - thanks Grim

Shultz · #21 07/15/2007, 05:42 AM

Grim, following the real helpful info you gave me on your T5 info thread I went for the FM unit as I could get it at a real nice price (the Ati is not directly available here in the UK also)

Here's a pic I took for a review, the bulbs from left to right:

Narva Blue2, KZ Coral Light, AS Special, KZ Fiji Purple, AS Special & finally another Narva Blue 2

Cheers, Shelton.

fijiblue · #22 07/15/2007, 09:18 AM

Where can you pick up a GE 6500 at a good price?

hulley · #23 07/15/2007, 10:48 AM

I ordered a GE 6500k from reef geek for I think 15.95 along with a couple of ATI Aqua blue for 24.95

The Grim Reefer · #24 07/15/2007, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shultz
Grim, following the real helpful info you gave me on your T5 info thread I went for the FM unit as I could get it at a real nice price (the Ati is not directly available here in the UK also)

Here's a pic I took for a review, the bulbs from left to right:

Narva Blue2, KZ Coral Light, AS Special, KZ Fiji Purple, AS Special & finally another Narva Blue 2

Cheers, Shelton.

Great pic, wish I could get shots like that with mine.

fours2many · #25 07/15/2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shultz
Grim, following the real helpful info you gave me on your T5 info thread I went for the FM unit as I could get it at a real nice price (the Ati is not directly available here in the UK also)

Here's a pic I took for a review, the bulbs from left to right:

Narva Blue2, KZ Coral Light, AS Special, KZ Fiji Purple, AS Special & finally another Narva Blue 2

Cheers, Shelton.

Do you notice a purple color to your water with the figi purple? Could you take a shot of your tank with that bulb on? I am interested in getting a figi purple, hard to get here.