metal halide

Here are testing specs from a friend of mine, Dr Sanjay Joshi who is regarded as an independant lighting expert who had tested hundreds of Metal Halide bulbs. All of his tests are done at a specific distance under the exact same laboratory circumstances. All measurements are made at 18” from the centerline of the lamp to the top of the sensor dome. Licor Spectroradiometer LI-800 is used to make the measurements.


Ballast Type - Power Watts - PPFD/PAR - CCT - Efficiency PPFD/Watt

Iwasaki 175W Aqua2 14000K Mogul Base performance on all ballasts
ARO (E) - 175 - 86.9 - 13794 - 0.4966
Icecap (E) - 165 - 86.8 - 14565 - 0.5261
EVC (E) - 178 - 87.2 - 14565 - 0.4899
Magnetic (M57) - 189 - 71.5 - 15215 - 0.3783

CoralVue 250W Reeflux 12000K performance on all ballasts
Magnetic - 263 - 45.2 - NA - 0.1719
Reef Fanatic (E) - 262 - 52 - NA - 0.1985
EVC (E) - 269 - 54.4 - NA - 0.2022
Icecap (E) - 255 - 51.1 - NA - 0.2004
Blueline (E) - 255 - 48.1 - NA - 0.1886
PFO-HQI (E) - 335 - 74.7 - NA - 0.2230

Here are some other well known 250 watt bulbs that tested out at less PPFD/PAR than the Iwasaki Aqua2.
Aquaconnect 250W 14000K Mogul/Icecap ballast - 83
Ushio 250W 10000K Mogul/Icecap ballast - 85
Hamilton 250W 14000K Mogul/Icecap ballast - 69
XM 250W 15000K/Icecap ballast - 47
Aqualine Buschke 250W 10000K Mogul/Icecap ballast - 77

Much of Dr Sanjays testing data can be found here:
search | Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine

 

What they are saying is correct. I do not have any numbers on hand but I have spoke to a few respected people about this and they have used or currently use this bulb.

Remember guitarman, PAR is not everything either. It is more about the spectral output of a particular bulb (the intensity of specific wavelengths put out). And the iwasaki bulbs generally put out very good numbers in this category, as well as high PAR.

 

Will height play a role depending on what watt MH bulb you will be using? Of course heat playing a role on the height also.

 

My 10k Coralvue had a nice crisp white blue hue. The soft corals did good with them. The new 14K are much bluer and the corals a opening up MUCH more now. I actually think the 10k were a little better looking. The 14k seem to be getting even more blue each day... the first day they looked perfect.. but Im starting to think they may be a little more blue for my taste.

 

Are you talking height of the tank or distance of the fixture to the water surface? Wattage is not always a good measuring term as there are 400 watt bulbs that this Iwasaki will blow away. Of course they are crap bulbs.

 

Exactly. I was very close to trying some of those cheaper bulbs seen on ebay, but I knew the coralvue I had already were high quality so for less then 20 bucks its worth just going with a quality brand.

 

Yes I was referring to the distance of the bulb from the water. Are there recommendations? I have mine approximately 15 inches from the surface and my tank is 79 degrees at the most and thats with my AC at 78 degrees.

 

That looks fine to me. If you were running 250 watt bulbs you could get away with running them closer to the water. What bulbs and reflectors are you using.

 

yeah i seen them before but did not know if they were anybetter