Is this MH setup good?

bobssecrtsn · Jan 9, 2013

Hey so i have a 250W Vue Technology HID Lsmp Electronic-Lamp Ballast with this type of Reflector

Im running phoenix bulb ( i beleive its the 16k model) would anyone happen to know the par i would be getting by any chance ?

am i underdriving the bulb or would this be good enough for an SPS dom. tank? atm its about 6" from the water surface and im using 2 panaroma pro actinic modules.

this is how the tank looks without the suppliment LEDS

spspirate · Jan 9, 2013

The Phoenix is a 14k. To the sound and looks of it you found a good set-up.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 9, 2013

thanks! for 60 bucks, you cant beat that!

tinkerman · Jan 9, 2013

I have tested a 210 with 400w halides in reflecters like that and didn't see anything over 90 for a par any where in the tank. Not bad for $60. I would replace the reflecter.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 10, 2013

what kind of par meter did you use? i highly doubt that there cant be 90par anywhere in that kind of tank, how high was it set at ?

and its kind of funny you say that you cant find anything higher then 90 par because i have a sps frag on the sand bed and its tabling nicely with some great color.

tinkerman · Jan 10, 2013

The 1 mo old apogee mq200 is what I used. Lights were about 8-10 off the water. I thought it was odd too that that was the highest par rating in the tank there were 8x39w t5ho's on in the tank also when I tested. Get a par meter and see what your par is then.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 11, 2013

that must not be right .. you had 8 bulbs of t5HO with that also maybe your par meter was bad?.. because that is a fualty reading if you had 90 par. with 8bulb t5's

i ordered the apongee sensor and will be here within a week so ill keep this updated

bobssecrtsn · Jan 17, 2013

Well my Apogee Quantom Sensor finally arrived im using it with a multimeter w/ mV volts. here is my par readings! im using the MQ 120 sensor

3" from the fixture is 975 and ill let the picture do the rest!

3â€ 195
Surface 125
2â€ 53
10â€ 36
Bottom 28
L bottom 60
R bottom 44
Island 50
Zoa 28
Hwood stunner 27
SSC 40
Blue stag 54
Front Red planet 34

get these readings and multiply by 5 BTW.. let me know what you guys think! i might have to get more par i feel like its pretty low. and wthell is up with the corners getting 300 par? i tested 3-4 times and it all came out the same.

Ballast is a Vue Technology E-ballast. 250W

tinkerman · Jan 17, 2013

Are you sure your meter is calibrated? I find it hard to believe you get the highest par on the sand in the corner of your tank. You want 200+ for sps.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 17, 2013

Yes, it is calibrated. and im not using a meter, simply a quantom sensor and a multimeter , get the reading and multiply by 5.

Scoly · Jan 17, 2013

I agree with tinker man, that doesn't sound right.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 17, 2013

well i dont know about you but here it is,

thats right by the corner.

tinkerman · Jan 17, 2013

What is you par center of tank on sand? The spider reflecters should have a compressed oval par and get lower as it goes out from center. Are you sure your reflecter isn't bent? I don't remember looking at spider reflecters in a encloser.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 17, 2013

par on the sand is about 140 and yes im definitely sure its not bent. also i dont think i have a spider reflector? check out my OP for the reflector picture im not sure what kind of reflector it is

tinkerman · Jan 17, 2013

Yes your op is a spider reflecter in a pendant. I think someone stuck it in the pendent and may have bent/tweeked it.

bobssecrtsn · Jan 17, 2013

it looks like it was made that way.. did you say you had the same one like that?

tinkerman · Jan 17, 2013

I have had spider reflecters, not in a pendant. The 210 I tested were just spider reflecters. It looks like yours was a de pendant that someone moded with a spider reflecter as the reflecter doesn't cover the entire inside of the pendant. The se pendants usally don't come with a uv sheild for the pendant.