Lighting comparasons

[StirCrazy]

well I have been folowing pis of different lighting comparasons and I decide to take pics of all the different combanations of lights that I have on my tank.

first in the morning and late evening it is just actinics like anyone else I guess
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/01actiniconly.jpg

then after a hour my two PC's start up so this is the result from that
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/02PCandActinic.jpg

then after a couple hours my MH is added to the mix to simulate the hot afternoon
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/03MHandPCandActinic.jpg

then it reverses till night time.

a couple other combanations to show why I like the combanation of 3 different types of lights.

this is the MH and actinics
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/04MHandActinic.jpg

this is PC's only
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/05PcOnly.jpg

and this is the MH only
http://members.shaw.ca/islandaquatics/06MHonly.jpg

so I find that the MH on its own is to white, and with just adding actinic to the MH the color is nice but there are to many shadows. by adding the PC's the effect is the shadows are lightened and there is difused lighting which makes the whole tank seam brighter instead of just areas.

Steve

[Jack]

Hey Steve, looks nice anyway you put 'em. I think it would look nice with two metal halides though. Are you working on those dual 250's? You could always use that 175 for a refugium or have the 250's flank the 175 and use the PC's for a refugium.

I'm definatley stuck on whether to use the Iwasaki or the Ushio. What would you say. I'm really leaning towards the 10k aspect but I have heard Ushio bulbs screw up, shift colour, etc. somtimes. Didn't brad have a problem with his bulb, or was it another fault other than the bulb itself?

Keep the pics coming, I love pics and you are one of few that douses us with em.

Later.

[StirCrazy]

I am nopt a good one to ask about Iwasakis as I don't like the look of them.. I would say the 10K's Brads problem was he was using a normal ballast on a european bulb.. he has now switched ballasts and the results are quite impressive.. (but thats another post :wink: )

I am going to put the dual 250.00 up some time after christmas (got to save up some more for the ballasts :roll: then I think the 175 will go on the bottom tank and one of the PC's will go on the refuge.

Steve

[Aquattro]

Jack, as far as I can tell, the bulb is fine. I think it was a house power/ballast problem.
I just switched to the Son Agro ballasts and they are awesome! I get 38% more light out of them, and the color is nicer.
I tried a Iwasaki 400 on my tank and would never use them. That's just me though, 'cause lots do use them!

[Jack]

Brad, where did you get those ballasts and how much did they cost?

[Aquattro]

Jack, I got them in town for $86 ea. I think that price is available for anyone that asks. I can get them for you if you want some.