PAR for a SPS tank
- Thread starter 110galreef
- Start date
110galreef
New member
yeah the phoenix se are a little more than the DE...
Oh well, like you said...400w all around here you come!
i wouldn't do the hamitlon.
Looks like my XM's are shifting already from the nicer blue to a whiter already. Not bad yet, but defintily looks whiter. Only running them on regular setting too
Radium or aquastar 14.5 Both should have great color and more PAR than my XM 20k. They are more expensive, but I only have 2 to change every yr!
Oh well, like you said...400w all around here you come!
i wouldn't do the hamitlon.
Looks like my XM's are shifting already from the nicer blue to a whiter already. Not bad yet, but defintily looks whiter. Only running them on regular setting too
Radium or aquastar 14.5 Both should have great color and more PAR than my XM 20k. They are more expensive, but I only have 2 to change every yr!
mos90
New member
i dont mind $300.00 a year for bulbs. its the testing that gets expensive 
i will most likely end up with all 3-400w radiums. the 400's have a much better color then the 250's, i think, or maybe its because they are just brighter.
either way my tank is on the borderline for 250w bulbs anyways unless i ran a high par 10k bulb and im not a big yellow fan.
also i wanted to mention that i removed the 2 blue plus ati t5's and am now using all 4-420 actinics. there is slightly less par but not a huge difference. i feel the radiums have more then enough of the 460 blue already.
i will most likely end up with all 3-400w radiums. the 400's have a much better color then the 250's, i think, or maybe its because they are just brighter.either way my tank is on the borderline for 250w bulbs anyways unless i ran a high par 10k bulb and im not a big yellow fan.
also i wanted to mention that i removed the 2 blue plus ati t5's and am now using all 4-420 actinics. there is slightly less par but not a huge difference. i feel the radiums have more then enough of the 460 blue already.
110galreef
New member
cool!
I bought my hamilton w/o the hamy ballast so I didn't have to worry about selling them off
I bought my hamilton w/o the hamy ballast so I didn't have to worry about selling them off
110galreef
New member
any numbers mos90...
Inoticed about a 50 PAR jump overall in my tank lowereing the fixture about 1.5" I was suprised and didnt' see any lower spots along the sides as i suspected with my large foot print and only 2 MH's...PAR went up more as well even another 1 or 2 lower, but I was for sure to close to water level for my liking....heat and slash issues
So that puts the bulbs about 10" off the water.
Inoticed about a 50 PAR jump overall in my tank lowereing the fixture about 1.5" I was suprised and didnt' see any lower spots along the sides as i suspected with my large foot print and only 2 MH's...PAR went up more as well even another 1 or 2 lower, but I was for sure to close to water level for my liking....heat and slash issues
So that puts the bulbs about 10" off the water.
MikeTR
New member
I'm not having any problem with the radium on the lumatek ballast on HQI setting. If anything it's too much. 400-500 on the sandbed at on a 180g. 250w bulbs are mounted 10" from the surface in a canopy using lumenbright reflectors. Halfway down i'm pulling 700s.. I love the color but man I think I am frying stuff. It does drop off to the 250-300 in between the reflectors. I've actually considered going back to 150w halides. What can I do to reduce the amount of light going into the tank.. I think ideally I'd like to have 500s at the top of the rockwork and 150-200 at the sandbed.
Could you cut holes in the top and mount them that way? Or is this why they are 10" off water? More info on canopy would help and if you are willing to mod it. If you are running 250 radiums you have a se pendent so if you wanted to go to a less watt bulb you would be going to 175 watt bulb. I have no expereince with them. i think the lumenmax elite can be mounted a little lower but not much and gives the same punch. Not sure about the hamilton reflecters, this is why I have been keeping an eye on this thread.
Similar threads
