Mogul vs. DE

[chilwil84]

electronic ballasts dont run hqi bulbs to there full potential. a 20k would run more white on a magnetic rather than a electronic ballast and would def get a higher par reading but to say what color each individual bulb would get is something out of the realm of my experience there are way to many bulbs out there that i have not viewed.

 

[gatorwpb]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2673655
Have you looked at Sanjay Joshi's Lighting pages to see the light output of the different bulbs?
The 250w Phoenix 14k has a great par level and good spectrum. That would be my 250w bulb choice with a lumen reflector.

 

[tizzo]

Well anywhere this thread goes is good! I'm learning here.
It's funny you mention those bulbs bang, I just ordered the same ones only my ballasts are electronic (ice-cap).
I am hoping for more flouresce. As mantioned earlier, everything in the store looks so much better there.

Bang, since you brought it up, I hafta ask, what kind of light meter are you using?
The hubby's been wanting to get one and the only place I've seen one for sale is the docs. Not sure what brand, but I know they are notorious for selling the low end stuff.

 

[jrthomas40]

i have put my old xm's back in cuz the other bulbs i had in there for a month was not doing my tank any good...everything is steady going down even my clam and anemone tend to have attitudes after the lights come on....so i think i am going to be ordering the phoenix 14k or 20k xm's

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2675965
Bang, since you brought it up, I hafta ask, what kind of light meter are you using?
The hubby's been wanting to get one and the only place I've seen one for sale is the docs. Not sure what brand, but I know they are notorious for selling the low end stuff.

It says it's a "AR823". It's a really cheap one. I mostly just use it to check my bulbs to see when they are old.

 

[jrthomas40]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2676271
It says it's a "AR823". It's a really cheap one. I mostly just use it to check my bulbs to see when they are old.
how long has it taken for a bulb to get old?? and what bulb were you using it to test age

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
http:///forum/post/2676303
how long has it taken for a bulb to get old?? and what bulb were you using it to test age
I use it on all of my bulbs. I run the bulb a month and then record the Lumen output. When the Lumen output drops 15% from there I replace the bulb.
Bulb life for me varies from only a year for VHO SuperActinic to over 2 years for URI Daylight bulbs.

 

[jrthomas40]

how long has one of your halides lasted?? and what brand was it??

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
http:///forum/post/2676436
how long has one of your halides lasted?? and what brand was it??

The Iwasaki 6500K 250 Watt lasted 2.5 years but that's really yellow and I think it's actually a Mercury Vapor bulb.
The XM 10K bulbs I had before lasted 18 months.
I had two Hamilton 14Ks that each lasted only a year.

 

[tizzo]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2676271
It says it's a "AR823". It's a really cheap one. I mostly just use it to check my bulbs to see when they are old.

Thanks. That one is in the same price range of the ones I am finding, but you worry me to call it a cheapie.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Tizzo
http:///forum/post/2676607
Thanks. That one is in the same price range of the ones I am finding, but you worry me to call it a cheapie.

It does it's job just fine. No bells & whistles though.

 

[tizzo]

I think I mostly wanted to get a par reading at different spots in the tank, because while I think mid tank is to low for my torts, it'd be nice to know that I can verify otherwise.
The hubby is checking out the Milwaukee brand. It claims to be submersible and all that.

 

[bang guy]

PAR meters are really really expensive. You might be better off getting a group together to share one.