Lighting Website Updates

[Sanjay]

OK.. after almost a day of head scratching and head banging, deleting and reinstalling the database, I got the site working again.

And as an added bonus, I managed to get it all updated too with the latest data on the Coralvue lamps from my May article in Advanced Aquarist.

As of June 2nd, there are now 630 spectral data available on the site.

Enjoy

sanjay.

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

Sanjay is a headbanger...cool...

 

[trmiv]

How big of a difference is a 15 increase in ppfd? I have the Phoenix 14K with an IceCap electronic, which I see is 73 ppfd. The PFO HQI gets 88 ppfd with this bulb. Is that a significant enough increase to warrant an upgrade from my electronic IceCap to the PFO (or Bluewave III)?

 

[Sanjay]

How big of a difference is a 15 increase in ppfd? I have the Phoenix 14K with an IceCap electronic, which I see is 73 ppfd. The PFO HQI gets 88 ppfd with this bulb. Is that a significant enough increase to warrant an upgrade from my electronic IceCap to the PFO (or Bluewave III)?

Well in this case it is almost a 20% increase. As for wether to change would depend on a lot of factors.

1) is your tank and corals doing well right now. If things are going good - do not change.
2) How deep is the tank ? what fixture are you using. ? If hte tank is 24" or less and you are using the Sunlight supply or PFO DE pendants, you are fine
3) If you want you can compensate for the difference by lowering your lights. A couple of inches will do the trick.

So as you can see there is really no clear cut answer You can make it work once you understand what you are getting from your current lighting system.

sanjay.

 

[trmiv]

I think my corals could be doing better, especially SPS mounted lower in the tank. My Milleporas were browning out until I switched from 20K AB to the Phoenix 14K, and are now coloring up. I want more of that.

The tank is 21" tall, and I'm using the 250w Aqua Medic Ocean Light fixture, but with an IceCap ballast. Do you have any opinions on that fixture vs the PFO or ROIII?

 

[Acroholic]

Sanjay, thanks for all your work. Do you have plans in the near future for testing "Auqatic Lighting System 400W 12,000k Sunburst" bulbs?

 

[alrha]

Is IceCap the only one making 400W DE bulbs?
Also their 10K bulb seems to perform like a 20K bulb on the charts.

 

[RedEyeReef]

Yes, they are without the glass. Lumenarc did not have the glass when we got these.

The bottom used to be 6" off the water. When I switched to the EVC 10K lamps (they have almost 2X PAR of the Ushio on a M59 ballast) I raised it by 4" more inches. I like this better since I am now getting full coverage of 42" from to back.
sanjay.

Sanjay,

Why did you switch to EVC 10K's and are you running an supplement Blue?

 

[AquaticCo]

Is IceCap the only one making 400W DE bulbs?
Also their 10K bulb seems to perform like a 20K bulb on the charts.

Coralvue also make a 400 watt DE bulb

Doug

 

[alrha]

the website only alows the SE option for them.
If i try the 250W DE i can compare the Coralvue20K to the IceCap 250W DE 20K, seems like the IceCap wins that comparison, I i guess i can assume that the IceCap would win also in a 400W 10K.

 

[Sanjay]

Is IceCap the only one making 400W DE bulbs?
Also their 10K bulb seems to perform like a 20K bulb on the charts.

Coralvue also make the 400W DE lamps. These are the same bulbs as the Happy Reefing Bulbs in my tests. I guess Happy reefing is out of business.

Also, I see that PFo lighting also has 400W DE lamps. The KrystalStar, is the name.

sanjay.

 

[Sanjay]

Sanjay, thanks for all your work. Do you have plans in the near future for testing "Auqatic Lighting System 400W 12,000k Sunburst" bulbs?

I tested the ALS lamps a long time ago... I know they are not on the web, but they are in one of my articles. Unfortunately this article appeared in a print version.. I have lost my copy of the article to a virus attack a few years ago. My excel spreadsheet with the data is also dead to the same virus attack. I do however have the data in its original format but have not had the time to dig it up and rebuild it. I will get around to it eventually.


Joshi, S. 2002, "Spectral Analysis of Recent Metal Halide Lamps: Part IV- 10000K and 12000K lamps," 2002 Annual Marine Fish and Reef USA , Fancy Publications.


sanjay.

 

[alrha]

Sanjay, do you know how the PFO would compare to the IceCaps? (i didnt see records of the PFO DE bulbs on your site). Seems like that would be my only other option (considering that Happy Reefing is out of business).

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

I want to know what is up with that new bulb that icecap is marketing as 'aqua blue' besides the usual 10,000K and 20,000K. Whats it supposed to be...an actinic halide or something?

 

[Sanjay]

Sanjay, do you know how the PFO would compare to the IceCaps? (i didnt see records of the PFO DE bulbs on your site). Seems like that would be my only other option (considering that Happy Reefing is out of business).

THe PFO DE would be similar to the Coralvue DE. I have that lamp in queue to be tested. But according to David, it is the same lamp as Coralvue

sanjay.

 

[Sanjay]

I want to know what is up with that new bulb that icecap is marketing as 'aqua blue' besides the usual 10,000K and 20,000K. Whats it supposed to be...an actinic halide or something?

I have not seen or heard of this lamp. Can you provide a link to it. ?

sanjay.

 

[KH971]

Sanjay, thanks for all of your time and efforts, could you explain what PPFD means ? I am not aware of the meaning?

Thanks Keith

I just recieved my 400 SE XM15k's
love the color but i am awaiting the PAR figures, I doubt they will be good. I also run Icecap elec. ballast.

 

[Sanjay]

Sanjay, thanks for all of your time and efforts, could you explain what PPFD means ? I am not aware of the meaning?

Thanks Keith

I just recieved my 400 SE XM15k's
love the color but i am awaiting the PAR figures, I doubt they will be good. I also run Icecap elec. ballast.

Keith:

PPFD - Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density
It is basically the count of number of photons falling on a given area (usually 1 meter square) in one second. It is measured in the units of micromoles/m^2/sec. 1 micromole = 10^17 photons.

PAR - photsynthetically available radiation is technically measured as PPFD, hence used interchangeable with PPFD.

sanjay.

 

[Sanjay]

OK.. I am done with lighting tests !!!!

Done with the XM 15K test

The results have been sent off to advanced aquarist for publication. It includes results on the complete line of the XM 15K lamps. Hopefully they will have it in the June issue.

Don't bug me for the results - send you emails to the editors there to make sure it appears in the June issue.

sanjay.

 

[Herbert T. Kornfeld]

when do you anticipate the XM 15,000K bulbs to be added to the spectral plotting page?

On the 'aqua-blue' its mentioned right on Icecap's main page...stating that they have a 10,000K, 20,000K, and this 'aqua-blue'. I have been talking with ASH to get him to even tell me what it is...w/o any real results. I wonder W T F this bulb is suppoerd to be...a 38,000K type like a radium?

how about that Geisemann 14,500K megachrome?