Metal halide lighting discussion
- Thread starter neil82
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@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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Yes
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.
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.
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.
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.
Somebody buy this before I do. $180 for HQI setup is outstanding price. Just the PFO dual ballast alone is probably worth $200-250 to HQI people.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PFO-METAL-...AOSwwZxcDCL~:rk:13:pf:0&LH_ItemCondition=3000
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PFO-METAL-...AOSwwZxcDCL~:rk:13:pf:0&LH_ItemCondition=3000
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.
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.
These are now $107!
Also found these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/aquarium-d...139383?hash=item3640027ef7:g:HskAAOSwaPpb6Kv~
Also found these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/aquarium-d...139383?hash=item3640027ef7:g:HskAAOSwaPpb6Kv~