2x 250MH+2x 55 watt PC's=Yellow/Green Tank!

helidude · 10-26-2003, 10:34 PM

I was very happy with the colors of my old retro kit. But it was bought used with my 75g tank. The bulbs were really used plus the 48"NO's were too tight under the canopy lid.

So I broke down and bought the new light retro in the main subject.

$400 later I now have a very (bright) yellow and green tank. I am using charcoal in my filter. The PC's are actinic.

The 10k MH bulbs were free with this retro package. But they are new.

I'd hate to go out and spend $200 on 20k bulbs and find that I made another mistake.

I would really appreciate any advice or suggestions. After spending two weeks researching the best lighting package for my reef tank, I'm quite frustrated.
Thank you.
Roy

tdwyatt · 10-26-2003, 10:37 PM

wait for a 100 hour burn in time, the if they are still yellow (MH bulbs) then think about a stronger blue, or take th blue out altogether.

who makes the bulbs that they are yellow 10kK, and what type of ballast is driving them?

helidude · 10-26-2003, 10:41 PM

There is no name on the bulbs. I would assume some cheap knockoffs.
Does anyone feel the yellow is coming from the MH's? Not sure of the maker of the ballast either.

Doug1 · 10-26-2003, 10:57 PM

Sounds like common complaint with the Iwaskis but not 10K, personally I don't use PC I like my VHO
Let them burn in and see if it dont get better, meanwhile skim like heck and carbon, alot of the off color is reflecting off stuff in the water

helidude · 10-26-2003, 11:24 PM

I just turned off the PC's. With the canopy open my living room has a yellow cast to it. With the lid down,one heck of a yellow tank.

I'm under the impression that MH bulbs turn yellow when wore out. However,these are new.

For kicks I turned off the MH and installed 1 10k daylight PC and left one actinic.

No yellow. Pretty nice colors.

Roy

cyberchef · 10-26-2003, 11:26 PM

Are there any markings on the bulbs at all?

helidude · 10-26-2003, 11:27 PM

MH 250W

I just received a email from the owner.

His reply was;
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I would put more live rock in to counter the algae bloom you seem to be having from the green colors. www.nano-reef.com has discussions about appropriate lighting techniques and chemistry.

www.petsupplyliquidator.com

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Good ole' passin' the buck.

Funny thing is I bought a used hood made by them a little while back. I installed it on my tank with the exact same results!!

Way too yellow. Exactly the same as this set-up. I did like the craftmenship but it didnt fit under my canopy very well. I wrote it off to wore out bulbs.

Guess I was wrong.

Roy

cyberchef · 10-27-2003, 12:32 AM

what shape are the bulbs, a straight tube or are they "bulb" shaped?

Also how is more LR going to counter a "algae bloom"...

helidude · 10-27-2003, 12:42 AM

The bulbs are straight.

Yea! Thats what I said!

Doug1 · 10-27-2003, 01:12 AM

Jeez i remember when Chris used to be on TRT alot, he should know better

Rick O · 10-27-2003, 06:16 AM

My experience has been that after about 100 hours that the color will look a little better. But when I used 10,000K bulbs on another tank they were a crisp white the first time I turned the lights on.

tdwyatt · 10-27-2003, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick O
My experience has been that after about 100 hours that the color will look a little better. But when I used 10,000K bulbs on another tank they were a crisp white the first time I turned the lights on.

yeah, all the decent bulbs are hot to go right out of the box, I would bet, especially if the markings are burned off, that these bulbs are waaaayyyyy past their prime.

Either really bad bulbs, or old ones, or possibly not even 10lL bulbs, might be plant or plain illuminatioin, esp if they are THAT yellow.

See if you can bollow or rent a temp meter from a tv studio or photo supply .

HTH

Joel · 10-27-2003, 09:22 AM

My hqi fixture came with 67 K Osram bulbs and it looked yellow too. I changed them to 10K Ushio bulbs and am really happy with the color but the coral growth seems to be slower.

cyberchef · 10-27-2003, 03:42 PM

You also might see in there are any freindly reefers in your area that might be able to comeover with a good 250W MH bulb and put it in , fire it up and see how it looks.

helidude · 10-27-2003, 07:28 PM

I just ordered a Ushio 10k. I'm pretty sure that I'll find these are just cheap junk.
Considering they were free and the Ushio was $95 to my door,I dont have a lot of room for complaints.
Roy