CV ReefLux 12K and Electronic Ballasts (An Update)

[TheOtherGuy]

Well I said I post something when I got them in so here we are.

I replaced my PFO Dual Mag 250W Ballast with 2 CV 250W Electronic Ballasts and also changed my bulbs from CV 14K to CV ReefLux 12K 250M Watt Mogul Bulbs.

I have a LUX meter so I did some rather unscientific measurements during the swap out process. Kind of interesting results.

To be somewhat consistent I took the readings at the glass on the pendant fixture.

14K bulb (7 month old bulb) on Mag Ballast : 88,000 Lux
12K RLux (New) on Mag Ballast : 106000 Lux
12K RLux (New) on Electronic Ballast: 136000 Lux

So, it looks like my old bulbs have decreased in light output somewhat. And it appears that with the electronic ballast I get a little more light output than a magnetic ballast. Cool! And the electronic ballasts are much smaller and do not generate near as much heat as the magnetic ballast.

The appearance of the 12K bulb is much whiter than the 14k bulbs but, still has a nice hint of blue to it. I like it so far. Supposedly I need to burn the bulbs 100 hours or so to see its true colors.

Maybe if nothing else my electric bill will drop a little bit? I hope so.

Here is a pic with the new bulbs installed.
http://static.flickr.com/39/77770849_7f7d1ddf9a_o.jpg

[NaCl_H2O]

Mark, that color look great! Is that without actinic suppliments?

I installed my 400w 10K Reefluk, but waiting a few days for "Burn In" before I post. Have it on a PFO MAG ballast. It has a decent amount of blue, but also running VHO Super Actinics.

Did yours appear "bluer" on the MAG ballast, or just not as bright?

[TheOtherGuy]

Thanks - I like the color.

I do not have anything but the MHs. According to my unscientific test the magnetic ballast was a little dimmer and perhaps a little bluer since the bulb was not burning quite as bright.

[gjuarez]

Very nice, my 10k is on its way. I like the look.

[TheOtherGuy]

Quick Update:

Just got home tonight - and looked at my tank. I got to say these bulbs do appear to me much brighter and whiter (but with a hint of blue) than my 14k bulbs. I have confirmed this with my lux meter too. More importantly it seems that corals have better polyp extension. I took lots of pics and in a month I will take more pics again and compare. So far though I really like these bulbs (and new ballasts).

[brewercm]

According to my unscientific test the magnetic ballast was a little dimmer and perhaps a little bluer since the bulb was not burning quite as bright

That's interesting. I had some AB 10K 400 watt bulbs that looked much more yellow when run on my old magnetic as compared to when I initially changed them over to electronic. I wonder if you get different effects from different ranges in spectrum between mag and elect ballasts.

Sounds like a test to take place somewhere down the road.

[TheOtherGuy]

I think there are some subtle differences between mag and electronic ballasts and spectrum. I do not want to start a big debate here as I really do not care that much. Just want a bulb that looks nice and corals get nice colors.

Before I hooked up both of the new ballasts I put 1 bulb in the mag ballast and 1 in the electronic ballast. Visually the mag ballast looked more blue and was not putting out as much light. See my unofficial unscientific measurements in my first post here. Anyway, they did look a little different. I was surpised to see the bulb in the electronic ballast was putting out about 300 more Lux than the one in the mag ballast. No, I did not switch bulbs and retest. I like what I see right now, compared to my Ushio 10Ks which were very yellow and my 14ks which are nice but a little too blue - these are just right.

Isn't there a story that goes like this "Goldie Lox and 3 Bears"? This one is too blue, this one is too yellow, this one is just right. LOL.

[brewercm]

Do you or anybody know if their DE bulbs (if they have them) are the same look as the SE bulbs?
I had 10K XM SEs and went to 10K XM DE bulbs, and although the DE's were much brighter they appeared much more yellow too. I'd heard that was the case with XM bulbs but I was curious if that is to be expected with all of them.

Not wanting to start a debate, just curious if anyone knows. I'm thinking of moving to a 12 to 14 K bulb for my next set.

[TheOtherGuy]

Yes - I believe DE bulbs to be brighter/whiter than the same equivalent SE bulb in the same wattage.

As far as 10K bulbs I have not seen (visually) any 10K DE bulbs. I do know my Ushio 10k bulbs were very yellow. And I did not like the look at all. The ReefLux 10K bulbs are suppose to be very white with a spike at 420nm. That is why I went with the 12K (just in case) I wanted to stay on the blue side just a little.

We have 400W DE 20K bulbs on our acro tank and even when the bulbs were new it looked more like 14k.