who's running 400w w/Luminarcs [Archive] - Reef Central Online Community

Fatboy

10/18/2006, 05:49 AM

I run 400 watt bulbs........ but with a Sfiligoi lamp.

I have tried three (3) different bulbs untill know and I think that I will still try two (2) more.

BLV 10.000 K: Too green looking according to me.

BLV 14.000 K: I thought it was going to be more blue, but is white. For some strange reason, my coral didn't seem to like this bulb (but maybe is just my impression).

XM 20.000 K: Very blue and nice color, but the tank looks dim in comparison with the other bulbs. I want to buy some white T5's to see if with that combination it looks better. My green colors are coming back with these bulbs.

I still want to try next month the XM 10.000 K and the Aquaconnect 14.000 K

You know..... always looking for the perfect light

REEF-DADDY

10/18/2006, 07:00 AM

400 watt Radiums, love them...

RockyMtnReef

10/18/2006, 07:57 AM

Me,
10K Reeflux as well (qty3)

plus VHO actinic

REEF-DADDY

10/18/2006, 08:45 AM

I should mention I am running the radiums on HQI ballasts so they are brighter on a M59 ballast

SunnyX

10/18/2006, 09:03 AM

400W XM 20K On M59 Ballasts.

http://www.thesunnyreef.com/full20K3.jpg

Fatboy

10/18/2006, 09:08 AM

SunnyX,

How far from the water you have your bulbs ? Mine right now are at 10" but I'm thinking if I should lower them a bit.

An off topic for you...... how do you avoid your sand clumping ? I have the same substrate and I'm having problems.

SunnyX

10/18/2006, 09:36 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364127#post8364127 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fatboy
SunnyX,

How far from the water you have your bulbs ? Mine right now are at 10" but I'm thinking if I should lower them a bit.

An off topic for you...... how do you avoid your sand clumping ? I have the same substrate and I'm having problems.

The Lumi's themselves are 5 inches off of the surface of the tank.

What do you mean by clumping?

Ceak

10/18/2006, 10:00 AM

FatBoy -

I am looking to get the Sfiligoi XR4 400W myself. I don't think you should bother trying out the AC14K... Don't get me wrong, this bulb is probably one of the best bulbs out there in terms of brightness/fluorescence but this is on an HQI ballast. The Sfiligoi comes with a magnetic ballast. On such a ballast the XM 20K has more PAR than the AC14K.

I was planning to run an XM 20K and adjust the brightness with some bright T5 bulbs...

MammothReefer

10/18/2006, 10:17 AM

Ya i'm using a pfo M59 (magnectic ballast), so I guess it's either XM or Sfiligoi? How about the XM 14ks? or has anybody tried Helios?

MammothReefer

10/18/2006, 10:20 AM

Hey sunny do you have any pics of the tank without the VHOS and just the halides? My tank is the exact same deminsions as yours. Do you think the 2 halides w/the luminarcs cover enough of the tank, or did you feel it really needed the vhos besides for just looks?

MSHUR

10/18/2006, 10:28 AM

I have two luminarcs mini's and try quite few dif. bulbs for past one month...So far my best choise was radiums on HQi ballast...
I am waiting on BLV-14k coming tommorow from PA...
Right now i have EVC_10k and i can tell u ,,Its not so bad.They were yellow from the begging but after 10days they got much better. I also try Reeflux-12k and they look very much similar to radiums but a little dimmer..
I hope BLv-14k would be nice crisp with hint of blue:)

mike

MammothReefer

10/18/2006, 10:30 AM

Nice, I hope to switch back to an HQI ballast with this reflecotr setup (currently running 2x250w DE's) but I got this setup as a package and it came with the m59.

MSHUR

10/18/2006, 10:31 AM

I know they XM's-20 looks great on M59..I have couple of friend run them and they very pleased

Ceak

10/18/2006, 10:44 AM

If your package came with an M59 then definitely try out the XM20K.

If you en up getting an HQI ballast you can either run the AquaConnect 14K or Radium but be aware that your bulbs won't last very long because the 400W HQI ballasts are in fact 430W High Pressure Sodium ballasts that really overdrive 400W MH bulbs... They consume close to 500W of electricity and will heat your tank considerably... But they sure look nice ;)

Mantis

10/18/2006, 11:08 AM

On a 400 HQI ballast try the Helios 20K bulb,
super bright, great color and they should last longer than the Radiums.

MSHUR

10/18/2006, 11:14 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364919#post8364919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mantis
On a 400 HQI ballast try the Helios 20K bulb,
super bright, great color and they should last longer than the Radiums.

Do u have pic of them by any chance?

mike

Fatboy

10/18/2006, 11:22 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364476#post8364476 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ceak
FatBoy -

I am looking to get the Sfiligoi XR4 400W myself. I don't think you should bother trying out the AC14K... Don't get me wrong, this bulb is probably one of the best bulbs out there in terms of brightness/fluorescence but this is on an HQI ballast. The Sfiligoi comes with a magnetic ballast. On such a ballast the XM 20K has more PAR than the AC14K.

Ceak,

I have the ACLS's controllers and if I'm not mistaken, they have electronic ballast (I could be wrong.... but I'm going to check directly with Sfiligoi). The ACLS controllers replace the standard ballast that come with the lamp.

I will still look at Sanjai's webpage to compare PAR.

MSHUR

10/18/2006, 11:25 AM

fatboy,
u right Acls controllers come with electronic ballast..

mike

panic

10/18/2006, 11:43 AM

I run 3 12k Reeflux but will be switching to XM 20k.

REEF-DADDY

10/18/2006, 11:54 AM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364958#post8364958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSHUR
Do u have pic of them by any chance?

mike

Yes pics please! Hows the color and par stack up against the Radium?

Ceak

10/18/2006, 12:19 PM

Fatboy -

I assumed you were but a poor man like myself :P

The ACLS does run electronic ballasts so you must try out the AC14K I'm sure you will love it!

MammothReefer

10/18/2006, 01:18 PM

africangrey

10/18/2006, 01:22 PM

Doesn't this thing run like $1000 a pop. Yeah you got to be rich to buy 2 of them.

SunnyX

10/18/2006, 01:25 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364606#post8364606 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MammothReefer
Hey sunny do you have any pics of the tank without the VHOS and just the halides? My tank is the exact same deminsions as yours. Do you think the 2 halides w/the luminarcs cover enough of the tank, or did you feel it really needed the vhos besides for just looks?

Nice to see someone else with the same tank size. :thumbsup:

Two Luminarc III's would cover your tank perfectly. I have the VHO's on mainly to balance out the lighting. With a tank that is 3ft wide you may have small shadows in some places so the VHO's help to even out the overall appearance of the tank.

Check out my tank here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/totm/index.php

Mantis

10/18/2006, 01:44 PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8364958#post8364958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MSHUR
Do u have pic of them by any chance?

mike

The manufacture recomends HQI ballasts, and since the bulb is designed for that wattage it "should" last longer than the Radiums. They are kind of hard to find right now. Par is a little higher than the Radium on HQI according to Sanjay. Checkout this thread for pics.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=909916&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

Ceak

10/18/2006, 01:45 PM

lol Sunny do you enjoy pasting that totm link when asked for more pics!? :p

All jokes aside I really love your tank, you deserved it.

TexasTodd

10/18/2006, 02:40 PM

LumenArcII's here too with HQI PFO running Reeflux 10kk's.

Todd

Greg 45

10/18/2006, 04:34 PM

How high off the top of tank is everyone running the 400 watt lamps. I have three 400 w/luminarc /w 14k EVC bulbs at 10in above tank.

MammothReefer

10/18/2006, 04:49 PM

I have not setup mine over the tank yet, i was thinking I would just raise or lower them based on the light fall line w/my tank.

REEF-DADDY

10/18/2006, 04:50 PM

About 10"

MammothReefer

10/27/2006, 07:52 PM

Moment of truth? Was it worth it?

One Side, 400w SE XM 20k, PFO Pulse, Luminarc Reflector other side, 250w DE AB 20k PFO HQI.

http://www.pbase.com/brahm/image/69261751.jpg

Watcha ya think?