I need ~1000uE

[RUCoralGuy]

Hey all,
I've been slowly trying to increase my light levels over the passed year and a half by lowering my lights, right now they are at the lowest i'm comfortable with putting them, and the light intensity is barely 400uE. (microEinsteins). (I maintain coral aquaria for research at rutgers, fyi) I need to eventually get to about 1000uE.
I'm currently using 400W metal halides. I was considering rebuilding another light hood and adding a second 400W metal halide. Does anyone have suggestions whether or not this will help me reach my 1000uE goal?

thanks!

 

[RUCoralGuy]

any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

What bulbs & ballast are you using now?

The 400 watt Iwasaki 6500K with a PFO magnetic ballast and a good reflector has about 1400 microEinsteins/m2 at 6".

 

[RUCoralGuy]

METAL HALIDE 400W 14K BULB
with
METAL HALIDE 400 WATT ASSEMBLED BALLAST

(both supplied via Hamilton Lighting Technology)

 

[Anonymous]

IMO simply swapping out the bulb with the Iwasaki should do it. The Iwasaki is actually a Mercury Vapor bulb but it will run fine on a standard MH ballast. Mogel bulb I assume?

 

[RUCoralGuy]

any suggestions on where i can purchase said bulb?

 

[Anonymous]

Marine Depot is one of the sponsors here. Click on the "Sponsors" hotspot in the upper left for a link to their website. They have the bulb for $65.

I don't have access to a comparison between the 400 watt bulbs but Sanjay's charts do have a compare of the 250 watt versions of the Hamilton 14,000K and the Iwasaki 6500K.

The Hamilton had a PPFD of 53 (@16") and the Iwasaki had a PPFD of 131.

You result should be similar with the 400 watt versions. Expect an increase in PAR of about 150%.

One big difference though.... The Iwasaki more closely simulates the Sun, ie. the light will be yellow, not white/blue like the Hamilton. IMO that should actually be a benefit Coral experiments but it won't be as pretty.