220w PC vs. 175 MH...PC sure seemed to put out a lot more light!

[Subliminal]

Do metal halide bulbs break in or anything? I was really expecting my tank to be a lot brighter with the 175watter in there. I mean, it's not dim by any means...just not as bright as expected.

And not as blue as I'd hoped.

Hamilton Tech Magnetic 175w ballast
14k Hamilton bulb
PFO parabolic reflector
Homemade hood

Maybe I'll add two blue t5s in the future.

 

[Subliminal]

I need to do something about the light spilling out the back/sides. I don't mind the shimmer on the wall above the tank, but the bright light on the sides is no good. I also need to match the curtains to the carpet, if you know what I mean...I plan to wrap the metal stand in wood to match.

A new FTS of my algae farm...got at least 5 or 6 varieties going in there.

And a pic of my happy little nuclear family:

 

[mladencovic]

Do metal halide bulbs break in or anything? I was really expecting my tank to be a lot brighter with the 175watter in there. I mean, it's not dim by any means...just not as bright as expected.

And not as blue as I'd hoped.

Hamilton Tech Magnetic 175w ballast
14k Hamilton bulb
PFO parabolic reflector
Homemade hood

Maybe I'll add two blue t5s in the future.

They do - a few days, but you will mostly see a slight change in color, rather then in intensity. 14,000K is not so much a blue color rather cold white. For real blue go to 20,000K. When you compared with PCs, what was their temperature? Our eyes are optimised for 6,000K so the yellow will always look brighter then blue of the same light intensity.

 

[Subliminal]

2x6750k and 2x actinic.

I sat and stared at the tank for a few hours yesterday and have to say...it's already grown on me...loving it.

My greens are the biggest change. My BTA is now green instead of orange and some mushrooms that were kind of brown are now neon green.