WMAS Discussion Forum : Getting ready to buy http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 23:47:47 +0000 Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:34:09 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=10919 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : Angel, most bulbs are like that....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103234&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103234 Author: sshm
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 18 2006 at 10:34am

Angel, most bulbs are like that. The ballast also has a contribution in the
final color output of the bulb. As bulbs are "burned in" they change color as
well, therefore, the although the rated output may be 10000k the true color
output may be a range around the rated output. But these are just a
technicality, and most hobbbyists accept it. This only serves to explain why
someone's 10000k bulbs is bluer and someone else's looks a bit yellow.
Therefore, its just a detail, please dont sweat over it too much. It helps when
you are comparing different 10000k bulbs and different ballasts. The Ushio
bulbs they are selling are very good and many people on the forum here use
them.]]> Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:34:09 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103234&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103234 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : sshm, Thank you for the thoughtful...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103221&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103221 Author: Angel
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 18 2006 at 8:57am

sshm,

Thank you for the thoughtful response.  I was definately going for the MH and VHO for the arctinic.  And would swap out the 6500k for a 10000 - what I did not realize is that some bulbs are not true to their rated output.  (Uggg)

I'll email them and see what's up.  Thanks for the heads up on the typo as well.

The lighting of the tank is so important, and for me, the single largest investment of the project.  But I'm also finding it to be really difficult subject to grasp.  For instance I thought that the kelvin rating would determine the visable color - not the ballast.  And as you can tell I'm still undecided on MH vs HOT5s (Mark!). 

So, I'll keep slogging away and am gratful to the people who give so generously of their knowledge. 

]]> Sat, 18 Mar 2006 08:57:54 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103221&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103221 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : Angel, There are a few things...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103214&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103214 Author: sshm
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 18 2006 at 3:40am

Angel,
There are a few things in that webpage, I am not sure of, but it would be
best if you got in touch with them and clarfied a few points.
1) It seems to me that they ship with 175w 5,500k MH bulbs, in other
words, the prices next to each setup seem to include the above bulbs. If
you need any other MH bulb, you probably will need to upgrade and that
will cost extra. Now you may buy them with these bulbs but without good
actinic supplementation you probably will not appreciate how they light
up your tank, and not all corals will like the color (especially those that
need light in 420nm/450nm)
2) It doesnt say what kind of choice you have on the VHOs. It probably is
VHO actinic, in which case you will probably be in good shape since the
VHO actinics are the best.

If you do indeed go for this setup (MH+VHO), I'd reccomend you not get
the 5,500k bulbs but go with either the Iwasaki 250W or if you'd rather
keep 175W bulbs then ditch the 5,500k bulbs in favor of the Ushio
10000k bulbs. Both these bulbs have superior PAR.

If you go with MH only, then again the 5,500k color MH may not give the
best look to your tank and I am not aware of a 5,500k bulb with good
PAR. Therefore, if you go with this option you may want to swap out the
standard bulbs with the upgrade option. I couldnt find CCT (Correlated
Color Temperature - a measure of how true the color output is with
respect to the rated output) Hamilton 14000k bulb, therefore I am not
sure it puts out 14000k or even anything close to that (I will have to look
up Sanjay Joshi's paper to figure out why the Hamiltons have no CCT data
in his measurements). I would suggest the Iwasaki 6500k which spits out
the best PAR of any 6500k or 250w bulb but again you may not
appreciate the yellowish-white light (although depending on the ballast it
may even run bluish white). For a MH only setup, the best option they
have there seems to be the 20,000k Radium which has good PAR among
20,000k bulbs (and has a significant 450nm component) but it will add
2x$98 to the cost.
Please email the Marine Depot folks for their advice and clarification. We
can tell you here if they are being true or trying to unload something on
you.

ps: There is someone here selling a Hamilton setup, perhaps they would
give better feedback on the performance of these systems.

another ps: There is a typo on the webpage, the IceCap ballast listed
under the fluoroscent upgrade option is not a 430W ballast, its just a
designation ie 430 and not 430W, just FYI.
]]> Sat, 18 Mar 2006 03:40:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103214&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103214 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : OK, I keep flip flopping on the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103077&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103077 Author: Angel
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 17 2006 at 12:41pm

OK, I keep flip flopping on the lighting T5 and MH.  Do you all have opinions on this Hambilton set-up? It's not a very sexy hood  but it does seem to have a good price unless there are things I'm not seeing.  Free shipping helps!

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_lighting_metal_halide_fi xtures.asp

]]> Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:41:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=103077&title=getting-ready-to-buy#103077 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : Yup, that was the way I was going...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101937&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101937 Author: Angel
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 10 2006 at 4:49pm

Yup, that was the way I was going to go too.  After all it was reccomended by the experts.]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2006 16:49:42 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101937&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101937 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : ryanj wrote: You should read...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101860&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101860 Author: xokay
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 10 2006 at 10:26am

Originally posted by ryanj ryanj wrote:

You should read this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic28421-14-1.aspx

"Right now, I am looking into utilizing several plasma cutting torches mounted above my aquarium.  They give off a nice bluish flame and such intense light"

: )

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2006 10:26:30 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101860&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101860 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : Ryan, It took me a minute to...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101832&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101832 Author: Angel
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 10 2006 at 9:02am

Ryan,

It took me a minute to realize that article was current with this discussion!  That is very informative and right on the money here.  That certainly seems to again point this lighting away from MH's!  I will have to look more carefully at what kinds of lighting that the LPS and softies like and will keep in mind to stay away from the more aggressive corals.  Maybe I'll make a list of the more aggressive corals to consult when my eye gets caught by that pretty frag in the window!

Mark, you may be right about changing in a year (I'm already on my third round of different lights and my third tank if we consider the FW planted).  I'd hope I could find something that will last longer than that!  The tank I put the PCs on is in a west facing bay window.  I will have to control heat vs lighting with the individual louvers. 

 

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2006 09:02:11 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101832&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101832 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : You should read this: http://...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101817&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101817 Author: ryanj
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 10 2006 at 2:04am

You should read this:

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic28421-14-1.aspx

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2006 02:04:34 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101817&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101817 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : Angel wrote:I&#039;ll look...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101789&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101789 Author: Mike Savage
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 09 2006 at 10:20pm

Originally posted by Angel Angel wrote:

I'll look at that.  The Hello lights site has a DIY retrofit kit that will get 2 long VHO and 2 250 watt MH in a reflector with cords for $545.

And the BIY (build it youself) kits are 10% off for the month of March.

]]> Thu, 09 Mar 2006 22:20:21 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101789&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101789 <![CDATA[Getting ready to buy : What ifthose T5HO lights were...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101773&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101773 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 10919
Posted: March 09 2006 at 9:26pm

What if those T5HO lights were called HOTS.

Get it? The 5 could be drawn like an S.

]]> Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:26:07 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10919&PID=101773&title=getting-ready-to-buy#101773