250w or 400w MH radiums?

[cleverbs]

Last night I was taking PAR reading on my MH fixture I got over my 220g tank and was a bit let down by the numbers. I was expecting a lot higher readings then I got. So I called up hammilton and they said they would be happy to replace the ballast and bulbs for 105$ including shipping.

What do you guys think? Here are my Par readings. Sorry for the multi post.

 

[toothman]

so with 400 it will be more like 500 on top and 400 at bottom. You can look at my tank description and decide which prefer. In my tank acros will grow in the gravel, or as low as you want to put them, kind of a cool option. When I ran 250 watt 20k the tank did not do so well, when I switched to 10k it did much better.

 

[cleverbs]

how deep is your 400g tank? I dont need to grow acros on the sand at all. I dont even want to I want the top 3/4 of my tank to be acros. bottom will be clear in fact its BB. I would be happy just keeping them from the 230 Par range up.

Also I would think by upgrading my T5s from Hamilton 460nm blues to 4x ATI Coral+ my par would bump up a bit. I dont think the hamiltons blue t5s are pushing very much par. I also dont like them very much because it makes my water VERY blue with the radiums and the 460nm blues on

 

[Chetna]

Depending on your par meter did you use any correction factor. I know with my bio tech Marine if I rock the probe any I can get + or minus 40 par. Then the correction factor. I was disappointed with my current setup as well and added mor t5s

 

[toothman]

with the par readings on your tank I most likely would not go with 400 watt like I suggested on your other thread. Looks like you have enough par now. Most likely will get a bit more growth with 400 watt. Nothing wrong with ati blue or actiinic plus. I personally just like the look of pure actinic, like a purple glow. If you want more growth try 10k hamiltons with actinic t5 in the fixture you have. That other picture I showed you had 3 250 10k's on one side and 3 400 watt 20k on the other. Now have 6 400 watt 20k.

 

[g0rilla]

why let down look preety good to me
I got 2 old PFO ballasts and 2 hamilton sun reflectors with radium 20k bulbs 400w
if you want ; )

 

[Peter Eichler]

I'd just upgrade to ATI Blue+, Aquablue Special, or Coral + (depending on how much blue you'd like) and call it a day.

 

[cleverbs]

I'd just upgrade to ATI Blue+, Aquablue Special, or Coral + (depending on how much blue you'd like) and call it a day.

Im thinking that is what I am going to do. I dont really want to run 400w bulbs and right now my temp sits right at 79* without a chiller or fan and the last thing I want to do is have to add a chiller.

 

[bogg]

You can always put a vornado fan over the sump though instead of the chiller
I run 8 x 39w t5 and 2x 250 hqi and 2x 150 hqi on a 120xl the fan runs off the apex at 80.5
Works great in the summer