I need help with a T-5 and MH LUX comparison

three90s&125sump · 07-23-2006, 07:40 PM

I need someone with A LOT of T-5s and a LUX meter to help me out.

I have dual 400 watt 14K MH. The bulb manufacturer is Reef Grow and the ballasts are (I beleive) pulse start from an unknown company. The fixture is a free hanging hood that is 14 inches away from the surface of the water.

Here is what I need:

1) a measurment as close to the bulb as possible

2) a measurment 1 inch below the surface of the water

3) a measurment 12 inches below the surface of the water

4) a measurment 24 inches below the surface of the water (or on the bottom of the tank which ever is shallowest).

5) post your lighting specification just as I did along with your measurments

Since the MH are point source and the T-5s are diffused, I will take 2 measurments from each depth, 1 measurment directly under the bulb and one measurment at the widest angle possible (prolly the edge of the tank). I will post each measurment and the average measurment.

We can then take the LUX and divide it by the wattage to see what we come up with.

ReelFreak · 07-23-2006, 07:56 PM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=887015

Here's a place to start... I have not read this thread, but plan on doing so.....

I don't have 400w of T5 so I can't help, plus I don't have a meter for PAR. My fixture is only 216w......... HTH some

three90s&125sump · 07-23-2006, 08:32 PM

Ok here is what I have.

I have dual 400 watt 14K MH. The bulb manufacturer is Reef Grow and the ballasts are (I beleive) pulse start from an unknown company. The fixture is a free hanging hood that is 14 inches away from the surface of the water.

I turned off the actinics for the test, let the MH warm up for about 5 mins and tested. I rounded the number off to the nearest 100. The number 4 measurment is at a depth of 21inches (bottom of the tank top of the sand).

1) 1 inch from bulb
A. 200,000+ (the meter only reads up to 200K)
B. 3,100
C. 101,550 (16K more than when they were new)
LUX per watt=254

2)1 inch below surface of water
A. 15,800
B. 9,200
C. 12,500
LUX per watt= 31

3)12 inches below surface of water
A. 10,900
B. 7,000
C. 8,950
LUX per watt=22

4)21 inches below surface of water
A. 8,100
B. 3,900
C. 6,000
LUX per watt= 15

I thought I would just through this in there for referance.

These are 125 watt 42inch untra-actinic PC bulbs manufactured by Reef Grow. Its not really a fair comparison for the PCs since they are actinic bulbs.

Test with just PCs:

1)8,200
LUX per watt=65

2)1,100
LUX per watt=8.8

3)850
LUX per watt=6.8

4)420
LUX per watt=3.3

three90s&125sump · 07-24-2006, 11:37 AM

Wiskey · 07-24-2006, 12:26 PM

Ill tell you what, with 4*54w T5's over a 50 gallon tank I get over 10,000 Lux at tank bottom, 18 inches under water, 24 inches from the bulbs. This is an even reading all the way across the tank.

HTH,
Whiskey

three90s&125sump · 07-24-2006, 04:46 PM

You get 46 LUX per watt with the T-5s?

three90s&125sump · 07-24-2006, 04:49 PM

If that is the case then there is absolutly no comparison between the MH and the T-5s. MH companies should just stop making bulbs for aguarium use. I need to sell my MH fixtures and buy some T-5s.

I really need to find someone with T-5s and measure their LUX. I am not saying that I don't beleive you Whiskey but, I need to see this for myself.

Wiskey · 07-24-2006, 04:54 PM

Do you want me to post a picture of my reading? It's all about the reflectors and how you set it up mate.

If I put my 2*250W XM 10K's right on the surface I can get 20,000+ LUX on tank bottom, I shot for about 10,000 to 12,000 LUX on tank bottom with those though.

I am actually really surprised about how low your readings are.

Whiskey

three90s&125sump · 07-24-2006, 05:22 PM

14K bulbs 14inches above the tank. I can't put them any closer with out seriously over heating the water.

In the morning I will lower my lights down to 4 inches from the surface of the water and take new readings to post.

Twitterbait · 07-24-2006, 05:45 PM

this may all be true... and that is fine, but... when i was only using T5's on my tank ALL of my corals turned into brown turds. with 7 days of going back to MH they all came back to their original beauty. T5's are ok for softies and supplimental lighting, but i will stick with MH any day for penetration, longevity, and simplicity.

Wiskey · 07-24-2006, 05:50 PM

14 inches off the water? No wonder the readings are a little low.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 07-24-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twitterbait

this may all be true... and that is fine, but... when i was only using T5's on my tank ALL of my corals turned into brown turds. with 7 days of going back to MH they all came back to their original beauty. T5's are ok for softies and supplimental lighting, but i will stick with MH any day for penetration, longevity, and simplicity.

Were you using a Tek fixture? OR were you using one of those ones with the single large reflector, because those are worthless.

Whiskey

90_berlin_joe · 07-24-2006, 05:52 PM

May i ask what T5's you were using Twitterbait. I am using T5's now on my 90gal with softies and they are doing great like you said. However a dealer friend of mine (VAMP) is using them on his SPS and other hard growing coral and they are doing great. Also jimmysreef is using the T5's and doing just as well. Could it have been the lighting combo you were using? Many reasons why i am sure.

Twitterbait · 07-24-2006, 06:03 PM

Standard URI bulbs, same result using the 6' 160w bulbs and the 4' 110w bulbs. even with actinics the color stunk and i didn't get any polyp extension. growth was mediocre at best. used internal reflectors on the bulbs but i also had a reflector above them (in preparation for MH).

Twitterbait · 07-24-2006, 06:04 PM

i have also used either icecap or workhorse ballasts