400w Upgrade

[LUVSPS]

Hahn, are Electronic ballast the same thing as HQI? If not, how is the par of AC 14k's on e-ballasts?

Thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

Aquaconnects are HQI spec 400 watt bulbs... much rarer than the usual probe start bulbs, but whoah hella bright. As a consequence, e-ballasts, which are designed to replace M59 ballasts (probe start), do not run them to their potential, and might even be damaging the bulbs.

But, as it turns out, HQI 400 ballasts in the US are actually HPS 430 watt ballasts... that means a visit to your local pothead store could yeild some cheap (low cost, good quality) ballasts for these bulbs. They do use about 530 watts a pop though...

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2005/feature.html

 

[MstgKillr]

How does the PAR compare between the 250w Phoenix 14k and the 250w Ushio 14k both on HQI ballast?

 

[MstgKillr]

Does anyone know the PAR difference between the 250w Phoenix 14k and the 250w Ushio 14k both on HQI ballast?

 

[Kip]

IIRC .. they are very similar... but the 250wUsh14kDE is much whiter than the 250wP14kDE on m80

 

[Kip]

here ya go

 

[MstgKillr]

Thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

I get higher PAR levels in my tank with the Ushio 14,000K than with the pheonix 14,0000K... a good 20% higher (enough to notice a difference on the meter no matter where I place it, you know?). I think the bulb has changed over time. The Ushio aqualite 14,000K, BLV nepturion 14,000K, and Giesemann 14,500K 'Coral' should all be the same bulb... but look at the G-man stats... they are unreal. The BLV/Ushios are known to be the same bulb, but the G-mans are sort of a 'we can neither comfirm nor deny that statement' sort of thing... but its pretty obvious. Sanjay's readings for that bulb are botched though... notice how the unsheilded 250wattDE on PFO HQI has a lower PPFD than the sheilded? Huuuh??? One of his students put the info in wrong or something. I would peg the Ushio 14,000K at about 100 myself.

 

[MstgKillr]

What about the par on the 250w Reeflux 12k DE?