Halide Q & A

[biecacka]

What size halide do you have giving you 1900 par?

Corey

[karimwassef]

400W... approx 12" - 18" above the water... but the big factor is the reflector and using dual ended HQI... I used Cayman Sun

[biecacka]

Gotcha.
I have the largest lumenarc reflectors. 22/22/9 or so. But run single end 400

Is that 12 inches above water the bottom of the reflector?

Corey

[karimwassef]

I have a thread with pictures and a PAR map

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=par+map

I need to find the post where I describe the setup

[karimwassef]

Here's the test setup.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hlight=par+map

And

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...r#post24597045

I got 1900 on a later test with new bulbs - but can't find the record

[biecacka]

cool. thanks for the links. i think i will run 2 250 bulbs about 6-8in off the water and go from there.


corey

[karimwassef]

you can't put MH that close to the water in my experience. The IR radiation will cause a dramatic temperature rise and the water splash will cause salt crusting and require frequent cleaning.

Just my experience... even 12" was difficult to maintain.

[biecacka]

So reflector 12 inches off water line at least. Then 24 inches to tank bottom, then height of reflector is 9. So 45 inches from the bottom of my tank?

I will look into that, my current fixture has been 8 inches from reflector to water line for a few years now, but your says I should move it to 12 at least? I will see if I can tinker with that.

Corey

[karimwassef]

8" is too close IME.

[biecacka]

Do you think that I will get enoug par at the bottom of the tank using 250 watt bulbs? If I keep the reflector 12 inches off, then nine more inches to the bulb, so 21 inches from tank top to bulb then another 24 inches to the sand?
Or should I look into the 400 again?

Corey

[Syntax1325]

Just remember that it is not all about par. MH's produce a full spectrum lighting that is impossible with LED's. I have a 180 with acropora all over my tank and am getting great growth and color. I'm using 3 Reef Brite mh/led pendants 13 inches above the top trim... 36 inches from the bottom of the tank.... no problem with growth or color. A standard 180g.

[karimwassef]

How is it 9" from the reflector to the bulb?

[biecacka]

i meant from the bottom of my reflector to the top is about 9 inches, so the bulb actually sits about 7 inches from the bottom of the reflector.
I am sure i am overthinking this and in fact have already placed them about 9 inches off the water level.

corey

[Western_reefer]

Hey everyone, my 250 w galaxy ballast just pooped out after 5 years of use and i currently have no lighting over my tank and i need to buy a new ballast ASAP, seems like most of the good nice brands of MH ballast don't exist anymore.. what's a really good brand of 250 w ballast out there to run a single ended 20K 250w Radium bulb? Seems like the only MH ballast that most stores sell/offer are Reef Brite and Luxcore??? Please help!

[bdsage]

hamiltontechnology.com

[Bronx19]

Just checking in to say I fired up my Infiniti for the first time today with my new Pheonix and coral plus bulbs. What a thing of beauty. The shimmer is stunning, not that fake crap, but like a real piece of ocean. And the colour temp is great, a real crisp blue.

[rygar]

Does anybody know why Reeflux 400 watt 12K bulbs were discontinued?

[Syntax1325]

Can anyone recommend a 250 watt se bulb that can work as a stand alone option on a standard electronic ballast without an hqi setting? I'm currently using reefbrite mh/led fixtures and I'd like to be able to achieve a blue/white color without using the xho's while the halides are on. The shimmer is so much better with only the halides running. I would be using the xho's for sunrise and sunset. I'm currently using reefbrite twin arc 14k bulbs and I find them to be too yellow.

[bdsage]

Myself and others I know run 250w Radium on standard elec. ballast no problem.

[stancfii]

Originally Posted by Syntax1325

Can anyone recommend a 250 watt se bulb that can work as a stand alone option on a standard electronic ballast without an hqi setting? I'm currently using reefbrite mh/led fixtures and I'd like to be able to achieve a blue/white color without using the xho's while the halides are on. The shimmer is so much better with only the halides running. I would be using the xho's for sunrise and sunset. I'm currently using reefbrite twin arc 14k bulbs and I find them to be too yellow.

Hamilton 20k or 14k.

[Syntax1325]

Thank you stancfii


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[topjimmy]

Originally Posted by stancfii

Hamilton 20k or 14k.

I second the Hamilton. I use a 20k and I really like the way it looks by itself. I also run two blue+ T5 which are a little too blue for me but I need the par.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

[stancfii]

Originally Posted by Syntax1325

Thank you stancfii


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You’re welcome. I just switched from Radiums to Hamilton 20k and love them. There’s a guy who made a post on that other forum comparing the “new” 250w Hamilton 20k (they changed the formula a year or so ago) to the Radium 250w via spectrometer. It is almost identical, and has the same PAR for less wattage and less cost. They are a hint more white than the Radiums (which I prefer). Corals seem to be loving them as well.

[Syntax1325]

Originally Posted by stancfii

You’re welcome. I just switched from Radiums to Hamilton 20k and love them. There’s a guy who made a post on that other forum comparing the “new” 250w Hamilton 20k (they changed the formula a year or so ago) to the Radium 250w via spectrometer. It is almost identical, and has the same PAR for less wattage and less cost. They are a hint more white than the Radiums (which I prefer). Corals seem to be loving them as well.

Are you using a standard electric ballast? I don’t have an hqi setting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stancfii]

Originally Posted by Syntax1325

Are you using a standard electric ballast? I don’t have an hqi setting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m using a select-a-watt ballast. With the Radiums I would run it on HQI setting. With the Hamilton’s, I would use the regular 250w setting. The data I’ve seen looks like the Hammy on 250w now puts out as much PAR on the same spectrum as the Radium on 250HQI.