ok guys need some lighting help on my 300

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 10:16 PM

I am trying to figure out what bulbs I am going to be going to . Here is my setup. tank is 96" long by 24 " high by 30" front to back. The tank is euro braced so no dividers over the top. Ballast are coralvue no dimmable 250 watt. reflectors are 4 large lumenbright. 12" off the water. Past bulb experience is , I tried the reflux 12ks when they came out . I got crappy par wih them only 400 1" below the water surface all my corals started to turn brown. for the last 2 months I have been using xm10k with vho sup and the corals are realy not showing any signs of coloring up. So now I am debating on trying Ushio 14Ks, helios 20k's, or radium 20's. Anyone with good experience with anyof the bulb have any insight they can share. Pics would help out alot if you could

NewSchool04 · 02/24/2009, 10:32 PM

I think your problem is not the bulb. The 12K's are a great bulbs and the XM10K is one of the most popular 10K bulb with about as much PAR as any bulb out there. I would look more deeply into your problem to figure out why you are browning out your acros.

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 10:40 PM

The 12k's didnt give me any par 400 under 1" of water is not good in my opion

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 10:41 PM

my last water test
Calcium 420
Alk 9dkh
Mag 1350
Pos 0
Ph 8.3
temp 78
Nitrate 0

NewSchool04 · 02/24/2009, 10:46 PM

It's not the bulbs. That blue millepora in my avatar is grown under 12K Reeflux and there are literally hundreds and probably thousands of people using this bulb that have tons of success.

Take a step back and really look at your system and figure out what is going on because unless you got a bad batch of both Reeflux and XM bulbs, then it's not the bulb! You have a great ballast, great reflector, great bulbs . . .

jlaudiofreak · 02/24/2009, 10:54 PM

thats why I am at a loss. I can understand one bulbs being bad but I got 5 12k and all gave the same reading with the nipple up

Paulairduck · 02/24/2009, 11:57 PM

are you saying your acros got brown form the lighting?

jlaudiofreak · 02/25/2009, 12:10 AM

yes

bravanc · 02/25/2009, 08:15 AM

you have a great setup. I have seen the exact setup and combination bulbs and ballast with amazing results. How long are your lights on? were the new bulbs gradually turned on to your regular light schedule

jlaudiofreak · 02/25/2009, 10:31 AM

bravanc
3The bulbs where brand new but all as sets. I did gradually bring the bulbs up to my lighting schedule. I run the MH for 6 hrs a day. But from day one my tank never looked right with the reeflux 12k's So I finaly decided to break out my par meter and test the bulbs. and I was complety shocked to see I was only getting a par reading of 400 1" below the water surface. 24" down on my sand bed I was only getting 80. I was very disapointed. I then switched to the xm's 10k's I do not like the bright white look and neither do my corals. That is why I am trying to find a better color bulb for my corals as well as eye apealing for me

Achapman · 02/25/2009, 10:53 AM

For what it's worth, the new Reeflux 20k has more PAR than the 12k, at least that's what the tests have shown.

jlaudiofreak · 02/25/2009, 12:52 PM

I also have read about the par readings on the 20k reeflux but with the experience I had with the 250 12k I dont know if I would ever try a reeflux bulb again

02/24/2009, 10:16 PM	#1
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	ok guys need some lighting help on my 300 I am trying to figure out what bulbs I am going to be going to . Here is my setup. tank is 96" long by 24 " high by 30" front to back. The tank is euro braced so no dividers over the top. Ballast are coralvue no dimmable 250 watt. reflectors are 4 large lumenbright. 12" off the water. Past bulb experience is , I tried the reflux 12ks when they came out . I got crappy par wih them only 400 1" below the water surface all my corals started to turn brown. for the last 2 months I have been using xm10k with vho sup and the corals are realy not showing any signs of coloring up. So now I am debating on trying Ushio 14Ks, helios 20k's, or radium 20's. Anyone with good experience with anyof the bulb have any insight they can share. Pics would help out alot if you could

02/24/2009, 10:32 PM	#2
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	I think your problem is not the bulb. The 12K's are a great bulbs and the XM10K is one of the most popular 10K bulb with about as much PAR as any bulb out there. I would look more deeply into your problem to figure out why you are browning out your acros. __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

02/24/2009, 10:46 PM	#5
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	It's not the bulbs. That blue millepora in my avatar is grown under 12K Reeflux and there are literally hundreds and probably thousands of people using this bulb that have tons of success. Take a step back and really look at your system and figure out what is going on because unless you got a bad batch of both Reeflux and XM bulbs, then it's not the bulb! You have a great ballast, great reflector, great bulbs . . . __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

02/25/2009, 10:53 AM	#11
Achapman Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 265	For what it's worth, the new Reeflux 20k has more PAR than the 12k, at least that's what the tests have shown. __________________ 30x30x30 cube - 400 Radium w/Galaxy ballast - XP-2000 Skimmer - Reeflo Dart return - Tunze 6105's w/7095 controller Current Tank Info: 180RR w/55g sump - ASD 8.2 Skimmer - 3 Lumenbright Larges with 12k Reeflux on Icecap ballasts.

02/24/2009, 10:40 PM	#3
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	The 12k's didnt give me any par 400 under 1" of water is not good in my opion

02/24/2009, 10:41 PM	#4
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	my last water test Calcium 420 Alk 9dkh Mag 1350 Pos 0 Ph 8.3 temp 78 Nitrate 0

02/24/2009, 10:54 PM	#6
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	thats why I am at a loss. I can understand one bulbs being bad but I got 5 12k and all gave the same reading with the nipple up

02/24/2009, 11:57 PM	#7
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	are you saying your acros got brown form the lighting?

02/25/2009, 12:10 AM	#8
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	yes

02/25/2009, 08:15 AM	#9
bravanc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 210 Blog Entries: 1	you have a great setup. I have seen the exact setup and combination bulbs and ballast with amazing results. How long are your lights on? were the new bulbs gradually turned on to your regular light schedule

02/25/2009, 10:31 AM	#10
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	bravanc 3The bulbs where brand new but all as sets. I did gradually bring the bulbs up to my lighting schedule. I run the MH for 6 hrs a day. But from day one my tank never looked right with the reeflux 12k's So I finaly decided to break out my par meter and test the bulbs. and I was complety shocked to see I was only getting a par reading of 400 1" below the water surface. 24" down on my sand bed I was only getting 80. I was very disapointed. I then switched to the xm's 10k's I do not like the bright white look and neither do my corals. That is why I am trying to find a better color bulb for my corals as well as eye apealing for me

02/25/2009, 12:52 PM	#12
jlaudiofreak Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Savannah, Ga Posts: 525	I also have read about the par readings on the 20k reeflux but with the experience I had with the 250 12k I dont know if I would ever try a reeflux bulb again