<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9713951#post9713951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
We are looking to go from 250W XM 10k on an HQI ballast to 400W Ushio 14K on an Electronic ballast. Our photo period is currently 9 hours, we will likely be moving to 10 hours within the next mont or so.
Here are the numbers of our current lighting setup :
XM 10k 250W on HQI Ballast
PPFD: 182
CCT: 9921
Amps: 3.27
approx $$ per bulb per month @9 hours: $38
approx $$ per bulb per month @10 hours: $42
And the one we are thinking of moving to :
Ushio 14k 400W on E Ballast (Same as the BLV Nepturion 14K)
PPFD: 152
CCT: 13648
Amps: 3.5
approx $$ per bulb per month @9 hours: $41
approx $$ per bulb per month @10 hours: $45
Other bulbs we are considering :
Giesemann Coral (14.5k) 400W on E Ballast
PPFD: 157
CCT: 11354
Amps: 3.53
approx $$ per bulb per month @9 hours: $41
approx $$ per bulb per month @10 hours: $45
Right now Sanjay is using the 400W Giesemann Coral lamps on IC E ballasts over his tank that is almost the exact same dimensions as our (ours is 6" shorter in length and height than his) and he ran tests with a meter and says that pretty much all of his tank gets more than enough light for SPS. He has a pink milli 4" above the sand bed that has kept it's color and grown nicely (that was one real world example he used to support his findings with the meter)
Since our tank is 24" tall, versus his 30" tall tank, we should be able to enjoy similar results. Both he and we use LA III reflectors that are approx 9 1/2" off the waterline to the bottom of the reflector.