20000k without the hqi ballast?

[naser]

anyone do this? alot of people say you can only run them with the hqi ballast. some say there not as bright but you can do it on a regular ballast. let me know please id like to get those bulbs if i dont have to replace the ballast.thanks.

[Ninong]

Hi naser ~

I'm only replying because you don't seem to be getting any other responses; probably because very few folks on this board are using 20,000K lamps and those who are probably have HQI ballasts as recommended. Yes, you can run them on regular ballasts but you will have about a 20% drop in output.

Ninong

[naser]

i heard the same but marinedepot says they dont know. so i figured id see if anyone runs them.

[Ninong]

naser ~

Is this for your 55-gal tank? I don't know if I would switch to 2*400w 20,000K lamps if I were you. Are you still running 1*10,000K and 1*6500K?

Here's another point to remember: the 20,000K Osram/Radium lamps last only half as long as either the 10,000K or the 6500K lamps. A 400w 10,000K lamp loses only about 29% of its intensity in 2 years according to tests performed by Sanjay Joshi a couple of years ago. The 6500K tested equally as well but the 20,000K Osram/Radium lamps lost 40% of their intensity after only 1 year. This caused Sanjay to recommend that the 10,000K and 6500K lamps could be run for 18 months (instead of the customary 12 months) but that the 20,000K Osram/Radium lamps should be replaced at 8 to 9 months.

You should also know that all metal halide lamps lose more intensity in the blue/violet range as they age, which is what causes the perceived shift in color. Maybe this is why the 20,000K lamps lose more intensity faster--they have more of it in the blue/violet range to begin with.

Considering the depth of your tank, why not just go with 2*10,000K lamps? I think the 20,000K lamps look great in combination with 10,000K or even 6500K lamps, but alone they look too blue for me.

Ninong

[Ironreef]

another thing is hqi burns the bulb 20% more par but it may shorten the life of the bulb.This is for bulbs not true hqi= double end. But dunno if thats correct info just whats going around. But it makes sence to me. So you may not really benift with hqi if the bulb wears out faster?Unless you replace them often. There really isn't much info. i belive regular mh will be good unless you plan on running true hqi

[naser]

im thinking more along the lines of coloration?but the 10k keeps the blue pretty blue and the 6500k is brand new so im still waiting the burn in time. anyone else have the 6500kiwasaki 400watt? hows your color?