[Ninong]

I was browsing the Aqua-Medic/AB-Aqualine website yesterday and I noticed that they are now offering 20,000K metal halides:

http://www.aqua-medic.de/cgi-bin/php...id=151&field=0



The blue aqualine 20000 lamp has a colour temperature of about 20000° Kelvin. The use of this "actinic" bulb enhances the flourescent blue and green colours of many corals. The bulb should be used in combination with aqualine 10000. This combination gives the aquarium a beautiful bluish hue. Many corals show positive reactions if illuminated with aqualine 20000 and increase their growth rates. The followng versions are availble:

70 Watt double ended
150 Watt double ended
250 Watt double ended
175 Watt single ended E 39

[Ninong]

I just found out from an online vendor that AB-Aqualine has not yet shipped any of these 20,000K lamps even though they have been touting them for months.

[Reefland]

Are you considering trying these out when they hit the stores? I really like the 10k's but I would like just a bit more flourescent however I don't really have a way to add a VHO actinic bulb.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Are you considering trying these out when they hit the stores? I really like the 10k's but I would like just a bit more flourescent however I don't really have a way to add a VHO actinic bulb.

Not as my primary lighting, only as supplemental lighting to 10,000K. It would be impossible to add any more lighting to my present tank without getting a chiller first. It would be nice to have a 250w 20,000K HQI DE lamp to add some blue to my two 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps but that may be just wishful thinking.

However, if I ever upgrade to a larger tank, I would consider running 20,000K lamps in my present Aquastarlight Future and then getting a 180 cm 3-lamp Aquaspacelight running 10,000K lamps right in front of it so that they overlapped. I was looking at RDO's TOTM for July 2003 and it's a 302-gal IA Starphire tank with dimensions 84" x 32" x 26" that Mitch made with 12 mm Starphire!!! That would be an ideal size to run a 120 cm fixture just behind a 180 cm fixture. I now realize how nice it would be to have at least five or six inches of space at both ends of the tank and that space doesn't have to have the same intensity of lighting as the live rock areas. Also, I saw another tank that Mitch just shipped this week that is 84" x 30" x 30" made with tempered 12 mm Optiwhite glass. Optiwhite is a brand name of another company's ultra-clear glass and I guess it's available tempered. The Aussies use a lot of tempered glass to make tall tanks with relatively thin glass.

[PerryinCA]

from what I understand, the AB lamps are just BLV blue lamps.

-Perry

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by PerryinCA

from what I understand, the AB lamps are just BLV blue lamps.

-Perry

Perry,

I know that BLV makes a 150w Blue DE lamp and it is very nice and very blue, although weak, but does BLV make a 250w Blue DE lamp? If they do, I haven't seen it available over here. AB-Aqualine is including a BLV 150w Blue DE lamp in the middle of their 120 cm Aquaspacelight fixtures in lieu of the two Osram 24w PC actinics. They're using it to add some blue to the two 250w AB-10000 lamps in that fixture.

[PerryinCA]

BLV does not, but they have been talking about doing it for quite some time. My guess is that AB was advertising them in anticipation.

The Ushio 150w Blue is actually superior to the Radium in every aspect as far as spectral signature and PAR goes. I had Dana Riddle do some extensive testing with them and the Ushio looked a clear winner.

-Perry

[reefhead]

Hey Ninong,

This is great news, although expected...


Any word of a 400w mougal base?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by reefhead

Hey Ninong,

This is great news, although expected...


Any word of a 400w mougal base?

Hi Joe,

I really don't know what's up. I just happened to notice that AB was showing pics of 20,000K lamps on their website. I need to add some blue to my lighting but I don't think I can do it unless I get a chiller first.

[Elmo18]

Originally Posted by Ninong

I need to add some blue to my lighting but I don't think I can do it unless I get a chiller first.

Hiya Ninong. I've been happy with the new XM Bulbs. I'm using the 20k XM 250 watt Mogul and it looks great over my new 29 gallon tank. It will be at first really blue, but after about 2 weeks of running, it has gotten to a nice lighter blue/white.

I have not tried the AB bulbs, however.

- Elmo

[aquadoc]

I have had (2) 20k 250 hqi for over a year. Not only does it ad a great under the ocean blue look, but the actuall tempurature of the bulb is alittle cooler than the tempurature of the 10k hqi. Plus it make the color of pretty mutch any coral out there make you want to put on your shades. I use to have 10k bulbs before, the 20k's. When I switch to the 20k's I did not notice a growth difference, butt like I stated before it makes a big difference in color(a very good difference!!). The 20k is a LITTLE bit dimmer than the 10k, but nothing beats the ocean blue look, and the electrifying color of the many different corals out there.

I am currently using geiisemann(not sure if I spelled right) hqi Lamps,(not really impressed for the money.) I am actually fixing to order the 72''X12'' fixture from aqualine (AB), it will house (3) 250 hqi's, plus (4) 24 watt osram actinics. This way not only will the hqi's be in the fixture, but so will the compacts.( thus makeing it easy to remove the canopy when it is time to ad new fish, corals, etc.) I forgot to mention if ya'll haven't guessed already
that I"m going to use 20k's.(once you go 20k you'll never go back. That way you won't have any problems of haveing the dreaded blue spotts, from inadaquate lighting. Blue all the way across, will make your tank gloss.

Trust me 20k is the best. Both of my friends have 10k hqi's and when they come over and see mine, they tell me next time I buy a bulb it WILL be 20K!

I am going to post some pics out soon, so stay posted, so you can see what it looks. maybe then ya'll can decide.(you will not be dissapointed!)

All around the AB fixture is the best for the following reasons:
1. all light are incorporated in one fixture.
2. The cost!!
3. avalability of 10k or 20k hqi bulbs
4. adjustable fixture (when it is hanging you can move it up and down with ease)
5. Did I mention the cost.?
6. Geiissemann fixtures are difficult to change out bulbs, and the bulbs usually break(not just mine butt several friends, and severeal reef goers have also had this same problems)


There is probably more, but again the ease of haveing all the lights in one fixture is a REAL plus. Every one that has some type of retro kit will agree that cords going every witch way, isn't attractive.

Plus if you have your lights built into the canopy it will also be easier to take the canopy off if you get a simalir type fixture.

Any questions about anything feel free to ask, no one knows all, but if all were to ask then they would know.

Pics comeing soon. 125g + 25g refugium, calcium reactor, skimmer, etc!

I hope there is alot of helpfull info

[Reefland]

Hi aquadoc, Welcome to Reefland!

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I may also switch to a 20k just to see if there is any coral difference (although I really enjoy the appearance of our tank with just the 10k's and no supplements). What brand of 20k's are you running?

Scott Z.

[tonyb]

I ordered the XM 20k 150w bulbs about a week ago i should have them here in a day... im currently running the USHIO 10k bulbs.. i will take some comparison shots and post also.

[Elmo18]

Originally Posted by tonyb

I ordered the XM 20k 150w bulbs about a week ago i should have them here in a day... im currently running the USHIO 10k bulbs.. i will take some comparison shots and post also.

Make sure you burn in the XM 20k bulb before posting pics since it will be a lot bluer. After about 2 weeks of burn in, the XM's aren't all that blue, its just nice enough so that actinics weren't needed to achieve the bluish color.

- Elmo

[Reefland]

Alright guys, both of you said you would post some pictures and I'm anxiously waiting to see some comparison shots.

Scott Z.

[daltex]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Alright guys, both of you said you would post some pictures and I'm anxiously waiting to see some comparison shots.

Scott Z.

Same here !!

[tonyb]

i will try to post some in the next day or two... my digi is packed full of off road rally pics which i havent yet downloaded...

[Reefland]

We just ordered a couple of AB-20k 250w Double-Ended bulbs for our tank From Custom Aquatics, not a bad price when the Reefland Discount is figured in.

Once we get them, I will post some comparison shots.

Scott Z.

[tonyb]

heres a pic.... tank is lit with 2 150w DE XM 20k bulbs... and 1 48"NO actinic.

[Reefland]

Surprisingly, it doesn't appear that blue in the picture. Well the wall does but not the tank. Is the appearance in person more blue than the picture depicts?

Scott Z.