PAR for a SPS tank

[110galreef]

Hamilton 14k on the Hamilton ballast was showing 285w. on the lumantek for some reason it showed the same on both setting at 305w. it must have something to do with the bulb. i plan to test the radium 250's tonight. ill post updates with par.

weird I got like 267w & 295w with my SE hamy 14k....

 

[mos90]

yea i thought it was weird also. ill give u some radium tests tonight on the lumantek.

 

[mos90]

par of the radium was identical to the hami.

 

[brizhound]

I hope this is enough on topic, but does anyone have any par readings for just t-5's? I have a 60 inch ATI Powermodule 10 bulb X 80 watt going over my 225 that's 24 inches deep.

 

[mos90]

the par from t5's will very based on the type of bulbs you have. but a 10 bulb ati fixture will have plenty.

 

[110galreef]

mos90....updates? PAR

250w Radium same par as 250w Hamilton?
If so really goes to show that you need the M80 ballast?

did you get Radium 400w? I thought you upgraded ballast to 400w?

Give me a simple rundown on one post:

radium 250w SE, xxwatts draw, PAR....
Hamilton 250w SE, xx watts, PAR
xxx400w se, xxxx, PAR,

etc.....

 

[mos90]

yes the par with both the hamilton 250 and radium 250 are about the same. i was reading a mh bulb comparison on reefkeeping. par is the same on almost all ballasts.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php

the only ballast that produces more par is the pfo hqi.

 

[110galreef]

very dissapointing. So the phoenix 14k 250w is a cheaper and better PAR bulb than Radium....told ya needed the M80 ballast.,....

didn't you go 400w tho?

 

[mos90]

the key was not necessarily to make more par on the outsides of the tank. it was to get better color without loosing par. i have the 400w radium in the center. it produces about 300 more par at the waters surface then the 250w radium and has a much better light penetration. i should go with all 3-400w radiums.

 

[110galreef]

the key was not necessarily to make more par on the outsides of the tank. it was to get better color without loosing par. i have the 400w radium in the center. it produces about 300 more par at the waters surface then the 250w radium and has a much better light penetration. i should go with all 3-400w radiums.

Hence the Phoenix....cheaper, MORE par and better color!

haha....oh well, you got better color atleast

 

[mos90]

how do you know the phoenix makes more par? better color then the radium?

 

[110galreef]

Thats is what I have been telling you all along this thread. You need the M80 ballast for a 250w Radium, otherwise its not driving properly and wasting money and not getting the PAR.

Since you have a 250w SE Hamilton and it is putting out basically same PAR as a 250w SE Radium on your lumatek.......

I tested my 6 mos old phoenix 14k 250w compared to a week or 2 week old 250w Hamilton 14k and the Phonix had about 15% more PAR overall...same settings

 

[110galreef]

I want to see your PAR tests for the 400w SE Radium to compare to my 400w XM 20k PAR numbers to see how much more your getting. Please post unless I missed....

Want to have these to compare to my next go with the AquaStar 14.5 or some other challenger

 

[trinity1012]

glad i got phoenix bulbs.:dance:

 

[mos90]

i got a good deal on these radiums. on sale for $69. they look nice too.

i will most likely end up with 3-400 radium's soon.. so i would've wasted my money either way lol.....

 

[mos90]

i will test the radium 400 par tonight for you ..

 

[trinity1012]

3-400's wow.sorry i just jumped in here what size is ur tank?

 

[trinity1012]

I hope this is enough on topic, but does anyone have any par readings for just t-5's? I have a 60 inch ATI Powermodule 10 bulb X 80 watt going over my 225 that's 24 inches deep.

sweet i just got the ati 8x80 for my 180 thats 24 deep.i have seen many beautiful tanks with these fixtures.

 

[mos90]

my tank is a 300. 96x30x26

 

[trinity1012]

sick,:thumbsup: