No love for MH?

[Mike konesky]

I have been looking at them too.
However they hav a low K rating of 3100K and way to much blue for me.

I am going to test an Ushio in a hamilton 20x20 reflector over my frag tank.
I have wanted to do this for a year or so now.
I now have the reflector, bulb, and ballast.
I have 8 or so ballasts to pick from as I used them in my hydro days.
The bulb is a 7K 600watt.
I am currently running a 150 watt de 14K phoenix and should be running 2 over my frag system. I will need to raise it up an inch or two though, lol.
My frag system is 36x24x12.
My frag system is very stable and has been running for 15 months now.
Here is a current pic.
I run 8hrs now and will run the Ushio at 4-5 to start.
The ballasts are adjust a watt so I may start at 50%.
I will be picking up a couple of OR3 light bars for it too.

Here is the spectral output for it.
Lets see how people react to this one, lol.

I just received the 10k 315w cmh today. It's definitely 10-12k imo. So far I've tested it next to a 400 watt GE 4k. Very crisp white kinda like an aquablue special t5.

 

[Scubatricky]

What par readings are you getting at different depths?

 

[X-37B]

I just received the 10k 315w cmh today. It's definitely 10-12k imo. So far I've tested it next to a 400 watt GE 4k. Very crisp white kinda like an aquablue special t5.

Cool I just saw that they sold 10k's.
Let us know how it goes.
Any pics?

 

[Mike konesky]

24" mounting height from bottom of reflector. 7.5" depth to make it an even 6" from the top of the mq-510 sensor (1-1/2" tall). This reflector is garbage and oh man do I miss the beautiful hum of old school ballasts. Reflector size is only 10x10. 20"x15" area...hotspot of 250 and low of 195. Gonna grab a rubbermaid tote, and some chain to get numbers for a larger area and lower mounting heights.

 

[A. grandis]

How much 'better' results is always a questionable factor. 25 years ago when MH was the only option, I used them over T8 bulbs as they were an improvement for growing difficult corals. At the same time, I had to deal with wild temperature swings and mounting problems for the weight, alongside power consumption. When LEDs came along they provided a solution to the heat and weight problem, but sacrificing a little of the advantages of the light output from MH.

Everything we do in our tanks is a compromise. We dose or run reactors as a compromise against having unlimited quantities of free saltwater like the ocean. We compromise on livestock and bioload, as we don't have unlimited capacity.

If a MH equivalent was to be launched that did away with the heat / size / weight issue, would I swap up from LEDs? Probably, but not immediately.

We already have a metal halide system cool to the touch, using less electricity and with "halide results"!

Reef Brite - The Professional's Choice

Reef Brite is providing an attractive element to enhance the beauty of aquatic biotopes world wide. Innovation is at the core of what we do at Reef Brite.

www.reefbrite.com

Again, if you don't question your results, why would you change your LEDs for halides?
I already told you not to change.
It's your system.

 

[A. grandis]

I just received the 10k 315w cmh today. It's definitely 10-12k imo. So far I've tested it next to a 400 watt GE 4k. Very crisp white kinda like an aquablue special t5.

Very interesting. Keep us posted!

 

[Mike konesky]

Looks pretty good to me so far. Only had 6 buckets or I'd have gone higher and tested over a 44gal brute instead of a 32. Can't wait to test again with a better ballast and reflector.

 

[A. grandis]

Looks pretty good to me so far. Only had 6 buckets or I'd have gone higher and tested over a 44gal brute instead of a 32. Can't wait to test again with a better ballast and reflector.

Thanks for the info. Would be nice to have more info on the bulb/ ballast compatibility/ options. Links? Is that the only 10K you found?
What brand is that pendant?
Thanks again!

 

[Mike konesky]

Right now that's the only bulb around the spectrum we want. The other 2 that I know of are 4200 and 3400 or so. The fixture is an all in 1 Sun System, not digital. Reflector is only 10"x10". Fixture was $160, bulb was $75. I'm also curious which ballast to go with. Will most likely go this route, and grab some bigger reflectors. https://www.hawthornegc.com/shop/pr...15-etelligent-compatible-ballast-120-240-volt

 

[A. grandis]

Right now that's the only bulb around the spectrum we want. The other 2 that I know of are 4200 and 3400 or so. The fixture is an all in 1 Sun System, not digital. Reflector is only 10"x10". Fixture was $160, bulb was $75. I'm also curious which ballast to go with. Will most likely go this route, and grab some bigger reflectors. https://www.hawthornegc.com/shop/pr...15-etelligent-compatible-ballast-120-240-volt

Thanks!
Do you have the link for the bulb, and for the fixture, please?

 

[Scubatricky]

We already have a metal halide system cool to the touch, using less electricity and with "halide results"!

Reef Brite - The Professional's Choice

Reef Brite is providing an attractive element to enhance the beauty of aquatic biotopes world wide. Innovation is at the core of what we do at Reef Brite.

www.reefbrite.com

Again, if you don't question your results, why would you change your LEDs for halides?
I already told you not to change.
It's your system.

You're spoilt for choice in the US. In the UK we're not so lucky

 

[A. grandis]

You're spoilt for choice in the US. In the UK we're not so lucky

I'm sure you can find some great halide systems in UK. Try to look for Giesemann Spectra. They are very efficient. I'm using the Spectra now. Amazing results!!! Many people would love to have the Spectra and they can't because they are not importing the fixture to US anymore.
Try also to contact ReefBrite. They might send you their equipment without any problems.

 

[Scubatricky]

I'm sure you can find some great halide systems in UK. Try to look for Giesemann Spectra. They are very efficient. I'm using the Spectra now. Amazing results!!! Many people would love to have the Spectra and they can't because they are not importing the fixture to US anymore.
Try also to contact ReefBrite. They might send you their equipment without any problems.

How many watts for a tank that is 30" deep?

 

[NewRobert]

I am in Africa, MH for me is unfortunately out because:

1. We have a thing called load-shedding, so the power goes out for 2-4 hours every day. During this time we're dependent on UPS battery power and when this runs out, a generator.

2. It's hot enough already here! Even with my 4 x T5 setup, my tank canopy had to be removed and 4 fans going to get temperature stable.

 

[Mike konesky]

Thanks!
Do you have the link for the bulb, and for the fixture, please?

Par numbers listed in above post can be increased by 10%. Had to do a little customizing of the reflector.

 

[Bpb]

I am in Africa, MH for me is unfortunately out because:

1. We have a thing called load-shedding, so the power goes out for 2-4 hours every day. During this time we're dependent on UPS battery power and when this runs out, a generator.

2. It's hot enough already here! Even with my 4 x T5 setup, my tank canopy had to be removed and 4 fans going to get temperature stable.

Shoot, that sounds like keeping an aquarium of any kind would be more trouble than it’s worth!

 

[NewRobert]

Shoot, that sounds like keeping an aquarium of any kind would be more trouble than it’s worth!

It definitely keeps things interesting. Lots of guys have left the hobby because of the livestock and plant/coral losses experienced with the repeated power cuts. I must say my freshwater tanks are pretty resilient, the marine tank is the only one I actually do anything to during power cuts.

 

[A. grandis]

How many watts for a tank that is 30" deep?

400W would be the basic rule of thumb for 30" deep (top to bottom) tanks.

 

[missourimud]

Doing a bunch of reading as i would like to light a 50g lowboy, I am after growth and color.
How is everyone calculating energy usage? For comparison I looked at the following:
48" xho LED reef brite.
12 3w led per ft. 20ft=240 LEDs=720w
720w/110v= 6.54 amps pull???

400w MH/110v 3.63v amps???
Seems like MH uses less energy? unless I did something wrong.

 

[Bpb]

Doing a bunch of reading as i would like to light a 50g lowboy, I am after growth and color.
How is everyone calculating energy usage? For comparison I looked at the following:
48" xho LED reef brite.
12 3w led per ft. 20ft=240 LEDs=720w
720w/110v= 6.54 amps pull???

400w MH/110v 3.63v amps???
Seems like MH uses less energy? unless I did something wrong.

Do the reef brite drivers push them to the max 3 watt per diode? I’d want to verify that by measuring the current draw from the wall, because even the 400 watt will not likely pull exactly 400