Just got Apogee Quantum Meter, 6bulb tek light vs Iwasaki 15k 175w bulb

raynist · 09/07/2006, 08:26 PM

Man I am loving this meter.

I just did a quick test on two different tanks.

My 6x54w Tek fixture on a 75g tank showed a par of 102 at the bottom, this is with a pretty dirty acrylic shield.

My 15k Iwasaki MH bulb on a different tank, but the same depth showed a par of 330+. From this test, can I conclud that the Iwasaki bulb is much brighter than my tek light?

The Iwasaki bulb is in a Lumenmax 2 reflector and running an Icecap electronic ballast.

My Tek has the following lights in this order front to back:

UVL Super Actinic
D&D Blue Plus
D&D Aqua Blue
D&D Aqua Blue
D&D Aqua Blue
UVL Super Actinic

The Tek unit is about 3 inches off the water, the Iwasaki about 6.

--Ray

Tomorrow I will test the tek with no shield and a clean shield and see the results.

raynist · 09/08/2006, 07:00 AM

Anyone? Can I make the conclusion that the Iwasaki is that much brighter or is there a flaw in my test?

horkn · 09/08/2006, 07:32 AM

interesting, but you should test the two on the same tank. also, how old is the mh bulb, and how old are all of the t5 bulb?. are the reflectors clean?

there are lots of variables

raynist · 09/08/2006, 07:43 AM

Yeah, I plan on trying the MH bulb on the same tank tonight.

The MH bulb is about 3 months old, the t-5's about 6 months(SA bulbs are newer).

I need to clean the shield on the T-5s, the reflectors are clean (or at least as clean as the Tek reflectors can get....)

gcarroll · 09/08/2006, 08:43 AM

Was the T5 bulb closer to the surface than the MH? I think the best test would be running the 2 systems just like you would run them. Most run MH bulbs >6" off the surface. Most run T5 <4' off the surface. I also have never seen anyone run T5 with a glass or acrylic shield. Other than protecting it from salt spray, there is no functional use for the shield and it is no doubtedly causing a decrease in light output. Also per some of the German reefers out there running T5, They feel that they should be replaced every 6-9 months because they begin to loose intensity after that. And that is from people that are not overdriving the T5.

raynist · 09/08/2006, 08:59 AM

The T-5 lights were 3 inches off the water, the MH about 6 inches. I am going to test on the same tank without the shield on the T-5's. The shield is recommended on the Tek Light because the reflectors stain badly when hit with any salt spray and the endcaps are not waterproof. Actually, all of the T-5 fixtures come with the shield option.

raynist · 09/08/2006, 10:31 PM

Here are the updated results, all measurements taken on my 75g sps tank:

I took measurements at several points in the tank and on the rocks with the t-5 lights and the Iwasaki 15k 175w light mounted on my 75g SPS tank. Here are the results based on my Apogee Quantum meter calibrated for electric lights:

The Tek lights are 4 inches from the water level (lowest it can be with mounting legs), the Iwasaki is 8 inches

Directly under lights at surface, above water

Tek - 650
Iwasaki - 1730

Directly under lights, just under water level

Tek - 410
Iwasaki - 1120

Halfway down tank on rocks

Tek - 170
Iwasaki - 450

Bottom of tank - Barebottom

Tek - 125
Iwasaki - 310

I also notice that the shield (dirty) on the Tek light reduced the light by about 20 percent based on my readings from last night.

I random piece of glass I tested as a sheild for the Iwasaki decreased light output by 6%.

---Ray

09/07/2006, 08:26 PM	#1
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	Just got Apogee Quantum Meter, 6bulb tek light vs Iwasaki 15k 175w bulb Man I am loving this meter. I just did a quick test on two different tanks. My 6x54w Tek fixture on a 75g tank showed a par of 102 at the bottom, this is with a pretty dirty acrylic shield. My 15k Iwasaki MH bulb on a different tank, but the same depth showed a par of 330+. From this test, can I conclud that the Iwasaki bulb is much brighter than my tek light? The Iwasaki bulb is in a Lumenmax 2 reflector and running an Icecap electronic ballast. My Tek has the following lights in this order front to back: UVL Super Actinic D&D Blue Plus D&D Aqua Blue D&D Aqua Blue D&D Aqua Blue UVL Super Actinic The Tek unit is about 3 inches off the water, the Iwasaki about 6. --Ray Tomorrow I will test the tek with no shield and a clean shield and see the results.

09/08/2006, 07:32 AM	#3
horkn Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: milwaukee wisconsin Posts: 4,125	interesting, but you should test the two on the same tank. also, how old is the mh bulb, and how old are all of the t5 bulb?. are the reflectors clean? there are lots of variables __________________ people write stupid things in this space Current Tank Info: 200g DIY wood reef, 2x 250w SE 10k MH 2x80 t5ho, 75g sump, Geo Ca RX, ASD 6" recirc skimmer

09/08/2006, 08:43 AM	#5
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	Was the T5 bulb closer to the surface than the MH? I think the best test would be running the 2 systems just like you would run them. Most run MH bulbs >6" off the surface. Most run T5 <4' off the surface. I also have never seen anyone run T5 with a glass or acrylic shield. Other than protecting it from salt spray, there is no functional use for the shield and it is no doubtedly causing a decrease in light output. Also per some of the German reefers out there running T5, They feel that they should be replaced every 6-9 months because they begin to loose intensity after that. And that is from people that are not overdriving the T5. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

09/08/2006, 07:00 AM	#2
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	Anyone? Can I make the conclusion that the Iwasaki is that much brighter or is there a flaw in my test?

09/08/2006, 07:43 AM	#4
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	Yeah, I plan on trying the MH bulb on the same tank tonight. The MH bulb is about 3 months old, the t-5's about 6 months(SA bulbs are newer). I need to clean the shield on the T-5s, the reflectors are clean (or at least as clean as the Tek reflectors can get....)

09/08/2006, 08:59 AM	#6
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	The T-5 lights were 3 inches off the water, the MH about 6 inches. I am going to test on the same tank without the shield on the T-5's. The shield is recommended on the Tek Light because the reflectors stain badly when hit with any salt spray and the endcaps are not waterproof. Actually, all of the T-5 fixtures come with the shield option.

09/08/2006, 10:31 PM	#7
raynist Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,921	Here are the updated results, all measurements taken on my 75g sps tank: I took measurements at several points in the tank and on the rocks with the t-5 lights and the Iwasaki 15k 175w light mounted on my 75g SPS tank. Here are the results based on my Apogee Quantum meter calibrated for electric lights: The Tek lights are 4 inches from the water level (lowest it can be with mounting legs), the Iwasaki is 8 inches Directly under lights at surface, above water Tek - 650 Iwasaki - 1730 Directly under lights, just under water level Tek - 410 Iwasaki - 1120 Halfway down tank on rocks Tek - 170 Iwasaki - 450 Bottom of tank - Barebottom Tek - 125 Iwasaki - 310 I also notice that the shield (dirty) on the Tek light reduced the light by about 20 percent based on my readings from last night. I random piece of glass I tested as a sheild for the Iwasaki decreased light output by 6%. ---Ray