The upgrade!
 

Well it seems like it was enevitable but I just had to get a bigger tank. I ran out of room and all I have are small colonies and frags.

It's a SeaStar 120g and it should be up and running in a few days.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/sho....php?photo=572

sucker for punishment, eh? :razz:

:lol:

Now I'm not sure if I want to go to 400's... then 400's mean chiller. Ah well, it's only money. :eek:

Jack, as long as your suite doesn't get too warm in the summer, you could probably get by without a chiller. But then some people think 400w are a waste of watts anyway, so maybe just go with 250w. Sure, they're girl lights, but some people like them ! :razz:

Don't make me!!

I wouldn't think of making you. If you want girl lights, you go right ahead!!

:rolleyes:

400's it is. :wink:

so when does your chiller arive :mrgreen:

Doh!

Look what you guys are doing to me. :razz:

get good HQI ballast and 250 watt AB's then you'll make all the 400 watt bulbs out there look like little school girl bulbs :mrgreen:

Jack, you knew Steve would try to sell you his girl lights, right? Listen to real reefers...go big or go home!! Besides, chillers are cool!

250 HQI DE setups are just way too expensive.

We'll see what I can do.

i have a chiller for you :biggrin:

Awesome. Thanks Aaron. Get in touch with me I don't have your #'s.

chiller
 

Is there a pretty good chance you'll need a chiller if you're running 400W? What advantage do you get running 400W's over 250W's if the k rating is the same?

What are you going to do with your old tank?

Re: chiller
 

K rating has very little to do with anything other than esthetic's.
400W will produce more intense light further into the tank.

Re: chiller
 

it also depends weather you are talking about a normal 250 watt or a HQI 250 watt. In my opinion depending on the bulb a 250 watt HQI set up will have more intensity than 90% of the 400 watt setups.

Steve

Steve, Can you show me proof that 90% of 250's have more intensity then 400's ? I have yet to read any data that states this. Only that for the slight increase the 400's offer 250's are a energy wise choice.

Want it? :mrgreen:

ok you missed part of the quote. 250 watt HQI, not just 250 watt and also
I said "depending on the bulb"..

um for ones I have tested ya.. I have tested 4, 400 watt set ups now and they were all lower then what I got on my AB's. I the only one that was close was a iwasaki and I think if it would have had a better reflector it would have been higher.

I have not found a bulb that gives me as high as a number as the SE AB's and I would not say this would be true using SA, ushio, XM ect.. as I have not tried those bulbs. But I know the 250 radium run on a HQI ballast puts out more PAR than a 400 watt radium on a son agro ballast by almost 20%....

Steve

So what you are saying is you've tested 4-400 setups? Are you stating that you tested these bulbs at others homes or in a controlled testing enviroment? Using same reflector as well as same distance/angle of bulb to testing device? I never missed any of your quote, I've just never read anything that would suggest your statement is true.

What 90% are you refering to?

I think hes refering to 90% of all the 400watters out there... i dont think he means its 90% more intense..

Richie, I do understand what Steve is saying, Again I just don't agree with him.

Jack... Good work!!

Are you adding anymore hardware with the upgrade?

Lookin nice Jack :)

You better be getting a second job for all that salt, or Wendell's paying you too much :razz:

Jack I've ordered a Hamilton 250w DE HQI set up, $325. If you want to see it let me know. (hope to have it soon).

Doug

hey doug,
care to share more info on your 250W HQI set up?
is it a pendant? come with bulb? what k rating?
$325 all in (tax/shipping)?
thnx :mrgreen:

it's a hamilton enclosed pendant with a 14,000k bulb, there seems to be some trouble with shipping but when it comes in I'll let you know what it's like.

Doug

Did the switch... long day. Pics to come. :mrgreen:

cool.
you shoulda called me, i coulda helped ya out.

doug my man,
you get your hamilton yet?
i'm itchin to see them 14k DEs!

Shao, No I had to put that on hold, they did come in though and the unit looked awesome. A new transimission in the car took care of my lighting project for a short while. I'll find out if he still has the unit in stock though. BTW, They did get in a number of DE bulbs and some mogul bulbs.

Doug