anyone using color filters?

[dieselboy]

hello all,
with all the debating regarding the 400W Iwasaki vs. 250 10KK HQI, I recalled an old article from R. Harker about using blue color filters to correct 6500 lamps to around 10KK color. For me, this would be the best solution, the sheer power from the Iwasaki with the color of a 10KK or 20KK. Has anyone done this (obvious problems aside), and if so, which filters did you use? Thanks all....

[organicreefer]

you can find color filters at a photo supply store they would work perfectly but the uv rays put off by youre halide would bleach the filter so youd have to replace it often and there not that cheap i was considering this option myself but decided against it.why would you want to color correct a 6500 k lamp its already the right spectrum just add actinics hte reason i was considering it was to use 4500k bulbs (cheap) and color correct to 10000k rosco makes color correction gels check it outsorry i dont know how to make the blue link thingie)




http:stagelighting.com/rosco.html//www.

[Rin]

Use of a color filter would be counter-productive to the benefits of the 6,500k bulb. You'll effectively filter out the spectrums that make this bulb a benefit to the aquarium. Additionally, the intensity of the bulb will be reduced across the enter spectrum as some of the energy will either be absorbed by the material or reflected away from the tank.

HTH

[dieselboy]

Thank you organicreefer and Rin,

I don't really have a problem with the reduction in PAR, as I have 2X400W Iwasaki 6500K's over a 50 gal. Some say it's overkill...LOL. The rationale behind filtering the bulbs is to try and replicate the color temp of a 10KK or 20KK bulb, while keeping the high intensity of the Iwasaki bulb (I'm doing an SPS pigment experiment, is there a causal relationship with light spectrum and SPS colors?). Growth I can get with the Iwasakis. Spectacular pigments brought about by using 10KK, 12KK and 20KK bulbs, I can't. Although I am quite aware of the reduction of output due to the filters, it is my understanding that even with the filtered Iwasaki's output, its PAR emission would still be higher than of said bulbs. Having used 6500K Iwasakis for almost 7 years now, I am aware of what they can do and what results I can expect, but have never had the desire to use Ushio/Aqualine/Hamilton 10KK's or Radium/Osram 20KK's due to their inferior light output. This is my way to try to experience the best of both worlds. In short, my goal is to have intense "blue" lights.

[organicreefer]

rin is right the use of a color filter will filter part of the spectrum thereby reducing the total amount of light.the higher you go in color temp the more light filteredthe thing is finding the bulb that puts out the most light(lumens / par im not sure since youre filtering to a more usable spectrum wouldnt par to lumens ratio be a little higher im in above my head on this)and a filter that gets you to an acceptable color temp whilie only filtering a small amount of light on the rosco home page (not the address i posted)they have chart color filters specifically made to raise 4500k bulbs to different color temps an show the percentage of light filtered...if a 4500k bulb puts out more total light than an iwasaki(more par?)and you filter 30% of that light to get to 10000K you might end up with a 10000k lamp with a little more par than a true 10000k lamp if you follow up on this and find out more let me know