Metal halide lighting discussion

J

jda123

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#83
#83
It depends on how high you have the raised over the tank, how deep the tank is and how much wattage you have. With a 400w, for example, could probably do 36x36 if they were up a bit higher. I have smaller reflectors than that and they cover 24x24x24 with ease.
 
whyamisofly

whyamisofly

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#84
#84
How are your colors running 250w 20k Radium?

I have 2 - T5's, Reefbrite XHO LED's, Reefbrite pendant, Reefbrite Ballast, 250w 20k Radium and my colors are terrible. I have tried running the Radium with the T5's - meh, Radium with XHO's and it just looks odd.
 
JuanGutz

JuanGutz

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#85
#85
whyamisofly said:
How are your colors running 250w 20k Radium?

I have 2 - T5's, Reefbrite XHO LED's, Reefbrite pendant, Reefbrite Ballast, 250w 20k Radium and my colors are terrible. I have tried running the Radium with the T5's - meh, Radium with XHO's and it just looks odd.
Click to expand...
I have 400watt 20k radium with the leds that came on the pendant and love the color. Any pics?
 
neil82

neil82

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#86
#86
whyamisofly said:
How are your colors running 250w 20k Radium?

I have 2 - T5's, Reefbrite XHO LED's, Reefbrite pendant, Reefbrite Ballast, 250w 20k Radium and my colors are terrible. I have tried running the Radium with the T5's - meh, Radium with XHO's and it just looks odd.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I know that question was not directed to me, but are you you referring to the color of the lighting in general or the color of your corals and livestock under said lighting?
 
whyamisofly

whyamisofly

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#87
#87
Corals and livestock!

I have very few pictures due to the coloring - or lack there of - of the corals.

Both images with just the Radium on:

The Vinh top left - browned out no color -


Exact same day 4" below the water line from the top down -
 
JuanGutz

JuanGutz

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#88
#88
If the coral is in the right range of par then it’s not the lighting. How long have you been using the setup? If recently did you acclimate?
 
neil82

neil82

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#89
#89
@whyamisofly I like the way your coral looks in the second photo. Second pic looks way better than the first. I think that's what your trying to demonstrate with the two pics, right?
 
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whyamisofly

whyamisofly

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#93
#93
If I hold a coral up near the water line, I get excellent coloration - as soon as I drop below 4" from the water line to attach the coral to a rock, the color fades.

Does that clear up my statement?
 
JuanGutz

JuanGutz

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#95
#95
Yes
whyamisofly said:
If I hold a coral up near the water line, I get excellent coloration - as soon as I drop below 4" from the water line to attach the coral to a rock, the color fades.

Does that clear up my statement?
Click to expand...
Yes, okay so @jda123 can explain this a lot better then me but I’ll try. 20k radium bulbs are meant to be run with m80 ballasts that overpower the bulb. Since you’re using the reefbrite ballast the 20k bulb isn’t getting the wattage it needs and that is changing the color the bulb is putting out. So I’m guessing your setup is little higher off the water and if not this might explain why the color changes like that. Your bulb with the lack of watt is putting out 10-14k which doesn’t have the blue and doesn’t pop the colors like a 20k would. When you bring it up to 4” you’re getting the pop of the leds and t5 but deeper in the tank the blues are getting lost. Haha, maybe I’m crazy but this is what I’m guessing is happening.
 
J

jda123

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#96
#96
The beauty about MH is that it not only pops some colors, it renders excellent color in the coral. This can take months, but it does create permanent, real color and no just some tricks.

20k Radium is made for the m80 ballast in "250w" configuration. It runs near 330 watts. Less than this will diminish the output and cause a color shift. 400w radium can be run on any 400w ballast.
 
neil82

neil82

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#98
#98
I think @JuanGutz is on the right track about your bulb/ballast combo. You're likely not getting the intended spectrum from that bulb. I do believe the extra watts from M80 ballast would give more blue spectrum and deliver more of the 'pop' you may be looking for.
My personal experience, having recently switched from LED to MH/t5, is that I prefer the look and color of my sps corals under MH when compared to LED. I'm running 250w Phoenix 14k on M80 ballast for reference. I will note that I preferred the look of certain zoas under LED. I attribute this to the pop or fluorescence that you get from blue and violet LEDs. It is my opinion (emphasis on OPINION since this topic is largely subjective) that the MH lighting renders a more accurate representation of the look and color of the livestock. I really noticed this with my fish after switching to MH. The yellow tang has never been so yellow. Even the clownfish was impressive with added detail and clarity. Maybe you had to be there LOL.
 
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