Help with Metal Halides and T12s

[Feet4Fish]

Awesome news for me. I just called UV lighting company and they suggested I go through Champion to get the bulbs. If any problems said to contact them and they can get them for me directly! They are next door in Ohio!!!

 

[C. Eymann]

Awesome news for me. I just called UV lighting company and they suggested I go through Champion to get the bulbs. If any problems said to contact them and they can get them for me directly! They are next door in Ohio!!!

The guys at Champion are super nice and very knowledgeable. I have ordered lots of stuff from them, great company.


Love how they answer the phone. :D

"Chaaaaaampion"

 

[Feet4Fish]

Champion has everything!!! Great assortment of T12 bulbs and the most comprehensive source of halide bulbs I have found so far!!

 

[C. Eymann]

Champion has everything!!! Great assortment of T12 bulbs and the most comprehensive source of halide bulbs I have found so far!!

+1
The also carry TONS of replacement parts for stuff too, which is super useful!

 

[Feet4Fish]

What a valuable resource! Thanks!

+1
The also carry TONS of replacement parts for stuff too, which is super useful!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

You have a link??

 

[C. Eymann]

You have a link??

https://www.championlighting.com/

 

[TexasReefer82]

Do there exist individual lamp reflectors for T12 as there are for T5? My understanding is that the individual bulb reflector used with T5 is a major component of its light output. If the same type of parabolic reflector can be found for t12 it would be amazing. it would probably be about 4" wide... but with a tank of your size you cold probably accommodate them.

 

[Feet4Fish]

T12 bulbs have built-in internal reflectors so probably wouldn’t gain to much from and additional external reflector.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

What does a built in internal reflector look like>? I mean, so you are saying you could intall the bulb upside down ?

 

[C. Eymann]

What does a built in internal reflector look like>? I mean, so you are saying you could intall the bulb upside down ?

Yes, the reflector is literally on the bulb

 

[shred5]

Premium Aquatics sells all the UVL VHO bulbs.
I highly recommend the UVL super actinic with the halides. It is what i used to run on my PFO and Hamilton fixtures.
Not VHO all have internal or external reflectors.

https://premiumaquatics.com/category/t5-vho-aquarium-lighting.html?filter_brand_id=1049

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

huh, interesting. I never realized that.
Thanks for taking the time!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

Your setup looks just like mine is going to be. Although i am going with just 3 400watt bulbs.

 

[C. Eymann]

Your setup looks just like mine is going to be. Although i am going with just 3 400watt bulbs.

Nice ! what ballast and bulb combo are going to go with? running the right ballast with the right bulb can make a really big difference.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have 400 watt digital ballasts. Two galaxies and I can't remember the other one of the top of my head. Going with 400 watt radions or perhaps the geissman 400 watt bulbs. I also have 2 six foot XHO strips. I just ordered fittings to build a "canopy" out of unistrut to hold everything together so I can raise and lower it.... because I'm gangster like that :)

 

[C. Eymann]

I have 400 watt digital ballasts. Two galaxies and I can't remember the other one of the top of my head. Going with 400 watt radions or perhaps the geissman 400 watt bulbs. I also have 2 six foot XHO strips. I just ordered fittings to build a "canopy" out of unistrut to hold everything together so I can raise and lower it.... because I'm gangster like that :)

Nice, 400w radiums work well on both probe start magnetic or digital ballasts, just dont want to run the 400w on pulse start mags as they will cause color shifts and reduce bulb life.

What combo of T5s you going with? all Aquablue + ? or are you going to do combo of a few different tubes?

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I will probably run mostly blue plus. I screwed around with coral plus and blue plus with my geiseman and liked blue blus with the halides the best. Even with running the reefbrites.

 

[Bpb]

Hamilton 20k 400 watt are also a good option as well. Can’t beat the price. I’ve been running the 250 watt 14k and love them

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

I have heard good things about the hamiltons as well. I am sure at some point I will check them out. Thanks