HQI mini pendants.....Parallel or Perpendicular?

chromis · 08-22-2001, 06:59 PM

umm, whats an x10 controller?

JG · 08-22-2001, 07:13 PM

It's a little module (got mine at radio shack) that turns all your equipment off and on. Also works as a timer.

**golfish** · 08-22-2001, 09:11 PM

John,
I was not impressed with the lights or the corals. Its very hard to tell on a open top system like he runs. SPS need time to "color up" so I can't say anything bad other then not being impressed. These guys know a hec of a lot more then I.

Mark

Nanook01 · 08-23-2001, 01:49 AM

Hey Golfish,

I am considering adding a 400w 10000k bulb and PFO over the center cross brace of the 120g, it has plenty of PAR along with my HQI and the color should be pretty close to the HQI. What do you think of this scenario, with the extra heat, am I going to wish I hadn't done this???

Thanks,

Nanook

Nanook01 · 08-23-2001, 03:31 AM

Hey Golfish, I tried to edit that last post but couldn't. I did a little more research and it seems that the Blueline E-ballast give the most PAR for the 400w USHIO bulb. So scratch the PFO. What's your opinion on this setup??

Nanook

Nanook01 · 08-23-2001, 03:36 AM

Another Q for you Mark. How many degrees did the 400w add to the tank? Thanks,

dave

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 05:08 AM

Dave,
I can't really give you an answer on how many degrees my tank temp increased. I can say this, with all the fans going and the house temp set at 78 the temp slowly rises from 80 to 83...today the temp reached 83.5....If you have central air and are ready to add more fans the 400 watter should not be a problem. If you don't have central air its probably going to be a problem.

You wont get near the par from a 10K bulb as you would a 6.5K. If lighting the center of the tank is your only concern then go for the 10K. If you plan to have SPS under this light the your corals might not do to well. If the E-ballast will light a 6.5K bulb(I don't think so) then go for it. If not then I would use a PFO standard ballast just in case you want to switch bulbs later.

Mark

Nanook01 · 08-23-2001, 06:25 AM

Hey Golfish, do you think that SPS don't like the 10k or is it just not enough PAR with the cross brace blocking the way?

I checked out the reports by Sanjay Joshi, it looks like the magnetic ballast and MV ballast burned the 400 watt Iwasaki with the most PPFD. So, based on this information, the standard PFO ballast would be the way to to. The PPFD is 187 with the magnetic ballast, which is the PFO, right? Thanks,

nanook

JG · 08-23-2001, 11:04 AM

Now I'm thinking about selling the HQI's, and just using two 400w Iwasaki's run on a PFO EYE ballast....damn I'm indecisive

Not sure how the bulbs will look on the EYE ballast, instead of the normal MH ballast. I also wonder if four, 110w VHO actinics will balance the color out enough. I could add another couple VHO's though.

I just don't understand why some tanks I look at with 400w iwasaki's look great, and others look like pea soup. I don't mind a *warm* looking tank, I just hate a tank with a green tint to it. I think I actualy prefer the *warm look* to the *opertaing room* of stark white 10k's

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 07:21 PM

Dave,
You would get more par from a 250 watt Iwasaki then you would the 400 watt 10K. People say the 250 watter is a crisp white ran on a PFO standard ballast. I have read the PFO EYE (MV) ballast burns the Iwasaki a little less yellow. I don't think its worth giving up the ability to swap bulbs for a little lss yellow.

John,

4 actinc VHO's should do the trick,

JG · 08-23-2001, 07:33 PM

Mark,

You think the two 400w Iwasaki's(on an *EYE* ballast), and four 110w actinics is my best option here?

I guess I could always add an extra two actinics to that if need be...three in the front, three in the back.

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 07:49 PM

tell me more about your tank. Do you have a cross bar?

JG · 08-23-2001, 10:25 PM

Mark,

Yeah, its a standard 120g Oceanic show tank. 11" crossbar made from glass.

Anything in particular you won't to know about it?

JG · 08-23-2001, 10:27 PM

BTW, just emailed Jason at PA...he said the new 400w Iwasaki's are supposed to be more white....quote "I haven't seen the new Iwaski bulb in action yet, but it's suppose to be close to a 10K now."

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 10:38 PM

I know you have the 2x250 watt HQI's. I would just add another bulb over the cross bar. I haven't heard anything about the 400 watt Iwasaki's looking more white. I hope so.

JG · 08-23-2001, 10:49 PM

Yeah, I sure hope so too. He said the new Iwasaki's supposedly look like 10k's....we'll see.

Gonna order my LR from Jeff's next week. Figure I'll give it a 2 week cure before adding it to the new tank.

JG · 08-23-2001, 10:51 PM

BTW, he also said the *EYE* ballast comsumes twice the amps as the regular MH ballast...does that sound right??

**golfish** · 08-23-2001, 11:33 PM

Never ever heard that about the MV ballast using more juice. I wonder if Perry's out there.

Mark

PerryinCA · 08-24-2001, 04:49 PM

Perry is here for a minute.

Don't have a computer setup at my place in Sac yet, and just grabbing some stuff from my folks place in Livermore.

The answer to the Amp draw is a simple one. The EYE ballast draws twice as much, but its only for the ignition of the lamp. Consumption after the firing will be very similar. If you are running near the breaker max, I would stay away from the EYE, or just have them start about 5min from eachother. Personally I would get the regular PFO due to the flexibility of the ballast.

FWIW, Tubs is running a similar setup JG, and his tank looks awesome. I think he has 3 VHO, 4 would look great as well. Check out some of his recent pics. Coloration is awesome.

-Perry

JG · 08-24-2001, 05:29 PM

Sweet,

Looks like I'm going to go with the dual 400w Iwasaki on the regular PFO MH ballast. Also with four 110w VHO actinics.

Someonbe wants to buy one of my HQI setups, so I'll probably sell the other also.

08-23-2001, 01:49 AM	#24
Nanook01 Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: st. louis, MO Posts: 89	Hey Golfish, I am considering adding a 400w 10000k bulb and PFO over the center cross brace of the 120g, it has plenty of PAR along with my HQI and the color should be pretty close to the HQI. What do you think of this scenario, with the extra heat, am I going to wish I hadn't done this??? Thanks, Nanook __________________ The wind blew, the **** flew and then they came two by two.

08-23-2001, 03:31 AM	#25
Nanook01 Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: st. louis, MO Posts: 89	Hey Golfish, I tried to edit that last post but couldn't. I did a little more research and it seems that the Blueline E-ballast give the most PAR for the 400w USHIO bulb. So scratch the PFO. What's your opinion on this setup?? Nanook __________________ The wind blew, the **** flew and then they came two by two.

08-23-2001, 03:36 AM	#26
Nanook01 Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: st. louis, MO Posts: 89	Another Q for you Mark. How many degrees did the 400w add to the tank? Thanks, dave __________________ The wind blew, the **** flew and then they came two by two.

08-23-2001, 06:25 AM	#28
Nanook01 Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: st. louis, MO Posts: 89	Hey Golfish, do you think that SPS don't like the 10k or is it just not enough PAR with the cross brace blocking the way? I checked out the reports by Sanjay Joshi, it looks like the magnetic ballast and MV ballast burned the 400 watt Iwasaki with the most PPFD. So, based on this information, the standard PFO ballast would be the way to to. The PPFD is 187 with the magnetic ballast, which is the PFO, right? Thanks, nanook __________________ The wind blew, the **** flew and then they came two by two.

08-23-2001, 11:04 AM	#29
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	Now I'm thinking about selling the HQI's, and just using two 400w Iwasaki's run on a PFO EYE ballast....damn I'm indecisive Not sure how the bulbs will look on the EYE ballast, instead of the normal MH ballast. I also wonder if four, 110w VHO actinics will balance the color out enough. I could add another couple VHO's though. I just don't understand why some tanks I look at with 400w iwasaki's look great, and others look like pea soup. I don't mind a warm looking tank, I just hate a tank with a green tint to it. I think I actualy prefer the warm look to the opertaing room of stark white 10k's Last edited by JG; 08-23-2001 at 04:45 PM.

08-22-2001, 06:59 PM	#21
chromis Mayor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lynchburg, Virginia Posts: 518	umm, whats an x10 controller?

08-22-2001, 07:13 PM	#22
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	It's a little module (got mine at radio shack) that turns all your equipment off and on. Also works as a timer.

08-22-2001, 09:11 PM	#23
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	John, I was not impressed with the lights or the corals. Its very hard to tell on a open top system like he runs. SPS need time to "color up" so I can't say anything bad other then not being impressed. These guys know a hec of a lot more then I. Mark

08-23-2001, 05:08 AM	#27
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	Dave, I can't really give you an answer on how many degrees my tank temp increased. I can say this, with all the fans going and the house temp set at 78 the temp slowly rises from 80 to 83...today the temp reached 83.5....If you have central air and are ready to add more fans the 400 watter should not be a problem. If you don't have central air its probably going to be a problem. You wont get near the par from a 10K bulb as you would a 6.5K. If lighting the center of the tank is your only concern then go for the 10K. If you plan to have SPS under this light the your corals might not do to well. If the E-ballast will light a 6.5K bulb(I don't think so) then go for it. If not then I would use a PFO standard ballast just in case you want to switch bulbs later. Mark

08-23-2001, 07:21 PM	#30
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	Dave, You would get more par from a 250 watt Iwasaki then you would the 400 watt 10K. People say the 250 watter is a crisp white ran on a PFO standard ballast. I have read the PFO EYE (MV) ballast burns the Iwasaki a little less yellow. I don't think its worth giving up the ability to swap bulbs for a little lss yellow. John, 4 actinc VHO's should do the trick,

08-23-2001, 07:33 PM	#31
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	Mark, You think the two 400w Iwasaki's(on an EYE ballast), and four 110w actinics is my best option here? I guess I could always add an extra two actinics to that if need be...three in the front, three in the back.

08-23-2001, 07:49 PM	#32
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	tell me more about your tank. Do you have a cross bar?

08-23-2001, 10:25 PM	#33
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	Mark, Yeah, its a standard 120g Oceanic show tank. 11" crossbar made from glass. Anything in particular you won't to know about it?

08-23-2001, 10:27 PM	#34
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	BTW, just emailed Jason at PA...he said the new 400w Iwasaki's are supposed to be more white....quote "I haven't seen the new Iwaski bulb in action yet, but it's suppose to be close to a 10K now."

08-23-2001, 10:38 PM	#35
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	I know you have the 2x250 watt HQI's. I would just add another bulb over the cross bar. I haven't heard anything about the 400 watt Iwasaki's looking more white. I hope so.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

08-23-2001, 10:49 PM	#36
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	Yeah, I sure hope so too. He said the new Iwasaki's supposedly look like 10k's....we'll see. Gonna order my LR from Jeff's next week. Figure I'll give it a 2 week cure before adding it to the new tank.

08-23-2001, 10:51 PM	#37
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	BTW, he also said the EYE ballast comsumes twice the amps as the regular MH ballast...does that sound right??

08-23-2001, 11:33 PM	#38
golfish Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Alta Loma,Ca Posts: 2,943	Never ever heard that about the MV ballast using more juice. I wonder if Perry's out there. Mark

08-24-2001, 04:49 PM	#39
PerryinCA Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 2,103	Perry is here for a minute. Don't have a computer setup at my place in Sac yet, and just grabbing some stuff from my folks place in Livermore. The answer to the Amp draw is a simple one. The EYE ballast draws twice as much, but its only for the ignition of the lamp. Consumption after the firing will be very similar. If you are running near the breaker max, I would stay away from the EYE, or just have them start about 5min from eachother. Personally I would get the regular PFO due to the flexibility of the ballast. FWIW, Tubs is running a similar setup JG, and his tank looks awesome. I think he has 3 VHO, 4 would look great as well. Check out some of his recent pics. Coloration is awesome. -Perry

08-24-2001, 05:29 PM	#40
JG Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 630	Sweet, Looks like I'm going to go with the dual 400w Iwasaki on the regular PFO MH ballast. Also with four 110w VHO actinics. Someonbe wants to buy one of my HQI setups, so I'll probably sell the other also.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode