Metal Halide Par question

[reef’r]

What bulb and ballast is this?

Reefbrite ballast and aquabrite 20k double ended

 

[reef’r]

Did you get a different pic of the halides sir?

I did not, came home from work yesterday and my wife had started quite the project in our master bath and needed some drywall help lol I’ll get some later today and I will also mention this photo was taken with my radion, and Orphek combo on my other tank in the room as well. Obviously my tank is empty so can’t say for sure but the color looked similar to the eye as bobs post…. I mean both bulbs are 20k. Not sure why my pic came out so blue and his didn’t but also I’m no photographer and that was just straight iPhone camera no filter lenses

 

[reef’r]

Nice! Are you running the glass sheild? Also how hot does the fixture get with the glass sheild installed?
Yout right about spill as that's quite alot but rather normal for that fixture I would imagine.
Anyone else running the RB's with or without glass and how high are you mounting them.
My last halides were 14" off the surface and it worked well. Still quite a bit of bleed but still appears better and more concentrated than the current RB

Actually it looks very close to this in person

 

[bobnicaragua]

I did not, came home from work yesterday and my wife had started quite the project in our master bath and needed some drywall help lol I’ll get some later today and I will also mention this photo was taken with my radion, and Orphek combo on my other tank in the room as well. Obviously my tank is empty so can’t say for sure but the color looked similar to the eye as bobs post…. I mean both bulbs are 20k. Not sure why my pic came out so blue and his didn’t but also I’m no photographer and that was just straight iPhone camera no filter lenses

My pic was with an iPhone also. It just takes a little blue LED light to turn everything completely blue. You have to use a filter with LEDs on.

 

[bobnicaragua]

That looks really good!! It looks like white with a hint of blue, is that how it looks in real life?

Yeah, the halide no filter pics are true to life. I prefer the LED halide mix, the corals pop way more that way.

20k Halide only no filter:



Halide and LED with Orange filter.


LED with orange filter:

 

[Rocks reef]

I am torn between going with two Quanta Meso blues and two Reef Crest to flank the halides for ramp up/down. Thing is, I'd need a Proifilux Light Mini controller and break out box to control the four bars. Plus, that's 5 outlets being used.
Two Orphek OR4 Blue Plus and two Reef Day Plus with Osix controller so I can run all four bars off a single power supply and just use one outlet.
I think I know by decision, but wanted to hear others thoughts.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I am torn between going with two Quanta Meso blues and two Reef Crest to flank the halides for ramp up/down. Thing is, I'd need a Proifilux Light Mini controller and break out box to control the four bars. Plus, that's 5 outlets being used.
Two Orphek OR4 Blue Plus and two Reef Day Plus with Osix controller so I can run all four bars off a single power supply and just use one outlet.
I think I know by decision, but wanted to hear others thoughts.

I don't think the brand matters as much as the mix. 2 blue plus bars + 2 daylight bars + halides is a lot of daylight. Are you planning for the evenings and mornings to be as daylight as your peak?

 

[X-37B]

Actually it looks very close to this in person

Nice it's the look I miss from leds.

Got my RB fixture hung and fired up yesterday. Right now it’s probably around 15” above waterline so I’ll definitely be dropping it to somewhere around 10-12” to reduce spill. These are 20k aquabrite bulbs no filter on phone lense so it’s crazy blue. These bulbs in person are nice but I am probably going to try some 14k still

Get a filter kit for your phone. It will make everything look real, lol.
I use a 15K filter for all pics.

 

[X-37B]

I am torn between going with two Quanta Meso blues and two Reef Crest to flank the halides for ramp up/down. Thing is, I'd need a Proifilux Light Mini controller and break out box to control the four bars. Plus, that's 5 outlets being used.
Two Orphek OR4 Blue Plus and two Reef Day Plus with Osix controller so I can run all four bars off a single power supply and just use one outlet.
I think I know by decision, but wanted to hear others thoughts.

I have ran Orphek and Quanta bars and am now going with Meridian edge 14k bars to supplemnet my halide. It will be used for ramp up/down and I can program it from my phone to turn off the whites when the halide is on for 5-6 hrs. I think 2 of the 14K will achieve the look I'm after with the 10K halide.
Nothing wrong with Orphek or Quanta I just feel the meridian is cutting edge for leds as my photons prove it and they are old tech now, lol.

 

[Rocks reef]

I don't think the brand matters as much as the mix. 2 blue plus bars + 2 daylight bars + halides is a lot of daylight. Are you planning for the evenings and mornings to be as daylight as your peak?

I will have a ramp up that starts blue, then gradually add in the whites before the halides come on, turn off the LEDs while the halide is on, and then ramp down with both ending up with just blue. I'm only going to be running the halides for 5 hours during peak, maybe 6.
I just don't want a blue tank for 3.5 hours before and after the halides.
Does that make sense?

 

[Rocks reef]

Should I just go with one blue bar on each side?
I will look at the reefbreeders 14k since you can control the colors separately.

 

[X-37B]

Should I just go with one blue bar on each side?
I will look at the reefbreeders 14k since you can control the colors separately.

The 14K bars are on sale. I'm picking up 2 today.

 

[X-37B]

I will have a ramp up that starts blue, then gradually add in the whites before the halides come on, turn off the LEDs while the halide is on, and then ramp down with both ending up with just blue. I'm only going to be running the halides for 5 hours during peak, maybe 6.
I just don't want a blue tank for 3.5 hours before and after the halides.
Does that make sense?

I will be doing the same except using blue when the halides are on, with the whites off to help the 10K's color. I thought about all blue but the 14K makes more sense for my system.

 

[X-37B]

I will have a ramp up that starts blue, then gradually add in the whites before the halides come on, turn off the LEDs while the halide is on, and then ramp down with both ending up with just blue. I'm only going to be running the halides for 5 hours during peak, maybe 6.
I just don't want a blue tank for 3.5 hours before and after the halides.
Does that make sense?

I just bought 2-24" 14K bars.
If you go RB buy from them. No tax will save you even more.

 

[Rocks reef]

Should I do the 35s or 45s? My tank is 48"

 

[X-37B]

Should I do the 35s or 45s? My tank is 48"

35's cover 48 and the 24 covers 36.
I would do 35's over a 48.

 

[reef’r]

Should I do the 35s or 45s? My tank is 48"

35's cover 48 and the 24 covers 36.
I would do 35's over a 48.

I have two 36” orphek blue plus I was going to use with my halides. I wish I had the sky blue instead but maybe having some LED 20k won’t be a bad thing. Are guys supplementing for more par, or just viewing. Idk how much par these two bars would add, I know the helix’s are stronger, what about the breeders?

 

[X-37B]

I have two 36” orphek blue plus I was going to use with my halides. I wish I had the sky blue instead but maybe having some LED 20k won’t be a bad thing. Are guys supplementing for more par, or just viewing. Idk how much par these two bars would add, I know the helix’s are stronger, what about the breeders?

Don't know the par of breeders. My 48" or4 uv/v bars on my 170 give an addional 75 par across the system.
Also I ran the blue plus on my 120 with the 14K Hamiltons and it did little visually for me.
Your 36" are to short for a 48 but would work as the halides provide all the punch you need.
I run the 48" on my 60" system and par is lower on the ends but I can put lower light corals on the end and planned it that way.
If it was my system I would run the 14K Meridians. With the white channel you may be able to dial in a better look when running the 20K.
I am going to fire up the 20K and 10K and take some pics this weekend with par readings.
When the 14Ks arrive I will check air par at the surface of my new system and 17" down which is the bottom. Air numbers only but will give me an idea as to the spread and color each fixture and bulb give.

 

[Rocks reef]

Don't know the par of breeders. My 48" or4 uv/v bars on my 170 give an addional 75 par across the system.
Also I ran the blue plus on my 120 with the 14K Hamiltons and it did little visually for me.
Your 36" are to short for a 48 but would work as the halides provide all the punch you need.
I run the 48" on my 60" system and par is lower on the ends but I can put lower light corals on the end and planned it that way.
If it was my system I would run the 14K Meridians. With the white channel you may be able to dial in a better look when running the 20K.
I am going to fire up the 20K and 10K and take some pics this weekend with par readings.
When the 14Ks arrive I will check air par at the surface of my new system and 17" down which is the bottom. Air numbers only but will give me an idea as to the spread and color each fixture and bulb give.

Looking forward to that

 

[X-37B]

Looking forward to that

I will get to it as soon as my back allows. I was in the ER for 8 hours yesterday with a kidney stone/back issue. Still only 50% but the reef goes on.