[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by TommDool

Because with the same equal watts you get the same effects, but with a way lower cost, as PC say they are 55, 95 or what ever but only draw a small amount of that rating.

My question is will 400w of PC compare to 400w of MH for penitration of deeper tanks, and colour?

any thoughts, Thanks

Yes he is trying to sell you something he has, and no they are definatly not equal.

as for power consumption that is not totaly true either 400 watts of NO, or VHO, or MH all take a min imum of 400 watts then you have to add on the amount the ballast consumes and disapates as heat. this is higher on a magnetinc MH ballast than the other two but not a great amount. for example my 250 watt HQI ballast consume a average of 291 watts whare my 247 watts of PC consume 268 watts so not realy much difference to speak of.

As for penatration I have tested a 10000K 96 watt PC against a 175 watt MH and a 250 watt MH and I can tell you the PAR at a depth of 12" from a PC was 1/2 that of the 175MH and 1/6 of what my 250 puts out.

for tank color, well this is a debatible area to me but I have found now that I prefer the color from a "GOOD" MH over PC's the major difference is the PC are a flat light and light everything fairly evenly where the MH are a dynamic light and cause large contrasting areas as well as make everything seam to ripple from reflections caused by surface movement, this is a very interesting effect in its self.

anyways I hope this is kinda the info you are looking for and I hope it helps.

Steve