Metal halide SPS growth rate

[A. grandis]

I was hoping you’d chime in A. grandis!

Thanks for this tips on heat management. I was thinking two or three nice Airflow PC fans blowing from one side of the tank to the other. Glad to hear that’s the orientation you recommend.


I’d also love to hear your take on 250w vs 400w.

I double checked, my ballasts are selectable electronic ballasts, and the bulbs that came with the fixtures are 20k Radiums. They actually came with three ballasts, two Lumatek LK-400’s and one Luxcore MH1-400EB. Apparently one ballast has issues at times but two work great. I have no clue as to which one is the one with issues. Should I be worried about potentially running two different ballasts and just replace them right away? One of the Lumateks has definitely seen better days.

There is no problem in using a ballast that works and is in bad shape externally. You can clean that ballast using a bit of WD40, or aluminum cleaner, if you have it on hand. You need to know what's wrong with the ballast to decide, and many times you won't be able to fix them. Normally when electronic ballasts start to give problems the best thing is to find another one to replace.

I would use 400W. You can use those ballasts. If one is no good, find out which and replace.
I like 14000K lamps the best, but I would use any other lamps as well. Radiums are white lamps with more blue. If you like 10000K go with 10000K. I love 10000K!! Get some staghorn Acros and grow them for me!!!!

What reflectors? Please post pics of the reflectors. Some times older reflectors are sold with a name attached to them and we find out they are not exactly what they told you.

 

[t5Nitro]

Just swapped all my radions out 2 weeks ago so time will tell. So far so good. I'm not new to halides, but it has been a while. I actually love the look, and the fish look amazing. Looks more natural according to the wife with the halides. I've ran halides a long time ago and loved them then. Simple, Reliable, No app to manage. Turn them on and off for as long or little as you like.

3 - 400 watt Reefbrite Ballast
3 - 400 watt Radium Bulbs
3 - Hamilton reflectors
2 - 72" Reefbrite XHO's

Welcome back (to the MH). I am going to burn halides as long as I can, I think. The LEDs just aren't there. Everything grows coral fine, but that halide look is not able to be replicated by the wannabes. I only use LED bars to supplement now for added pop. Your tank looks great.

 

[Kodski]

There is no problem in using a ballast that works and is in bad shape externally. You can clean that ballast using a bit of WD40, or aluminum cleaner, if you have it on hand. You need to know what's wrong with the ballast to decide, and many times you won't be able to fix them. Normally when electronic ballasts start to give problems the best thing is to find another one to replace.

I would use 400W. You can use those ballasts. If one is no good, find out which and replace.
I like 14000K lamps the best, but I would use any other lamps as well. Radiums are white lamps with more blue. If you like 10000K go with 10000K. I love 10000K!! Get some staghorn Acros and grow them for me!!!!

What reflectors? Please post pics of the reflectors. Some times older reflectors are sold with a name attached to them and we find out they are not exactly what they told you.

Do you know of anywhere I can find 14k 400w bulbs?

Here are pictures of the reflectors.

 

[bubbgee]

Do you know of anywhere I can find 14k 400w bulbs?

Here are pictures of the reflectors.

@Yazannreef might still have some. I need a reflector like that.

 

[A. grandis]

Do you know of anywhere I can find 14k 400w bulbs?

Here are pictures of the reflectors.

Aquabright Solution has all the DE and SE bulbs in all wattages, as far as I know.

 

[A. grandis]

By the way.. those are Cozumel reflectors, from Hamilton.
One of the very best you could find for your application using the 400W lamps!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

There are pluses and minuses to both fans and a chiller. There are many ways that I control my tank temp depending on the time of year. My house HVAC plays a role too.

- In my picture, those two fans are 20” each and move a bunch of, but are also loud. I can also kick my evaporation rate up big time, like another 10-12 gallons, but then my heaters are on a lot thus driving $$ up…
- I have a 1.5hp chiller, costs about $200+ a month to run
- I can dial any temp in +\- .5 degree with my chiller with no deviation.
- with fans only I can’t hold a temp that close, I swing about 2-3 degrees.
- I keep my system at 76. With my fans, in the winter and in the summer when the house has the AC (set to 71) the system will sit at 77/78 on fans when I am in full spectrum with halides going. If I’m away and my Nest has me away the house can go to 75-77 with fans I flirt 79-79.5. I tested it once without fans only and I got nervous once it hit 81, as it did that only halfway through my photo period.
- my chiller has been on the blink and the replacement just got here. I plan to use it differently going forward. I plan for it only to come on if the fans can’t keep the temps below 79. I’ll have the chiller come on at 79.1-ish.

 

[A. grandis]

I use a Vornado fan to cut the transfer from fixture to water surface.
I also run a chiller to keep everything safe at 78/79°F the whole time.
I don't think I spend so much money with electricity for my tank at all, but I only have a 75gallon tank and about 30gallons in the sump. My 220 gallon Amazonia system had to run with 700W heater system to keep it up, and it was still ok in regards to electricity costs. I mean, we pay what needs to be paid for the size system we plan.
My lighting system has 4 X 54W ATI Blue Plus running for 9 hours and 2 X 250W 14K running for 5 hours.

Great to see people using halides.
HALIDE POWER! Sun in the house!
Cheers!
Merry Christmas to everyone.

 

[VinsFins]

I never gave up my radium 20k 250 watt also still using 60"icecap uri actinic T-12 VHO. Champion Lighting still sells them. I do mix in 3 kessil a360x so that I don't run halides more than 5 hrs a day. The tank is going on 30 years old. I too have a couple of iwaski's 6500 left. They are no mh bulbs, they are sodium bulbs that run really well on a hqi ballast. They tend to be whiter and higher par. I just really like the radium look with kessils mixed in. Par around 6" below the surface is around 300 ish. I'm guessing the iwasakis would push 450 at that depth. The 400 watt version is what really gives out par, I just don't that much heat in a enclosed canopy. So that why I stuck with the 250's.

 

[Troylee]

Hmmmm… just scored these! Same ones I got on my tank currently haha!

 

[X-37B]

I found a Lumenbrite 16" mini fixture and am going to run it on my ext 112.
The 20" would have been great to find.
Tank is now here so I will have it running soon.
I have only measured air at 31"- 14" to surface 17" deep.
With the difference in par values between the RB and LB I will be running the LB.
400 watt Radium on digital.
RB 192
LB 449
Running on a M135 the LB was 350.
Looking forward to testing different bulbs and ballasts.
10k ushio
20k hamilton
20k radium
Also have M59 for ushio's
The LB is pushing 250 par at the edge with the RB at <100 in the 36" cube.

 

[X-37B]

Hmmmm… just scored these! Same ones I got on my tank currently haha!

I found 2 Lumenarcs but the 400 touches the reflector. Would be good for 250's. Touching the reflector it was putting out 350 par with the LA and digital.

 

[AKReefing]

6500k bulbs are by far the best for growth.

Not sure how you can justify that statement, considering that you also have 16(?) blue/violet spectrum LED arrays.

 

[xabo]

I found 2 Lumenarcs but the 400 touches the reflector. Would be good for 250's. Touching the reflector it was putting out 350 par with the LA and digital.

I'm guessing the mogul base is not adjustable?

 

[X-37B]

I'm guessing the mogul base is not adjustable?

Well thanks they are! I did not look close enough. The socket assembly Slides in and out as I just found out, lol.
Thanks again!

 

[xabo]

Well thanks they are! I did not look close enough. The socket assembly Slides in and out as I just found out, lol.
Thanks again!

Not a problem.....

 

[X-37B]

Not a problem.....

It gives me a few more options with the 400. The guy had 10 and gave me 2. I text for the rest and he sold the entire storage unit.
I'm still looking for Lumenbrite 16 & 20" mogals if anyone has them.

 

[xabo]

What size are the Lumenarcs?

 

[X-37B]

What size are the Lumenarcs?

15×15

 

[xabo]

Found a large one locally for $30. Doesn't have the dimples, tank is 6' X 24" so will need at least one, two more.