Lighting Website Updates - Page 29

ieatqiue · #**701** 11/23/2006, 04:19 PM

hahnmeister, in light of the apparent fact that m58s and xm bulbs are not great.. i definately see what you are saying about the de evc bulbs..

the 14k vs 10k on m80s looks good...

however the cct on the 10k is LOW (5700).. as it lacks area under the left(blue) side of the curve (compared to the xm 10 m58...

SO that 14k might not really be enough to supplement enough blue to make me happy..

so this is the 10k vs 20k.. i think this is my choice..

the autoscale is a little misleading.. but i think this combination of light must be excellent for coral growh.. as well as componenet life..

what do you think?

-frank

hahnmeister · #**702** 11/24/2006, 01:31 AM

I think you lost me there. Sorry, I must be in a post-turkey coma. I do see that I forgot to finish a sentence a while back though... I meant to say that DE are better than SE, when possible (or in the case of 400watt bulbs, HQI is better than probe start), due to longevity.

The best option for good output and life with SE bulbs is an electronic ballast like an Icecap or EVC (EVC's are my favorite). The best option for HQI/DE bulbs is a HQI ballast. Even with the sheild, this combo should outperform and outlast a SE bulb... its what they were designed for. Running a SE bulb on a regular M59 or M58 ballast (probe start magnetic) usually causes them to color-shift faster (cruddy power control), and die faster, with less intensity on the way. These ballasts are the same as those 'high-bay' bell pendants that are in warehouses and big-box retailers, buzzing away. I would never consider running an aquarium bulb on one.

I stick with M80 (250wattHQI), M81 (150wattHQI), and 400wattHQI ballasts (I forget the 400wattHQI designation) for HQI bulbs, and e-ballasts in the rare case that someone wants to use a Single ended probe start bulb, but for the most part, I try to stick with HQI bulbs. They last longer, put out more light, etc.

As far as trying to 'balance' the light by using a 10,000K and a 20,000K, or something like that... it doesnt really work that way. If you are going to blend bulbs, its better to have the blue bulb one size larger than the 10,000K so that the output of the bluer bulb can compete with the near-double output of the warmer bulb.

At that, I still think dual 250s are more than enough. Just get HQI 14,000Ks or 20,000Ks, and that will be a great looking/growing tank.

Or, I would still consider a 6x39 watt T5 setup over everything. You could run two sun bulbs, two blue+ bulbs, and two UVL super actinics, and you would have a very bright, and very pleasing color that would grow corals well... but for only 234 watts. Or, if in doubt, run 8x39watt... that would shred the output of a couple 250wattDE halides. Just shred.

ieatqiue · #**703** 11/24/2006, 12:36 PM

i really appreciate all the great advice you've given me.. im so glad im not finding all this out the expensive way..

t5s... ive been planning metal halide all along.. plus ive never had MH lighting before.. so despite the fact that i could certainly go t5, im sticking with MH for this lighting setup.. surely it will not be my last....

before i get in depth heres my new 'what i want now' spectral plot..

so i am still mixing and matching, even though this is not common.. i think that in my situation; a 36" tank w/ no center brace, and the two small reflectors....

... placed very near one another in the center, perhaps even with a slight adjustable angle inward.. i wont get soo much of a yellow left on the blue on the right effect.... using the one 150 will lower power consumption a little.. not that it really matters at this point haha......

but as im writing this i cant help but think maybe its not enough.. the tank is deep and i want to be able to put sps basically as low as i want.. the 150w 10k's ppfd is low compared to that 250..

maybe i should just go 250 10k + 250 20k as shown above, and run the 10k fewer hrs.. its hard for me to decide if that 10k bulb is just way too yellow because i have no idea what it looks like in person, maybe you wont even be able to tell the 20k is there.. and furthermore the evc 20k has no cct given (though it must be high, that spike is huge) so i cant really get a good idea of what the average would be..

i could always buy this setup (250 10k + 250 20k) and switch that 10k bulb out for the 14k.... idk.. i know theres no real answer, im just bouncing it off ya..

ok sorry stupid question: http://www.hellolights.com/25hadmam80ba.html
this is it right? i only ask because i dont see pfo anywhere.. im not really worried about wiring or constructing an enclosure

or should i just be getting something like this..
http://www.championlighting.com/prod...584&bestseller

and lastly.. where do you buy evc bulbs? i know they must be a retailer with them in my favorite places somewhere... but.. u know how it is, like a needle in a stack of needles..

i hope that i am not dragging this out too long, i dont want to be rude.. but i think there must be others who might be about to buy m58s that can benefit from this information

thanks again -frank

hahnmeister · #**704** 11/25/2006, 01:41 AM

PFO is just a mfg of the ballasts... that one you have linked to at hello lights is just a barebones setup by Advance. FWIW, if this is your first dive into halides, I dont know that a DIY ballast would be the way to go.

For what you want, why not just go with dual 250watt 20,000Ks? The look is very nice, as you said... that 150watter isnt adding much in comparison. That way, you are also more 'future-proof', and you wont have to try to hard to 'blend' the light.

I tend to shop at reefgeek, premium aquatics, and marine depot... their prices are usually less than hello lights on almost everything. Heres a nice setup I would go with by SLS... http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104820.html

That ballast you have linked to at champion is not HQI. This one is though... http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=PF1632

I could throw out several ideas for reflectors, but let me ask you, are you going to use a canopy, or open top? It seems like you are trying to cut costs as much as possible. Hello lights does have those $29 retrofit reflectors that look alright, but only if you have a canopy to house them. Otherwise, a good HQI reflector will run you about $100.

ieatqiue · #**705** 11/27/2006, 02:39 PM

http://www.reeftanksupply.com/produc...roducts_id=550

i dont get why its so cheap?? 250w pfo hqi.. am i missing something?

-frank

ieatqiue · #**706** 11/27/2006, 02:56 PM

ugh what??.. anyway see reeftanksupply PFO 250w hqi ballast

hahnmeister · #**707** 11/27/2006, 04:23 PM

PM me with the addy. Thats odd. I dont know why there would be a problem with a commercial link here at RC... people do it all the time.

hahnmeister · #**708** 11/28/2006, 03:11 AM

Those prices dont seem too great to me... thanks for the PM... dont know why RC would block that site.

Anyways, I have a question for Sanjay:

Do you see any future with the aquarium trade for induction lamps? They seem to have a much longer life than most (no electrodes in the bulb itself to wear), and outputs that rival halides...
http://catalog.myosram.com/zb2b/b2b/...browserminor=4

hahnmeister · #**709** 11/28/2006, 03:28 AM

Just curious, but what model of OSRAM ballasts are used for these fixtures (Im a tech nerd)?

Aquaticman74 · #**710** 12/02/2006, 10:43 PM

Hey Hahn! I decided to run those 400w SE Gman Coral bulbs on the galaxy ballasts. Sanjay got some pretty darn good par with the electronics and a shield according to his results. I've only had them running a few days, but are they ever a clean white colored bulb that makes the corals look awesome. I'm running them with a T5 combo of 2 ATI B+ and 2 UVL SA's and it makes the corals look better then any other lighting combo I've gone with.

I'm interested to see if they shift any after they burn in, but I'm sure happy with them. I wish I would have went with this setup 2 months ago when I originally set this tank up. Anyways... if anyone is thinking about spending the money($120/each) on some good bulbs. I'd give these a shot.

jerry11901 · #**711** 12/03/2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jerry11901
Hallo every one .I have T5 lamp with 36 inch bulbs.My someone help me to find bulb that would ad some red light to my reef tank? Any links?

I just ad 3000K to my T5 setup, and I am happy with the effect .Thanks to seller: Reefgeek, and all guys who recommend it

fishsoldseprtly · #**712** 12/06/2006, 08:03 AM

hahnmeister- I am planning to ditch the SE set up and I am going back to DE bulbs with my SLS HQI ballast. WHat 250w 14K or 20K bulb is best overall? whats your top 3 from test results?

Also how do the SPS SE brand bulbs (south pacific brand) look? What is your opinion and I didnt see a test for these bulbs?. How do they match up and compare with the better SE bulbs out there? I was debating to try those SPS SE bulbs if I stay with the SE but I really think I am going back with HQIs.

hahnmeister · #**713** 12/06/2006, 12:12 PM

Dude, I have only tested 3 bulbs so far. Sanjay is the professore doctore who tests all the bulbs here :
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

For 250wattDE bulbs, the best 3 in the 14,000K+ range, IMO, are the pheonix 14,000K, the EVC 20,000K, and Giesemann megachrome 14,500K. I am not a big fan of the Ushio 14,000K unless its used with a healthy dose of blue+ T5 bulbs... then it looks similar to the Giesemann. Another bulb to check out that I havent seen in person is the G-man 13,000K megachrome.

Robert Patterso · #**714** 12/06/2006, 12:26 PM

Who makes the G-man bulb, or who carries it?

hahnmeister · #**715** 12/06/2006, 01:05 PM

Marine Depot does for $104

Its not a cheap bulb at all, but its longevity seems to be the best of the pack.

Robert Patterso · #**716** 12/07/2006, 11:43 PM

hahnmiester or sanjay, who carries the aquaconnect bulb. was just on aquaristic.com and they didn't show it. anybody else?

thing2do · #**717** 12/08/2006, 12:58 AM

so whats the deal with the xm15k's any good.?

also sanjays web page doesnt seem to have alot of these bulbs im seeing mentioned.

hahnmeister · #**718** 12/08/2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Robert Patterso
hahnmiester or sanjay, who carries the aquaconnect bulb. was just on aquaristic.com and they didn't show it. anybody else?

There are some suggestions here:
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...24#post8705024

hahnmeister · #**719** 12/08/2006, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thing2do
so whats the deal with the xm15k's any good.?

also sanjays web page doesnt seem to have alot of these bulbs im seeing mentioned.

The XM 15,000K is listed at sanjay's archive... its output is rather dismal though, so its been a rather crappy product launch for that bulb.

Sanjay cant keep up all on his own, thats why some of us are going out and buying our own PAR meters and spectroradiometers to 'help out' in testing. In the past few months, Sanjay has been preoccupied with setting up his new 500g, and there have been a few bulbs that have just come out... gained popularity, and not been reviewed yet.

From what I hear, the Ushio 14,000K is the same as the BLV 14,000K though, so that bulb is covered. The Giesemann bulbs are all spoken for (we think...), and then there is the new CoralVue Reeflux 12,000K that everyone is raving about. Add to that the 175watt 15,000K Iwasaki... and well... you get the idea. Most every other bulb is in that archive... esp the 250watters.

mysterybox · #**720** 12/09/2006, 01:01 AM

Hey Sanjay!I was told that you were it! Thanks for your time.

I have a Current Sunpod over my 55 gallon 48 inch x 13x 20 AGA. The Sunpod mounts on the tank, and has 18 LED lights for blue & moonlights. I have no other lighting. I need the tank mounted fixture because I have an 18 foot vaulted ceiling above the tank. I have a variety of SPS's (mostly Acro's) & clams.

Question number 1: would it be worth upgrading to the 2 x 250 Sunpod when it comes out or would that be overkill since my tank is so shallow.
And number 2: I currently am using 2 150 watt 14k Ushio DE lamps, but since you do not have them reviewed yet I wanted to know (in your opinion) which would be the best bulb for me since I cannot have supplemental lighting in color & par. I would like a nice crisp whitewish blue to a blue, but not yellow. I think I can do a little better than what I have now (par wise & intensity).

Sincerely,
Ralph

Sincerely,
Ralph Scheriff

jake2045 · #**721** 12/17/2006, 09:17 PM

Anyone have any data on the Coralvue Reeflux 12k 400w?

RacerX308e · #**722** 12/23/2006, 09:36 AM

Sorry if the data is here and I have missed it but is there any data on the useable lifespan for a Radium 20K on a PFO HQI ballast?

In other words, when should I calendar to replace?

hahnmeister · #**723** 12/24/2006, 07:27 PM

depends on the wattage. A 250watt version is really a HQI bulb, rated at 270watts. The one that people call a 400 is really a 350watt bulb, so it tends to burn out very fast.

Thomas of Paris · #**724** 12/26/2006, 10:10 AM

Hello,
My tank is 97cmx97cm surface and 60 cm deep. It has an open top and is inhabited by SPS and LPS. It is already lighted by a 400 W HQI (E40 base) plus two 250 W (FC2 base). But the light is not well spread and I want to change the reflectors to have a better repartition of the light.
Reading Sanjay Joshi and Timothy Marks article, the diamond light model has the best results for a square surface but the 12’ side model seems to me a bit too small. I’m writing from France where there is only a few choice for reflectors. So I will make it all by myself. I was asking myself if it was possible to double the dimensions and put 2 bulbs of 400 W instead of one.
Do you think it will be OK ?

hahnmeister · #**725** 12/26/2006, 03:26 PM

So its about 38x38x24", for those playing with numbers in SI units.

FWIW, I would consider two lumenarc3 reflectors with 400watt bulbs to be a very good spread. Those reflectors are about 19"x19" square (48x48cm) each, and each one should be able to cover a 3'x3' patch, if not 4'x4' patch rather well. Id go with dual 400s... sure. Over there you have access to 14,000K aquaconnects and true HQI ballasts as well... that would be an awesome setup.

You could also go with dual 250wattDE bulbs, since diamond lighting now also makes a lumenarc DE reflector. Its a little bit smaller, but its still a good reflector. For a tank your size (about 150g) if you wanted to run dual 250wattDE bulbs with 10,000-14,000K bulbs (whiter bulbs), then you could fill in with some 3' T5 bulbs for blue. This might give you more selection for bulbs, since there seem to be more 250wattDE bulbs out there than ever, and the mix of halides and T5s allows you more flexibility than to run two halides.