Help with Metal Halides and T12s

Feet4Fish · Oct 31, 2019

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 · Oct 31, 2019

soffutt said:
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 · Oct 31, 2019

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

C. Eymann · Oct 31, 2019

soffutt said:
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 · Oct 31, 2019

What a valuable resource! Thanks!

C. Eymann said:
+1
The also carry TONS of replacement parts for stuff too, which is super useful!

pdxmonkeyboy · Oct 31, 2019

You have a link??

C. Eymann · Oct 31, 2019

pdxmonkeyboy said:
You have a link??

https://www.championlighting.com/

TexasReefer82 · Oct 31, 2019

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 · Oct 31, 2019

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

pdxmonkeyboy · Oct 31, 2019

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

C. Eymann · Oct 31, 2019

pdxmonkeyboy said:
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 · Oct 31, 2019

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 · Oct 31, 2019

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

pdxmonkeyboy · Oct 31, 2019

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

C. Eymann · Oct 31, 2019

pdxmonkeyboy said:
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 · Oct 31, 2019

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 · Oct 31, 2019

pdxmonkeyboy said:
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 · Oct 31, 2019

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.