Metal Halide Par question

[Rocks reef]

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.

Feel better sir.

I just bought two 14k 35s to put on each side of the 20k Radium. I know it would have been easier just to keep my Meridian 35 and add two bars to it, but I love how halide grows and colors corals. I already sold the Meridian any way.

 

[X-37B]

Feel better sir.

I just bought two 14k 35s to put on each side of the 20k Radium. I know it would have been easier just to keep my Meridian 35 and add two bars to it, but I love how halide grows and colors corals. I already sold the Meridian any way.

Cool! Check my thread in 10 I am posting pics and par with the 10K over my 36" area and RB fixture. I will do the 20K once the lamp cools.

 

[reef’r]

Here you go bud @Rocks reef this is with a 20k Orphek lens and identical to what my eye sees. Again, 20k aquabrite 250w double ended. Excuse the mess, water change in the cube and tank build in progress

 

[X-37B]

Here you go bud @Rocks reef this is with a 20k Orphek lens and identical to what my eye sees. Again, 20k aquabrite 250w double ended. Excuse the mess, water change in the cube and tank build in progress

Nice crisp blue/white love it!

 

[reef’r]

Nice crisp blue/white love it!

Yeah I do like the look a lot! I may pass on picking up the 14ks for now, I really won’t know until I get some fish and coral in the system. I have a question for you. The center of my fixture is about an inch back from center of my tank, not sure how I messed that up. Anyhow would you worry about moving it? Or will an inch not play much of a role

 

[Rocks reef]

I'm debating on whether to run Radiums on M80s or just Hamilton 20ks on RB ballasts. I have two M80 ballast kits but from what has been said in this thread, they produce a ton of heat. I just hooked up my halide fixture and did a dry PAR test. At 24", it was measuring 180-190 PAR. I will order some Hamiltons and test PAR that way. I need at least 200 PAR
on sandbed. My tank is 20" high.

 

[Rocks reef]

That was with Radiums on RB ballasts

 

[X-37B]

Yeah I do like the look a lot! I may pass on picking up the 14ks for now, I really won’t know until I get some fish and coral in the system. I have a question for you. The center of my fixture is about an inch back from center of my tank, not sure how I messed that up. Anyhow would you worry about moving it? Or will an inch not play much of a role

Won't matter much with halides, imo.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Won't matter much with halides, imo.

Agreed, and if you want more par, keep the LED bars on all day. That’s what I’ve always done.

 

[TommyF]

I can get M80 kits if you are able to wire them up and put them in an enclosure.

I purchased two M80 kits on eBay. Where can I source enclosures? Thanks,
TommyF

 

[Rocks reef]

I purchased two M80 kits on eBay. Where can I source enclosures? Thanks,
TommyF

Most big box home improvement places carry metal NEMA boxes. I am going to use the housing from an old ballast.

 

[Rocks reef]

@X-37B did the Reefbreeders show up? I'm curious as to whether they give the color pop with the lights turned down.

 

[X-37B]

@X-37B did the Reefbreeders show up? I'm curious as to whether they give the color pop with the lights turned down.

They will be here next week and I will do a test with the RB fixture and the 2 14K edge on my build thread. It should be interesting.
The socket extender will arrive next week so the OG will get a look too.

 

[Rocks reef]

Just got notified my 14k Edge bars are shipped

 

[Rocks reef]

@rtparty Would you mind post some PAR readings with your Radiums on the M80s in your new tank?

 

[rtparty]

@rtparty Would you mind post some PAR readings with your Radiums on the M80s in your new tank?

I’ll do a more official layout later but my rocks range from about 350-400

 

[Rocks reef]

That's on the bottom sir? Your tank is 20" deep? The lights are mounted 14" right?

 

[rtparty]

That's on the bottom sir? Your tank is 20" deep? The lights are mounted 14" right?

It is the NYOS440. I think the depth is like 21-22"? Lights are around 11-12" off the water from what I recall. I kept raising them slowly while checking the PAR meter to get better spread from the 36" unit over a 48" tank

 

[X-37B]

Just a note for fixtures as I am quite surprised.
I ran the de lumenbrite 250's but never measured par.
I have the RB reflector and just reconditioned a lumenbrite reflector I got for free.
Cleaned, rewired, and replaced rusted screws!
All 400 Watt 14" of air and 17" more to the bottom of the 112 for reference. 31"
The RB with:
Electronic ballast
10K par 192
The LB par 538

The RB with
Electronic ballast
20K par 110
The LB
M135 par 324
Digi 449

The 2 show quite a bit of difference in par values.

 

[fish_collector]

OMG what a blast from the past reading through this thread, I just stumbled across it this morning. Thank you to all who have contributed to this awesome read.

I'm planning some tank builds and changes when we get our new home built (don't get me started on that lol). I use Reefis currently but I still dream of the days from the 90s when I used MH. First it was the 6500k Hamiltons with actinic supplements that used a ballast box that weighed about 40 lbs, then came the 250w 10k lamps with PFO ballasts, then the 400w 10k lamps. Sold all of that, regrouped and started using hanging fixtures over my open topped tanks with an Icecap EB, started with several lamp selections including a 250w mogul base Phoenix 14k and then a 250w mogul base Hamilton 15k. The Hamilton 15k never had the punch the Phoenix did and I never liked it. I ended up with 250w double ended Phoenix 14k on the Icecap ballast, that was the best of everything at the time. I wish I still had some of that gear, it was sold for literally pennies on the dollar decades ago. The Reefis are nice but are not even in the same game as MHs are.

After reading through this thread I think I'm going to start putting together a MH setup for my 100g which will be my new SPS/clam habitat, and leave the 325 for the big tangs and angels that I am longing for.

Anyways I'm subscribed now, I look forward to more MH discussions.