150 20k vs. 400 20k

[chromis]

I have narrowed my lighting choices for a 55 sps and clam tank to 2 fixtures. The first choice is 2 x 400 20k in champion pendants with blueline ballasts. The second choice is the 318-120 Aquahalide by Azoo. This fixture has 2 x 150 20k double ended bulbs in a sleek hanging fixture. The second choice is cheaper, for the bulbs and initially but I like the Osram Radiums as well. Which would you choose?


thanks
Andrew

[Ninong]

chromis ~

Points for consideration:

• 20KK 400w Osram/Radium = 110.2 PPFD on PFO HQI ballast (no RFI or MRI intereference).
  
• 20KK 400w Osram/Radium = 114.2 PPFD Blueline ballast (ballast has tons of RFI & MRI making it a poor choice with X10 controllers, etc.)
  
• 20KK 400w Osram/Radium lamps = $119 ea, and since they lose 50% of output in one year, they should be replaced at 6 - 9 months.
  
• 20KK 150w dbl-end HQI (mfg?) = $69 ea (Taikong Corp-AZOO) and probably last longer than the 400w Osram/Radium mogul base lamps. Rough guess = $476 every 14 months for fixture with 2*400w Osram/Radium 20KK mogul base lamps vs. $138 every 14 months for fixture with 2*150w 20KK dbl-end lamps. The 150w dbl-end lamps may go longer than 14 months, I don't know.
  
• PPFD for 150w 20KK HQI dbl-end lamps = I don't know, do you? Possibly as high as 50-60 PPFD.
  
• Who makes the 150w 20KK HQI dbl-end lamps that are supplied with the AZOO fixtures? I don't know, do you? Vendor claims they are made by AZOO (Taikong Corp. of Taiwan), but I never believe the vendors because they usually lie.
  
• You don't really need 2*400w lamps for a 55-gal tank. My choice would be 2*150w HQI dbl-end lamps, but I would lean towards the 150w 10,000K HQI dbl-end lamps which are a known commodity (at least to me). The AB-Aqualine 150w 10,000K dbl-end lamp is actually 13,000K (AB-10000 is just the product name, not the actual Kelvin temp) and it is rated at 8,000 hrs vs. 6,000 hrs for their 250w version. Ushio/BLV also makes a 150w 10,000K dbl-end lamp (rated at 8,000 hrs) that is actually 12,000K. This lamp has been tested and the write-up was extremely favorable, both in performance and long life.
  
• AZOO fixtures are not that cheap. You can get the same thing in an AB-Aqualine fixture for less money. AB-Aqualine even offers a fixture with 2*150w 10,000K HQI dbl-end lamps plus 2*24w Osram actinic PCs in the middle on a separate power cord. Check them out here: www.ab-aqualine.de Reefland says he will be carrying these fixtures very soon http://www.reefland.com/cgi-bin/miva..._Code=Aqualine so you could check with him about prices or you could check www.customaquatic.com

Ninong

P.S. - I don't know what you're paying for the 318-120 Aquahalide but it's shown as $699 at www.petwhse.com By comparison, I paid less than that for my AB-Aqualine Aquastarlight Future with 2*250w 10KK HQI dbl-end lamps plus moonlight on a separate power cord. But the Aquaspacelight, with PC actinics instead of moonlight, is a better choice for someone who does not already have actinics for supplementation.

[chromis]

thanks Ninong I really like how the bulbs are cheaper and last longer w/ HQI. I can get the 20k Osram Radium bulbs for $106 from Mike Parkis. I am concerned that I will not get the same coloration and growth as I will with the 400 watt Osram Radium. I talked to Donny at champion lighting today and he thinks I might be able to get away with one 400 Osram/ Radium. I know Naser used one 400 over a 55 with good results. I do have one of those crappy plastic cross bars though... I dunno, I guess I need to think about it for a while.


thanks again,
Andrew

[Ninong]

OK, here's my .02 cents. Again!

Forget about the 400w 20KK lamps over a 55-gal tank... for one thing, these cost too much when you consider how often they have to be replaced. For another thing, two lamps would look much better over a 4-ft long tank with a brace in the middle.

BTW, 500 watts of 10,000K HQI dbl-ends yields MORE total PAR than 800 watts of Osram/Radium 20,000K HQI mogul base lamps (257 PPFD vs. 220 PPFD). But you really don't even need the 250w size for a 55-gal tank, the 150 watt size would be more than adequate. Also, I believe it is possible to run either 10,000K or 20,000K 150w HQI dbl-end lamps in the AB-Aqualine fixtures, but that is something that should be double checked to be sure.

Personally, I think that the perfect HQI fixture for your tank would be an AB-Aqualine Aquaspacelight with 2*150w 10,000K HQI dbl-end lamps plus 2*24w Osram actinic PCs in the middle. You would have a gorgeous tank!!!

Ninong

P.S. - If you want to go with more PAR than you really need, just get the same fixture with the 250w size lamps.

[chromis]

Ninong, thanks again I know that the HQIs have more PAR then the 20k Osram/ Radium, so do the iwasakis but I am really worried how my sps will color up under these lights. Also, I assume the 20k HQI have less PAR then the 10k HQI? Either way I like overkill so I will probably get the 250 watt version. The only disadvantage I see with HQI is that I will have to get the whole thing at once(Christmas) but I guess my tank willl be ready for some corals by then.

thanks again. youve really helped me make my decision
Andrew


PS, can I ask where you got your lights for cheaper then $699?

[Bubafat]

Another thing to add, I hope you REALLY like blue, cause thats all you'll get with the 20kk's. I like them as they do an excent job of supplimenting Iwasaki's, which is what I use them for, but they are REALLY, REALLY blue, even on a HQI ballast (I use the 400w'ers).

Just my 2 cents.

Have fun.

Buba