MH Growth and Coloration Tests

[ATLANTIS]

I suspect one of the most hotly debated subjects in Reefkeeping is Marine Reef Lighting. I am an advocate of MH lighting for SPS corals.

I have begun a test of 2 of the more popular MH bulb brands, Ushio & Iwasaki.

Details of my test can be found at: http://www.atlantisaquatic.com/lightingtest.html

All input is welcome.

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Brian
Atlantis Aquatics
Tank Aquacultured Corals
http://atlantisaquatic.com

[tendar]

Go Iswaki, show us what you got.

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Buy propigated corals
Its never big enough

[reefland]

Excellent study Brian! Any chance on getting notifications of updates with your e-mailing?

[ATLANTIS]

yes,
I will post any updates in my newsletter and on the boards [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Brian
Atlantis Aquatics
Tank Aquacultured Corals
http://atlantisaquatic.com

[Ninong]

Thanks, Brian, very interesting. But since there is such a huge difference in intensity between the two lamps you are testing, should the frags grow faster under the 400w Iwasaki lamps, it could be attributed to intensity by those who hold that intensity is the dominant factor in growth--which it probably is. If there is a noticeable difference in coloration, particularly if the Iwasaki lamps seem to somehow produce more coloration, it will be difficult to determine if the difference is due to intensity or spectral distribution of the light.

It would be great if you could also set up a 250w 6500K Iwasaki lamp for comparison with a Ushio/BLV 250w 10,000K HQI double-ended lamp. These lamps are very similar in intensity and very different in spectral distribution. In fact, the Ushio/BLV 250w 10,000K HQI double-ended lamp tested at considerably more PPFD (PAR) than the Ushio/BLV 400w 10,000K mogul base lamp that you are using. PerryinCA is actually running his own sort of experiment right now over his 90-gal tank. He is running an Iwasaki 250w 6500K lamp on one side of his tank and a Ushio/BLV 250w 10,000K HQI double-ended lamp on the other side--both run on the IceCap MHI ballasts that are tuned for Iwasaki lamps. One interesting thing that he has noticed already is that if he takes a frag from the Iwasaki side of the tank and moves it to the HQI double-ended side of the tank, the color appears entirely different instantly. In some cases it is an entirely different color.

Keep us posted on the results.

Ninong [img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Irrational Exuberance!

[ATLANTIS]

Ninong,
nice idea.
please send the ballasts and lamps as soon as possible so I can start this phase of the test [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
I also notice coloration changes of similar corals under the 2 lights. My page shows this a little.

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Brian
Atlantis Aquatics
Tank Aquacultured Corals
http://atlantisaquatic.com

[ATLANTIS]

I have posted this information on many BB's and have gotten some great input and questions.

As a result of this new input and questions, I have updated the page with new comparative pics and much more background information
http://www.atlantisaquatic.com/lightingtest.html

Keep the input coming [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]


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Brian
Atlantis Aquatics
Tank Aquacultured Corals
http://atlantisaquatic.com