Upgraded from Power Compacts to Halide?

[Doe]

I just upgraded the lighting on my 125g from a Current Orbit Power Compact fixture with 4x96W, 2 10ks and 2 Dual anticnics to 3x175w 14K SE metal halide fixture.

My tank appears darker now. The power compacts seem to light the tank much more, is this normal? The colors of my corals are better with the Halides and i love the shimmering affect but i was just wondering if tanks with 14k Halides would appear to be dimmer than a tank lit with Power Compacts.

 

[seaskraP]

i also just switched from 6x96watt PC to 2x250watt 14K SE MH.
i found that the MH were much much brighter than the PCs.
it takes a while for the MH bulbs to burn in and that may be part of the reason for low light levels. other than that not sure why the PCs would be brighter.

maybe try running both the MHs and PCs together.

 

[Doe]

bump

 

[lvreefer]

The other possibility besides burn in time would be that fluorescent bulbs have a better blanket coverage causing fewer shadows. This can give the appearance of brighter light. What kind of reflectors are you using?

 

[Doe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9694017#post9694017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lvreefer
The other possibility besides burn in time would be that fluorescent bulbs have a better blanket coverage causing fewer shadows. This can give the appearance of brighter light. What kind of reflectors are you using?

That was my other thought, i am currently using one of these plate type relfectors, and it is pretty dull at the moment as it was a used setup

http://www.hellolights.com/ref72in.html

Was thinking about changing out to these, really dont want to spend $100 a reflector right now for the fancy ones

http://www.hellolights.com/pare.html

 

[MercZ]

The reflectors are a big reason why its dull. I am not a big fan of the dull painted style. You would be much more pleased with some nicer aluminum reflectors.

 

[busterb]

I felt the same way. I had a 40g with 2x 96w pc. One 10k and 1 blue. When I uped to a 90g with 2x250 se MH 14k. It seemed dimmer. Given they are two seperate tanks but I figured with the MH it would be blinding bright. The 40g was 18" tall and the 90g is 24" . I had them running side by side for about a week. But now that I took down the 40g and just running the 90g. I'm not sure if I'v gotten used to it or the bulbs needed to burn in but they look pretty bright now.