Been a long time sence we had a lighting fact thread
 

Well I have some more test results. they are not from my tank but rather a person's tank that will remain un named (unless he wants to be knowen) anyways on with the Data.

Ushio 400 watt 10000K MH running on a M59 ballast
Left Bulb
12" = 402 PAR (7" air and 5" water)
27" = 146.49 PAR (7" air and 20" water)

Right Bulb
12" = 347 PAR (7" air and 5" water)
27" = 154 PAR (7" air and 20" water)

ballasts were changed to Son Agro ballasts
Left Bulb
12" = 555.21 PAR (7" air and 5" water)
27" = 316.1 PAR (7" air and 20" water)

Right Bulb
12" = 501 PAR (7" air and 5" water)
27" = couldent test at 27" this time because coral placement was shading the bottom.

as you can see there was a substantial increas in intensity and also the visual color was more white and more intense.

My plan is to take at least the 12" reading once a month and see how the intensity drops off over time.

Steve

http://jabot2000.homestead.com/files...cons/sleep.gif


oh...

just bumping your thread... :lol:

Wow!! I bet that un named person is really happy!!!

Anyone try the 20K yet?

Lee, if I can borrow a couple of Radiums, I'll test them with these new ballasts. Adam has one and Jeanna has two. I just need to trick one o fthem into bringing their bulbs here :D

brad, I'd be fully willing but you know how scetchy my bulb is with the chip..

Nice numbers you got going there..

Adam, you're bulb is kinda scary with all that rattling inside it. Probably not wise to cart t around too much. If you don't mind taking the risk, I'd like to see what it looks like with these ballasts.

Question, are the Son Agro ballasts indeed not a 430 watt ballast, is this not bad for the bulb to be overdriven in this manner?

Also ... aren't they a sodium ballast, I thought you need a striker or a starter in order for MH to work properly?

thanks

Tony, they are indeed a 430w HPS ballast. I am told that they do not overdrive the bulbs, but rather are the closest N. American ballast available for these bulbs. They do come with the ingnitor required for the Ushio 10k bulbs.
In all honesty, if my bulb life is shortened by month or two, I don't care.

I'm sorry -- does the ignitor come standard with this ballast (if you buy it anywhere, ie., hydroponics store), or do you have to buy the ballast somewhere special and they will give you the ignitor if you tell them it's for a MH bulb?