Down to business ...

[Phang]

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On 1/17/2003 9:51:03 PM

Spiff,

The Saki 20KK LOOKS very good over a reef tank - as good as a 20KK Radium. However, you're right in that the BLVs, ABs and Ushios (BLVs too) produce more PAR since they're mostly 10KK, and do not as much of the blue spectrum.

In the end, it's all up to personal preference as to the looks of the tank. PAR itself just doesn't cut it, since the 6500K Sakis are so yellow. The 10KKs are a good compromise, since they're sheer white but still have a bit of visible blue spectrum. If you like more blue, you can always supplement with actinics.

Trying to do so with the 6500K Sakis is usually a lost cause. I used to use 3 units of 400W 6500K Sakis over my tank, supplemented with 3 units of 95W 3' VHO actinics - I couldn't even see the blue at all. But SPS coral growth was awesome. New frags started encrusting in just 5 days!
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Well, read that the PAR of a 400W is as good as that of a 250W Saki...
I'm currently thinking of a 1x250W Saki and 2 x 400W Radiums.... trying very hard to get the best out of both worlds....

[DragonGoby]

Yes, I agree with Kel ... it'd be nice if someone experienced could kindly post up some info on prices etc of bulbs and setups. In fact I'll be going down to Balestier tomorrow to try and see if I can get anything out from there. My old corals are turning frightfully colourful even under my 70W MHs, so I'm very excited at their prospects when I change to 250W. The bali frogspawn that were translucent brown some weeks ago are now a bright flourescent green with pink tips, and the normal E.ancora polyps are stretching out so far out of their skeletons.

Anyway, I've been monitoring the tank water, now NH3 and NO2 are both 0ppm, and NO3 is 5ppm. Will wait for another week then do a 20% water change. Phang, can post pics of your tank? Very eager to see !!

Regards,
Hong Yee

[Killerwhale]

Hong yee,

How big is your tank and roughly what is the volume in term of gal.

Do you have a chiller or calcium reactor ?

How many fishes are in your tank ?

I'm asking because I'm doing some data reseach and I believe it will be useful when I begin my tank project.

:>Ivan

[Spiff]

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On 1/18/2003 1:19:55 AM

Well, read that the PAR of a 400W is as good as that of a 250W Saki...
I'm currently thinking of a 1x250W Saki and 2 x 400W Radiums.... trying very hard to get the best out of both worlds....
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dun think so..........

bulb comparison

[Spiff]

i not too sure abt bulb price for Single ended mh bulbs.

i find Double ended bulb r great becoz a 150w one can match n beat those 250w SE bulbs, except for the iwasaki.

below r only for DE bulbs, 150w

BRAND...........PRICE .......... PLACE .................. COMMENTS
blv/ushio $130 or $150 reefworld/ocean planet excellent!

ab aqualine $160-$170 aquamart excellent!!!

acardia dunno petmart colour spectrum changes quickly

below r only for DE bulbs, 250w

blv/ushio DE $220 ushio singapore excellent


althogh ex compared to SE bulbs, DE bulbs r much more energy efficient.

[Phang]

SPiff, the test for the 150W DE was with a reflector, that's why the PAR is at 210.....

think if the 250Ws are with reflectors, then the PAR would be much higher...

BTW, regarding the ballast, the test was taken with standard ballast...
Current reefers are utilising HPS (High Pressure Sodium)Ballast to run these bulbs... these ballast runs at 430Ws.... and BTW, the radium actually rubs on 360ws, so running these bulbs on the HPS would get you high ratings.... but lower bulb life....

Quote:
The value of a good reflector-
The next important point to remember is that the tests were done without a reflector (exception is the 150w AB HQI) so nearly 75% of the light emitted by the bulb was being lost and not striking the sensor.. Just think what happens when a proper reflector is used...you can add on an additional 50-75% to the distance adjusted number.