50,000K Bulb Test Results

[Reef Engineer]

For those of you that are interested, Dana Riddle has provided some information on his testing of the Iwasaki 50,000K bulb at the following location:

http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/l...nical_data.htm

There really doesn't seem to be that much information there and initial PAR readings are substantially lower than its 6500K counterpart.

Randy

[PerryinCA]

Thanks for the link. I bet they look great in combination with some 10k's, or even the 6500k. Can't wait till they are more readily available, have to get some to play with.

-Perry

[reptilicus]

Cheers Randy,
I am actually having a major dilemma about lights at the moment (as I have had for many years ) At the moment I use 10000K BLV 400W bulbs, they are very good. I've used Iwasaki, but didn't really like them. I've been following an interesting thread on RC lately and am interested in tying 20000K bulbs. I have a 3x2x2 SPS tank, and I'm just worried with one 400W that a single 20000K may be too dim.
I'd be interested to see what a combination of 6500K and 50000K Iwasaki looks like. Where are these bulbs available from and how much do they cost?
Also, looking at the spectrum, it doesn't look like 50000K, but then again many 10000K bulbs aren't really 10000K either are they.
Regards,
Tom

[PerryinCA]

I am convinced that all the lamps kelvin ratings are BS. I think there is no argument there. The Iwasaki is closer to 8k, the 10 AB is over 11k, the Ushio is over 11, the 12k is closer to 15k, the coralife 10k is closer to 20k....ect.

AB admits freely that they use the 10k as a model number and it doesn't reflect the true kelvin rating.

As for the Iwasaki's, I am interested in removing a couple of my actinics and trying those out. I wonder if they cause coral "flourescence"? Anyone know? I like that look with the actinic dawn/dusk.

-Perry