Awful PAR from Reeflux 12k

Wrench · 01/17/2009, 12:31 PM

I was surprised when I had the opportunity to use a PAR meter on my tank earlier this week. The system is Reeflux 12k bulbs in Lumenarc mini's fired by Coravue ballasts, the bulbs are 6 weeks old and they are 11" off the water.

The right side has 550 ppfd 1" below the surface, 10" below it's 390, at 18" it's 140 and at 24" the reading was 60.

The left side is even worse with only 390 at 1", 150 at 18 and 50 at 24". I'm still working on trying to figure out where the difference is coming from but I think it's the ballast.

Do these numbers seem out of line? They seem low to me. I had read more than a few articles and threads that said this was one of the best bulb/ballast combos for growth and color.

JNye · 01/17/2009, 01:45 PM

ever thought the reflector could be the culprit?

the difference in the left and right is a concern, how is the nipple oriented? it should be pointed up.

grigsy · 01/18/2009, 10:35 AM

It's not the reflector. Reeflux 12K bulbs have very low par numbers. Even Sanjay reports so too.

There are many other MH bulbs with much higher PAR than Reeflux.

GSMguy · 01/18/2009, 10:46 AM

ha, it's not the lumenarcs or the nipple position, that is all BS.

Everytime these bulbs are tested independantly they get inconsistent results, low par, and weird colors.

BreadmanMike · 01/18/2009, 11:04 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1313678

250w 12k Reeflux look like they work just fine to me. YZreef uses them as well with great success. You'll have to google him since he's not a member here anymore.

As far as the reflector, My par numbers doubled when I switched from Lumenarcs to Lumenbrights.

GSMguy · 01/18/2009, 11:24 AM

Did to grid test mike?

Did the numbers go up everywhere or just under the bulbs ?

BreadmanMike · 01/18/2009, 11:30 AM

No need to grid test them as Sanjay has already done so. I'd say every reflector he tested has a use in our hobby. Since my cube is basically all SPS and one anemone, I wanted to make sure there were hot spots over my coral areas.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

GSMguy · 01/18/2009, 11:40 AM

But you can't say that your total par has gone up, right? I understand that these bulbs grow coral, JRs tank has grown really fast, lots of low par bulbs like my favorite ushio 20k has very low par and yet they grow coral very well. These tend to be inconsistent from more than a couple reports, a year ago these bulbs were well known for developing a pink hue.

I just dislike the idea that the bulbs are somehow better in lumenbrights it's more that lumenbrights cncentrate the light better. On the same note a bulb like the xm 10k would have huge par numbers below the bulb in a lumenbright. And would have areas that would burn corals fast. A lumenarc helps to spread that light evenly.

BreadmanMike · 01/18/2009, 11:54 AM

My total par has almost tripled, but I added a third light into the mix. I get 600+ par on the bottom middle of my tank with the three lumenbrights vs. 220 with the two lumenarcs.

We can discuss this all day, but in the end each person needs to decide what reflector best fits their needs.

Sanjay's conclusion in his article sums up my feelings the best.

Wrench · 01/18/2009, 05:36 PM

thanks for the input everyone.

So I went to a friends house today who's got the same setup as me except he's got lumenbrite minis. He has more than 2x the ppfd and his bulbs are 6" farther from the waters' surface. Reading all of the articles and arguments here on the forums all goes out the window once you see the results first hand.

Looks like I've thrust myself into the market for new reflectors.

BreadmanMike · 01/18/2009, 05:42 PM

JNye · 01/18/2009, 06:49 PM

thanks for being honest and updating.
i believe the pink hue that develops is user error, the nipple should be up or it can cause spectrum shift, I have see this firsthand on my tank.
Its absolutely true that there are higher PAR 250 watt bulbs out there, but like Nick points out, it might not be all about PAR. There is a minimum needed yes, but is more better? I'm not sure we know all the answers on this yet. Plus like Bread states, different applications call for different equipment, they all excel at different things.
I don't hate Lumenarcs, but for lighting a 2x2x2 area, LBs all day.

01/17/2009, 12:31 PM	#1
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	Awful PAR from Reeflux 12k I was surprised when I had the opportunity to use a PAR meter on my tank earlier this week. The system is Reeflux 12k bulbs in Lumenarc mini's fired by Coravue ballasts, the bulbs are 6 weeks old and they are 11" off the water. The right side has 550 ppfd 1" below the surface, 10" below it's 390, at 18" it's 140 and at 24" the reading was 60. The left side is even worse with only 390 at 1", 150 at 18 and 50 at 24". I'm still working on trying to figure out where the difference is coming from but I think it's the ballast. Do these numbers seem out of line? They seem low to me. I had read more than a few articles and threads that said this was one of the best bulb/ballast combos for growth and color.

01/17/2009, 01:45 PM	#2
JNye Moved On Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 2,230	ever thought the reflector could be the culprit? the difference in the left and right is a concern, how is the nipple oriented? it should be pointed up. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: it don't matter just don't bite it

01/18/2009, 10:46 AM	#4
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	ha, it's not the lumenarcs or the nipple position, that is all BS. Everytime these bulbs are tested independantly they get inconsistent results, low par, and weird colors. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

01/18/2009, 11:24 AM	#6
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Did to grid test mike? Did the numbers go up everywhere or just under the bulbs ? __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

01/18/2009, 11:40 AM	#8
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	But you can't say that your total par has gone up, right? I understand that these bulbs grow coral, JRs tank has grown really fast, lots of low par bulbs like my favorite ushio 20k has very low par and yet they grow coral very well. These tend to be inconsistent from more than a couple reports, a year ago these bulbs were well known for developing a pink hue. I just dislike the idea that the bulbs are somehow better in lumenbrights it's more that lumenbrights cncentrate the light better. On the same note a bulb like the xm 10k would have huge par numbers below the bulb in a lumenbright. And would have areas that would burn corals fast. A lumenarc helps to spread that light evenly. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

01/18/2009, 10:35 AM	#3
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	It's not the reflector. Reeflux 12K bulbs have very low par numbers. Even Sanjay reports so too. There are many other MH bulbs with much higher PAR than Reeflux.

01/18/2009, 11:04 AM	#5
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1313678 250w 12k Reeflux look like they work just fine to me. YZreef uses them as well with great success. You'll have to google him since he's not a member here anymore. As far as the reflector, My par numbers doubled when I switched from Lumenarcs to Lumenbrights.

01/18/2009, 11:30 AM	#7
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	No need to grid test them as Sanjay has already done so. I'd say every reflector he tested has a use in our hobby. Since my cube is basically all SPS and one anemone, I wanted to make sure there were hot spots over my coral areas. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

01/18/2009, 11:54 AM	#9
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	My total par has almost tripled, but I added a third light into the mix. I get 600+ par on the bottom middle of my tank with the three lumenbrights vs. 220 with the two lumenarcs. We can discuss this all day, but in the end each person needs to decide what reflector best fits their needs. Sanjay's conclusion in his article sums up my feelings the best.

01/18/2009, 05:36 PM	#10
Wrench Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,004	thanks for the input everyone. So I went to a friends house today who's got the same setup as me except he's got lumenbrite minis. He has more than 2x the ppfd and his bulbs are 6" farther from the waters' surface. Reading all of the articles and arguments here on the forums all goes out the window once you see the results first hand. Looks like I've thrust myself into the market for new reflectors.

01/18/2009, 05:42 PM	#11
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886

01/18/2009, 06:49 PM	#12
JNye Moved On Up Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lansing, IL Posts: 2,230	thanks for being honest and updating. i believe the pink hue that develops is user error, the nipple should be up or it can cause spectrum shift, I have see this firsthand on my tank. Its absolutely true that there are higher PAR 250 watt bulbs out there, but like Nick points out, it might not be all about PAR. There is a minimum needed yes, but is more better? I'm not sure we know all the answers on this yet. Plus like Bread states, different applications call for different equipment, they all excel at different things. I don't hate Lumenarcs, but for lighting a 2x2x2 area, LBs all day. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: it don't matter just don't bite it Last edited by JNye; 01/18/2009 at 06:57 PM.