Ushio 7k 600 Watt Metal Halide Test

[greg 45]

A grandis
I have been playing with grow bulbs they pack some punch
Using old galaxy ballast selecta watt 250 to 400
bulbs are ultra sun 7.5 k or 10 k

 

[X-37B]

Update. Tomorrow is 2 weeks at 300 watts.
Just turned it up to 450 watts.
No bad algae issues.
Corraline is growing at an excellerated rate.
All frags and corals look good with a little loss of color, to be expected.
I removed a large stag from my 120 to make more room.
I have 2 other large pieces of the same in the 120.
So I made 10 or so frags and gave a few away.
I also moved my goni to the frag system.
A little color loss but im going to add 2 OR3 blue plus for color support.
So 2 weeks at 450 watts then 600 watts.
No increase in tank temps.

 

[X-37B]

Well its been a month now on 450 watts and growth and polyp extension is amazing.
Noticably better than my 120 believe it or not.
The 2 OW 25's are only on level 2 and running in wave 1 mode.
Today I turned it up to 600 watts.
I am still only running 6 hours.
I took a few picks today.
I am going to get 2 OR3 blue plus light bars soon.
The 7k needs more blue and these should do the trick.
I have one on my 120 and I am getting another one soon for it.
Pics today:
The gorgoinian and frogspawn are huge.

 

[A. grandis]

Great results! The look very healthy!
Amazing coralline algae too.

 

[Bpb]

Love it.

 

[zalick]

I lowered the fixture and centered it.
Fixture is 21" from the surface and
the lamp in now 24" from the surface.
I will keep it this high for now.
I will run it at 50%-300 watts for 2 weeks so 11 more days.
I will then turn it to 75%-450 watts for 2 weeks then 100%-600 watts.
I hope by then to have a par meter.
I will record par at all 3 settings then lower to desired range and light level if everything goes well.

Very natural looking. Love it. I just went from 20k radium back to 10k for a more natural look.

 

[Hot2na]

"I just went from 20k radium back to 10k for a more natural look." well said ..Zalik. I NEVER liked the look of radiums from when they first came out till now...10k is more natural..

 

[X-37B]

Ok update.

I went back to my 150watt de 14k.
The reason was to much growth.
Not kidding. Also I did not need that much power for a 12" tank.
I gave away 30ish frags and am running it as a shallow reef tank with a frag rack currently.

The 20x20 reflector is in the closet with another on the way.
The 600 watt ushio 7k x2 will be used on my upgrade, 72x36x20.
I will be using 4 minimum OR3 blue plus/sky light bars to supplement as the halides will be run at 5-6 hours max.

The 7k Ushio is a powerfull light source. They make it in 400, 600, and 1000.
I will use the 600 so I can have the ability to run them at 300/450/600 watt levels.

The light is very white but does not give the best color, imo.
Again growth was so fast that it puts my 250 watt de 14k's to shame in my 120.

 

[blasterman]

6-7000k growth bulbs have obscene PAR per watt and do a great job with corals. The obvious problem is they make everything look brown. Look great with actinic supplementation though.

Aquaculture farms used these bulbs exclusively pre LED for max growth per watt.

2x250 is barely cutting it on a 120, so no surprise there. Loved the classic Radiums in this wattage class for color, but they weren't exactly PAR gods.

 

[X-37B]

I would not say my 2 250 watts are barely cutting it at all on my 120, lol.
With the lumen bright reflectors 12" off the surface I get plenty of growth.
I think the new tank running the 7k's with enough OR3 light bars will provide plenty of color.
I will find out in the near future for sure.
Here is a pick I just took of my 250's barely cutting it, lol.
Its all good!
All grown from frags.
My rockwork is only 10" off the bottom so I get decent growth at a couple inches off the bottom with the 2 stags you can see.

 

[xtian]

The 20x20 reflector is in the closet with another on the way

Pre order?

 

[X-37B]

Pre order?

I got mine from premium aquatics.
Their website has them listed in stock a few minutes ago.

 

[A. grandis]

I want to move to a bigger house and be able to set up bigger tanks. I have so many stuff I want to try including CMHs in the future.
Thanks very much for the update!

 

[Hot2na]

so now that you see that this bulb isn't all that - what about the eye/hortilux "blue" in 400 watt...worth a try ?

 

[X-37B]

so now that you see that this bulb isn't all that - what about the eye/hortilux "blue" in 400 watt...worth a try ?

I think the lamp is incredible for growth and just needs OR3 bars to get the color you like.
I am going to use them on my upgrade and only run them 5 hours.

My 120's 14k's do not need any extra blue but I use the OR3 because I like the blue look before and after the halides.
I only run them 15 minutes before and after the halides, but now run them while the halides are on too.

For the price vs the Ushio I dont know.
The 600 Hortilux is over $200.
You can find it for $120 though with the 400 around $90.
I have used the Hortilux blue before in hydro and switched to the Ushio with no difference in growth/yield.
I have so many 600 ballasts so I use the 600 watt bulbs.
It may be worth looking at the 400 watt ballasts though and test the 400's, hmm.

It may be different for corals though, and worth a try before I setup my larger system.
I may have to get one and give it a try now that you mentioned it as I have the time, thanks.

All my hydro/grow friends use the Ushio and think the Hortilix is not worth the money and they have money to burn, lol.
Another note: they have tried led's and they will not use them.
The growth is not close and the final yield is where the money is.
I do not know one commercial grower who uses led's.
I deliver freight to many of them with my current P&D job and know many of them on a personel level too.

Here is the 2 spectral charts of each.
First is the Ushio.
Second is the Hortilux.

 

[piranhaman00]

Wow really cool!

 

[Hot2na]

I would only go 400 on the EYE bulb...i see the 250 is unavailable...600 is overkill
i like the 420nm levels for the EYE over the ushio as well
horticultural use vs reef tank is Not the same....-I know thats a loaded statement..

btw: what's everyone's opinion on this "el cheapo" bulb ?

 

[X-37B]

I would only go 400 on the EYE bulb...i see the 250 is unavailable...600 is overkill

My ballasts allow me to run 300/450/600 and I have enough to last a life time, lol.
The only overkill I will get is to much growth, lol.
I am going to get a 600 Hortilux to see the difference in color.
My upgrade will be 36" wide so the 250's will not do.

 

[Hot2na]

keep us posted : 90's ..

 

[Jposch]

Just ordered some 4200k cmh 150s for my display tank. The 14k plusrites are ok, but I was only getting a par reading of 75 to the highest corals. I'd be happy to jump up to 100. Ideally 200, but I'm not dillusional. I've also been removing the disgusting crushed oyster shells. I think k they do help keep the ph up, as this is the only tank I've been able to easily stay above 8. I don't rely on gadgets and all that, so could be irrelevant, idk. Switched to halides about 2 years ago after 10 years of leds..I hope to never go back. I do run my frag tanks with leds because of the heat. I would like to get ducted reflectors and swap back someday. I'd be real happy if the CMH bulbs actually last 2-3 years as they claim. They are rated for m81 (150w hqi) ballasts, so should be plug and play.