175w SE MH PAR & SPS question..

s3aL · #1 10/29/2007, 11:31 PM

Okay I have a Aquatinic 36" 2x175w MH 2x39w HO T5 fixture on a 58g. Now since I have 2 MH bulbs on a 36" tank and each bulb spreads about 24", would that mean I have about double the PAR in the middle 24" area in my tank?

I ask this cuz Im looking for a bluer looking bulb but still enough PAR for SPS and was looking at the 14k hamilton or maybe even the 20k xm's. I have my rocks setup so all SPS would be about 15" from the bulbs. What do you think? Should be fine or just suck it up and go with the 15k Iwasaki's?

aquarius77 · #2 10/30/2007, 02:40 AM

I would go with a higher par bulb.

Flint&Eric · #3 10/30/2007, 08:42 AM

iwasaki 14k has par levels that rival 250 watters. it's a crisp white, and very intense.

DrBDC · #4 10/30/2007, 10:29 AM

Iwasaki's!

musicawal · #5 10/30/2007, 01:27 PM

Iwasaki's definitely! I just got mine over my new tank and absolutely love it!!!

arts007 · #6 10/30/2007, 01:35 PM

3rd for the Iwasaki's, I used them over my 40 but now I use them over my 20 gal frag tank. Very bright white light with a tinge of blue.

Kip · #7 10/30/2007, 02:38 PM

i had 175wSaki14SEs over my 75g work tank and thought that they were kinda green... then a bulb blew... and i put ush14s in .... i havent done any testing with my PAR meter and sanj doesnt have any data, but to me... the ush14 are more pleasing to the eye. I also am currently running 400wUsh14kSEs on my home tank. I tried the ush14kDEs over my frag tank and didnt like them by themselves... the 250wUsh14kDEs are more like a straight 10k

JMO/JME

Kip · #8 10/30/2007, 02:38 PM

server error.. led to double post.. sorry

twon8 · #9 10/30/2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kip
i had 175wSaki14SEs over my 75g work tank and thought that they were kinda green... then a bulb blew... and i put ush14s in .... i havent done any testing with my PAR meter and sanj doesnt have any data, but to me... the ush14 are more pleasing to the eye. I also am currently running 400wUsh14kSEs on my home tank. I tried the ush14kDEs over my frag tank and didnt like them by themselves... the 250wUsh14kDEs are more like a straight 10k

JMO/JME

what type of ballast are you running the 400w ushio's on?

CWebHokie · #10 10/30/2007, 02:53 PM

Another vote for the iwasaki's. I've got 2 over a 40 breeder and love it. I have not yet added actinic supplement, although I don't think it is needed. I like a crisp white look. I see no green tint in mine. There is a very slight tinge of blue but it is mostly crisp white "10k" light. I say "10k" because this 14k looks more like what most 10k's look like, only better. These bulbs have also been shown to last longer than most bulbs. Mine have been in use for at least 10 months and I have read of people getting a year and a half to 2 years out of them. They are more expensive up front but will save you money in the long run. (Considering the PAR is up in the range of 250 watt bulbs and that they last longer then most cheaper bulbs.)

s3aL · #11 10/30/2007, 03:11 PM

Hmmm..... Can you guys post pics of your Iwasaki's? Ive seen maybe 1-2 tank pics of them running but I would like to see a few more. I would like to see them running with and without actinic suppliments.

Also are the Iwasaki's any bluer looking than the 175w 10k AB? Cuz im running the 10k ab's right now on a IC electronic ballast and there is no tint of blue at all.

Froggy · #12 10/30/2007, 03:29 PM

Hi, I have been using the 175 Iwasaki's on my 75 since last December and love them. They are very white looking to the eye. I run them on a mag ballast so I am not getting all I could out of them 71 PPFD instead of 86 PPFD.

It is hard for you to judge based on pic's posted due to camera settings, monitors etc. but here is a tank pic of my 75. 2 175 watt Iwasaki's and 2 110 watt actinic VHO's running in pic. I do not have a pic at the moment with no actinics. The pic is a bit dark due to taking a picture in auto mode and no post processing. The Iwasaki's are brighter to the eye than the picture looks. Here you go anyway.....

SDguy · #13 10/30/2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s3aL
Now since I have 2 MH bulbs on a 36" tank and each bulb spreads about 24", would that mean I have about double the PAR in the middle 24" area in my tank?

No.

DrBDC · #14 10/30/2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by s3aL
Hmmm..... Can you guys post pics of your Iwasaki's? Ive seen maybe 1-2 tank pics of them running but I would like to see a few more. I would like to see them running with and without actinic suppliments.

Also are the Iwasaki's any bluer looking than the 175w 10k AB? Cuz im running the 10k ab's right now on a IC electronic ballast and there is no tint of blue at all.

The ab 10K is putting out about 9K as the iwasaki will put out about 14.5K And about 1.5X the output.

Toddrtrex · #15 10/30/2007, 04:15 PM

I just redid my tank, so that is why there isn't much SPS in there right now, besides browned out purple digi. But, with that said, here is a picture of my 58g with 2 iwasakis + 2*96 PC. (( picture taken with flash ))

s3aL · #16 10/30/2007, 04:36 PM

Cool, thanks for the replies and the pictures. Ill pick up some Iwasaki's then to replace my 10k AB's.

If any others have pics of tanks running Iwasaki's, keep the pics coming

.

Kip · #17 10/30/2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twon8
what type of ballast are you running the 400w ushio's on?

PFO 135s

Kip · #18 10/30/2007, 06:24 PM

oh.. and FWIW... i was running my 175wSaki14SEs on ARO e-ballasts... maybe thats why mine were a tad green... i have a comparison shot saved at work... if i can remember, i will try to post it tomorrow

DrBDC · #19 10/30/2007, 09:36 PM

I had mine on ARO electronics and didn't get any green at all. ???

Here's some pics of a couple different tanks (all with the same non white balanced camera) when I had my Iwasaki's:

CWebHokie · #20 10/31/2007, 01:33 AM

here is a pic of my 40 breeder with 2 iwasakis on ice cap ballasts. I do not have a pic with actinics because i have not hooked them up yet.

johnanddawn · #21 10/31/2007, 06:05 AM

i have 3 iwasakis and 2 VHO actinics in this shot all on icecap:

undertai · #22 10/31/2007, 07:03 AM

15k Iwasaki's for 175w bulbs they are the best and give the greatest par from what I have read and heard. I will also suck it up and get the 15k Iwasaki's as soon as the new year comes. Maybe I should put those down as a christmas gift??????

SDguy · #23 10/31/2007, 08:01 AM

Does anyone at all have PAR values taken in their tank for these bulbs?

Kip · #24 10/31/2007, 09:53 AM

here is my pic comparison... it is quicker/simpler to link than to upload the pic... so just click here for the pic... if for some reason you cant see it... let me know

http://www.kipsreef.com/forum/attach...1&d=1176481107

s3aL · #25 10/31/2007, 03:51 PM

johnanddawn: now thats the color im looking for in my tank. Hopefully my iwasaki's + actinics will turn out like that.