MH efficiency loss vs T5

[VJV]

I do love to see the experts discussing these topics [emoji4]. I would love to have a Spectra over my tank. But do not want to risk having to deal with heat. I sent my Giesemann Matrix ii 8x80 to Giesemann because one of the channels was not working but unfortunately the fixture was damaged during the trip. Giesemann stepped up and offered me a Aurora (T5-LED Hybrid) at a very attractive price so I’m going to try it.

Still am going to have some shading at the ends of the tank but will use those areas for low light corals.

I guess we did not conclude much in terms of efficiency. However, the BRS videos show that a 8 bulb ATI Sunpower produces more par than a 4 bulb T5 + 250w MH Giesemann Spectra, using 192w vs 346w. I know the videos are long but really would encoraje you guys to have a look at those.

 

[mcarroll]

I like it:

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BIMINI SUN SYSTEM - ONLY 2.5" TALL - THE SLEEKEST, MOST LOW PROFILE MH REFLECTOR AVAILABLE
PRODUCT CODE: AETM
AVAILABILITY:
IN STOCK
PRICE: $269

Same price as their other fixture I think too...just didn't come up on my search earlier.

 

[mcarroll]

Giesemann stepped up and offered me a Aurora (T5-LED Hybrid) at a very attractive price so I’m going to try it.

Excellent! Always cool to get a chance to try new things!

 

[VJV]

I like it:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

BIMINI SUN SYSTEM - ONLY 2.5" TALL - THE SLEEKEST, MOST LOW PROFILE MH REFLECTOR AVAILABLE
PRODUCT CODE: AETM
AVAILABILITY:
IN STOCK
PRICE: $269

Same price as their other fixture I think too...just didn't come up on my search earlier.

These do not exist in Europe as far as I am aware. Also for my 80” long tank I want a single fixture that looks sharp and covers the whole thing sono would need the 72” Spectra or infinity.

Excited to try out the Aurora [emoji4].

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

LOL

I wish I had a perspective on that...I didn't pay attention to anything like hot spots with my Coralife Aqualight halide setup (2 x 150 watt halides, no fluorescents) – it was just the best Radium platform that I could actually afford so I was happy to have it running.

Maybe because it was essentially like an AP700 setup where it had dual emitters, correctly spaced....largely alleviating the hot spot(s) by turning them into a hot zone across the whole middle....not so bad. (I loved it. Still have it. Just can't afford to run it. )

So maybe one of these Hamilton reflectors might be worse than two. How much usable spread do you get at six or twelve inches off the water?

Maybe it would be interesting to see how that flat-reflector AquaTraders fixture performs too.

Actually the genius of the ap is the reflector ring around puck.
The genius is the simplicity of the design. Actually common in household and industrial light fractures for years.

If you look at that mh reflector, youbsee the globe , the globe behind it , and a reflection of the globe on either side of the reflector. That’s exactly how it reflects the light of the globe. Each reflection is a beam , so it’s a half dozen concentrated beams.
That refslector would be great for a long sodium style bulb air a cfl style tube or fluro tube (it’s actually almost exactly what’s used on those ) and I wouldn’t want surprised is that’s where they got it. Exterior industrial lighting.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

In a Bimini Sun with 150q HQI 14K Phoenix on M81 (Hamilton), I am getting 275 ish PAR a foot deep in about 20" radius. Getting 160-170 at the bottom of a 24" tank. 950+ at the surface about 8" under the lamp. These lights are not output monster, but they are also no joke... now if you got a bad one, then I guess that it could be all kinds of bad... Odyssea and Coralife did give a bad name to HQI. 150W HQI is my favorite mixed-reef light. Legit on a good reflector, enough power to grow most anything, anywhere and low wattage for a complete 24"x24" solution that needs no T5 or supplement - 450w for a standard 180 with no shadowing or hotspots is very good and able to grow acros in the rocks and sand-dwelling clams on the bottom. They are also easy to keep cool.

Off topic but,
If you come across one of these , buy it. Just sooo smooth. Came in 150 250 and 400 I belive. Minimal hotspot , just enough and what you want to punch down on the sand in the middle.

@mcarroll , not the chrome reflector ring ,very much like the ap700.

 

[DCR]

I do love to see the experts discussing these topics [emoji4]. I would love to have a Spectra over my tank. But do not want to risk having to deal with heat. I sent my Giesemann Matrix ii 8x80 to Giesemann because one of the channels was not working but unfortunately the fixture was damaged during the trip. Giesemann stepped up and offered me a Aurora (T5-LED Hybrid) at a very attractive price so I’m going to try it.

Still am going to have some shading at the ends of the tank but will use those areas for low light corals.

I guess we did not conclude much in terms of efficiency. However, the BRS videos show that a 8 bulb ATI Sunpower produces more par than a 4 bulb T5 + 250w MH Giesemann Spectra, using 192w vs 346w. I know the videos are long but really would encoraje you guys to have a look at those.

The problem with these evaluations is that there is an unproven assumption that PAR (as we test it with our meters) is the only parameter that affects coral. Maybe that is the best we can do for testing right now, but there is considerable experience out there to suggest otherwise. I suspect you will probably do well with that fixture, but I would not put too much weight on these type of comparisons when selecting a light fixture. I always trust the actual experience of seasoned hobbyists much more.

I still see the Lumen Bright Mini DE reflectors offered for sale. I assume they would outperform the Bimini - and are those Coralife pendants really any good? My LFS was unloading a bunch of 150 W used ones for $75 each, but the ballasts I tested were pretty noisy. I know they have been running them for 10+ years on their planted tanks

 

[mcarroll]

Off topic but,
If you come across one of these , buy it. Just sooo smooth. Came in 150 250 and 400 I belive. Minimal hotspot , just enough and what you want to punch down on the sand in the middle.

@mcarroll , not the chrome reflector ring ,very much like the ap700.

A true classic! I remember those from the OLD magazine ads. ;Drool (<-drool)

 

[VJV]

The problem with these evaluations is that there is an unproven assumption that PAR (as we test it with our meters) is the only parameter that affects coral. Maybe that is the best we can do for testing right now, but there is considerable experience out there to suggest otherwise. I suspect you will probably do well with that fixture, but I would not put too much weight on these type of comparisons when selecting a light fixture. I always trust the actual experience of seasoned hobbyists much more.

I still see the Lumen Bright Mini DE reflectors offered for sale. I assume they would outperform the Bimini - and are those Coralife pendants really any good? My LFS was unloading a bunch of 150 W used ones for $75 each, but the ballasts I tested were pretty noisy. I know they have been running them for 10+ years on their planted tanks

I do agree... I must say I have seen amazing tanks under LED, T5 and MH. I am not a fan of LEDs (do not like multi color caustic lines, do not like the focused beam approach, and do not like the lack of coverage). Having said this, inhale seen recently a number of absolutely amazing LED lit tanks like the one below. One common feature of these however is the huge amount of fixtures they have to get adequate coverage.


Worth watching.