PAR Readings

I replaced both of the Hamilton 20K metal halide bulbs but kept the same T5's running. The bottom of the metal halide pendant is 9.75" above the water surface and PAR increased on average 23% versus the 9 month old metal halide bulbs. The left metal halide ballast is drawing 269 watts and the right side is drawing 257 watts.

JF Fox Flame

RR Rainbow Loom

Ricky's Planet Earth Austera

PAR Readings Part III

My other Lumatek ballast went and I replaced it with another LuXcore and also a new Phoenix 14K bulb to compare the PAR to the Hamilton versus a 6 month old Phoenix bulb from the previous post. I still cannot run the LuXcore ballasts on a GFCI but I am not having issues with them firing up without being connected to the GFCI.


Results:

Phoenix 14K on LuXcore ballast:
HQI Setting -  269 watts of power draw at 825 PAR
Standard setting - 256 watts of power draw at 775 PAR


One week old Hamilton
Hamilton 20K on LuXcore ballast:
HQI Setting -  261 watts of power draw at 765 PAR
Standard setting - 249 watts of power draw at 720 PAR

The PAR measurements were taken 8" under the bottom of the reflector. The Phoenix has more of a white look when compared to the Hamilton. I wanted to have a bluer look than what I am used to without sacrificing PAR so I think I am going to run two Hamilton's over my tank. I have been running Phoenix 14K bulbs for the past 9 years and feel it is time for a change.

PAR Readings Part II

I wanted to test out two other brands of metal halides as I have only ever ran Phoenix 14K bulbs for the past 9 years. I tested the redesigned Hamilton 20K blue bulb and the 20K Ushio. After firing them both up the Hamilton bulb is very blue, almost like Windex whereas the Phoenix 14K is more white with a hint of purple/blue. The Ushio bulb is noticeably dimmer and has much more of a purple look which is good for running Blue Plus T5's and the Phoenix/Hamilton would look good with pure Actinics. The Ushio was ran on the LuXcore ballast and the Hamilton was ran on the Lumatek & LuXcore ballast. I sent back the LuXcore ballast because it was tripping my GFCI so these results are with a new LuXcore ballast which does draw a little more power and will in turn produce more PAR.

Results:

Hamilton 20K on Lumatek ballast:
HQI Setting -  301 watts of power draw at 895 PAR
Standard setting - 278 watts of power draw at 815 PAR

Hamilton 20K on LuXcore ballast:
HQI Setting -  271 watts of power draw at 770 PAR
Standard setting - 257 watts of power draw at 730 PAR


Ushio 20K on LuXcore ballast:
HQI Setting -  271 watts of power draw at 580 PAR
Standard setting - 257 watts of power draw at 530 PAR

The PAR measurements were taken 8" under the bottom of the reflector.


Out of curiosity I put a 6 month old Phoenix bulb in the Lumatek & LuXcore ballast after the glass was cleaned and the PAR readings did increase from the original test on January 10th with dirty glass.

Phoenix 14K on Lumatek ballast:
HQI Setting -  301 watts of power draw at 820 PAR
Standard setting - 278 watts of power draw at 740 PAR

Phoenix 14K on LuXcore ballast:
HQI Setting -  271 watts of power draw at 690 PAR
Standard setting - 257 watts of power draw at 645 PAR

How many watts?

I did some testing yesterday with my new kill a watt meter.

Here are the results,

8 Blue LED’s – 3 watts
Koralia 4 (left side) – 16 watts
Koralia 4 (right side) – 16 watts
Koralia Nano – 6 watts
Rena Cal 300w Heater – 296 watts
Danner Mag Drive 12 (1,200 GPH) – 75 watts
Vertex IN-180 Skimmer – 32 watts
Lumatek 250w electronic ballast (left side) – 282 watts
Lumatek 250w electronic ballast (right side) - 278 watts
TEK II T5 retrofit (2x54w) – 126 watts
Refugium bulb – 19 watts
Cabinet light – 15 watts

Monthly usage = 282.52 KWH @ $0.22 per KWH = $62.15