Venture 55k 400 watt

[petpoor]

Was wondering if anyone is using a 400 watt 55k Venture bulb and how do they like the color of it? I am using 175 watt Venture's now and they seem alot whiter in color than my 400 watt Iwasaki's.
Tom

[Papa Doug]

I must agree with you. Here is a shot of mine.

[Papa Doug]

Sorry, Forgot the rest of the post, . Its a 400 watt Venture 55K, over the center of my 48in. by 32in. tank.

[petpoor]

Doug,
Thanks for the reply, how happy are you with the coloration and growth of your corals under this bulb? I think I may get one to try they are cheap enough that if I don't like it I haven't lost a lot.
Tom

[Papa Doug]

I am happy so far. But its still early in the trial run. My sps were growing nice, and had a very nice colour, under the 400w 12K, plus the pair of 175w 10K,s.

The 55K is all alone, but much more intense. Cost is also an important reason, I decided to try this. I broke it down on a post on RC. Something like this.

400w 12K- $200 Canadian
175w 10K,s- $350 Canadian
Total= $550/year bulb replacement costs.

versus/ 400w 55K- $90 Canadian
Total= $90/year to year & half replacement costs.

This test is a good comparison for sps corals, as I have the results form the other, [ higher K ], lighting for comparison. I am watching close, growth & colour of the sps frags. Trying to keep all other parameters the same.

My corals do get a lot of food though, the tank has a high specific gravity, and a high alk. level, which also has been talked about, as having an effect on sps colouration and growth. If this is true, then my corals should remain the same, regardless of bulb colour, as long as its intense enough.

[organicreefer]

i started with a 55k 400w bulb used it for a couple months(didnt like the color),switched to a 12k,and now im gonna try a 65k.my 55k bulb is in the closet if anyone is interested

[naser]

the iwasaki's are only 60 bucks. thats the cheapest bulb by far. its amazing that each bulb is almost identical. however fill it with a different burning gas mixture all the sudden you tripled your income. or in our case tripled our loses.

[Papa Doug]

Iwasaki,s are $120 Canadian, as compared to $90 for the 55K 400w. Also, the 400-55K is much whiter than my 400-65K. I have not tried the new Iwasaki bulbs though.