2WPG AH Supply vs. 2WPG Coralife - Huge Difference!

[Rescue Ranger]

Greetings!

I am an owner of a newly setup 55G that im going full-planted.

I retrofitted an old thin strip light with AH Supply's 2x55 kit, thinking I was getting 2WPG.

However, after assembling, the 2WPG looks 3 times brighter than my 2WPG Coralife 30" Striplight on my 29g tank.

I asked Jim (awesome guy) at AHSupply and he said that his 2x55 lights put out 10% more light than a similar 4x55 Coralife fixture. He isn't kidding.


So, does this mean I effectively have 4WPG? Or is this what 2WPG should really look like? I should post a pic when I get home to highlight the difference.

Thanks!

[Sploke]

Unless you are getting numbers from a PAR meter, I would still say "2wpg" is what you should be using when choosing plants. I would guess he bases that 10% number on the better reflectors, but I'm not positive.

[Rescue Ranger]

I would guess he bases that 10% number on the better reflectors, but I'm not positive.

You are correct; he said this his reflectors are much more efficient.

The tank is incredibly bright.. maybe i'll get another 2x55 and get Co2.. but then I wouldn't be able to tell if it was night or day in my living room.

[grannylvsfish]

Greetings!

I am an owner of a newly setup 55G that im going full-planted.

I retrofitted an old thin strip light with AH Supply's 2x55 kit, thinking I was getting 2WPG.

However, after assembling, the 2WPG looks 3 times brighter than my 2WPG Coralife 30" Striplight on my 29g tank.

I asked Jim (awesome guy) at AHSupply and he said that his 2x55 lights put out 10% more light than a similar 4x55 Coralife fixture. He isn't kidding.


So, does this mean I effectively have 4WPG? Or is this what 2WPG should really look like? I should post a pic when I get home to highlight the difference.

Thanks!
awesome!!! did you do each strip or just one long one ( I have 2 seperate lights from a fifty five and I would love to redo the lighting!!!

[Fordtrannyman]

He represents his product honestly. AH Supply reflectors are definitely superior to Coralife. I have a few 55 Watt Brighty kits on different tanks. Where it is most evident to me is in my 80gal. I have a 4X65W Coralife in the back and a 2X55 Watt AH Kit in the front. I don't need a Par meter to see that the light from the AH kit penetrates and distributes far better than the Coralife. In retrospect, a 4X55 AH Kit would have been plenty to keep this tank High Tech.

Their reflectors are also available for purchase separately for those that want to modify or DIY.

[Rescue Ranger]

He represents his product honestly. AH Supply reflectors are definitely superior to Coralife. I have a few 55 Watt Brighty kits on different tanks. Where it is most evident to me is in my 80gal. I have a 4X65W Coralife in the back and a 2X55 Watt AH Kit in the front. I don't need a Par meter to see that the light from the AH kit penetrates and distributes far better than the Coralife. In retrospect, a 4X55 AH Kit would have been plenty to keep this tank High Tech.

Their reflectors are also available for purchase separately for those that want to modify or DIY.


He definitely does represent his products honestly; the difference in lighting is incredible between Coralife and his Bright Kits.



So, it seems that even though the light looks to be 4WPG, it really still only is 2WPG?

Adding Co2 and expecting to grow medium-light plants isn't a reality?

[Fordtrannyman]

So, it seems that even though the light looks to be 4WPG, it really still only is 2WPG?

Technically, to figure your WPG you need to figure your actual water volume.
ie; inside tank measurements, subtract substrate depth and water level.
Then add 10%. This is a true range - IME.

Adding Co2 and expecting to grow medium-light plants isn't a reality?

It is very much a reality, even some high light stuff.

[Star_Rider]

are the coralife bulbs the same spectrum range as the AH supply?


could be you are seeing a diff from the spectrum range(many consider the K rating as the same) some color may appear brighter

[Rescue Ranger]

are the coralife bulbs the same spectrum range as the AH supply?


could be you are seeing a diff from the spectrum range(many consider the K rating as the same) some color may appear brighter


both are 6700K

[icemanx23]

Seeing is not always beleiving. Green spectrum may seem more bright in human eyes compare to others. So Even they have same K the spectrum can still differ. How about trying a par reading. I heard both of them are good so it's only fair to compare them by PAR readings.

[TwoTankAmin]

Its the reflectors for sure. 50% of the light is going away from the tank. The wpg rule of thumb is based on using standard fluorescents with a cheap white plastic or no reflector at all.

The combo of the shape and polished surface of their reflector does get a lot of light back into the tank. I have always used a factor of between 1.3 and 1.5 to convert AH Supply lights watts into equivalent watts if applying the standard wpg rule of thumb to a tank.

[jpappy789]

Based on what I've read AH supply lights give your plants more usable lights (not necessarily more wattage) than regulars CFLs.

[Sploke]

The problem is that wattage is a measure of power consumed, not the amount of light getting into the tank. This will become more of an issue as different technologies progress (T5HO, LED, reflectors) and make the "watts per gallon" an increasingly outdated and useless rule of thumb.

[jpappy789]

It's never really been a "rule" from my understanding...more of a guideline.

[Rescue Ranger]

Its the reflectors for sure. 50% of the light is going away from the tank. The wpg rule of thumb is based on using standard fluorescents with a cheap white plastic or no reflector at all.

The combo of the shape and polished surface of their reflector does get a lot of light back into the tank. I have always used a factor of between 1.3 and 1.5 to convert AH Supply lights watts into equivalent watts if applying the standard wpg rule of thumb to a tank.


This definitely makes sense to me; it is obvious that the light is much brighter w/ the AH Supply set.


How do I go about testing PAR? Time to do some googling.

Check back tomorrow for pictures of the tanks to compare.

[AquaPonixRox]

simple answer would be a PAR meter , if i remember right there are ones for less then $300 now.

[Mgamer20o0]

Greetings!

I am an owner of a newly setup 55G that im going full-planted.

I retrofitted an old thin strip light with AH Supply's 2x55 kit, thinking I was getting 2WPG.

However, after assembling, the 2WPG looks 3 times brighter than my 2WPG Coralife 30" Striplight on my 29g tank.

I asked Jim (awesome guy) at AHSupply and he said that his 2x55 lights put out 10% more light than a similar 4x55 Coralife fixture. He isn't kidding.


So, does this mean I effectively have 4WPG? Or is this what 2WPG should really look like? I should post a pic when I get home to highlight the difference.

Thanks!
i am not sure about the 10% brighter then a 4x55w.... coralife does use 65w for the most part...... one thing like the others said is the coralife dont have very good reflectors where ahsupply reflectors are built to get the max amount of light into a tank..... another factor is new bulbs will look brighter then old ones.....

Unless you are getting numbers from a PAR meter, I would still say "2wpg" is what you should be using when choosing plants. I would guess he bases that 10% number on the better reflectors, but I'm not positive.
yea coralife reflectors are just straight where ahsupply are angled

The problem is that wattage is a measure of power consumed, not the amount of light getting into the tank. This will become more of an issue as different technologies progress (T5HO, LED, reflectors) and make the "watts per gallon" an increasingly outdated and useless rule of thumb.
that plus as more and more lights make sure each sure each bulb gets the most amout of light into one area.

It's never really been a "rule" from my understanding...more of a guideline.
nail on..... i like the try it method.... try a plant and see if it works.....

[yourchoice]

I would not put to much confidence in what a salesman tells me.

[jpappy789]

But when that salesman gets excellent reviews from customers why not trust them?

[joestyx]

i have the Hagen GLO T5-HO Linear 2x54w system and it works pretty good, would like more light, but moolah prevents that, i was wondering how my system compares to the systems you guys are talking about???

[jscho44]

i have the Hagen GLO T5-HO Linear 2x54w system and it works pretty good, would like more light, but moolah prevents that, i was wondering how my system compares to the systems you guys are talking about???

I have the 2x39w of the same model. I'm also curious.

[joestyx]

i really like my system, but it was pretty expensive....so if i do a new planted tank i was considering the AH Supply for it

[Mgamer20o0]

I would not put to much confidence in what a salesman tells me.
not saying they are not great lighting..... i just dont believe those numbers off hand.....

But when that salesman gets excellent reviews from customers why not trust them?
one thing excellent reviews i have a bunch of htem here but to say the 2x55 putting more light then a 4x55 might be a little much.... again i could be wrong

i have the Hagen GLO T5-HO Linear 2x54w system and it works pretty good, would like more light, but moolah prevents that, i was wondering how my system compares to the systems you guys are talking about???
i hear great things about them. one thing where t5 ho does better then cf is it runs cooler and if each bulb has its own reflector it gets more light into the tank....

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/index.php?cPath=71_136&page=2

some cheap t5 ho gone up in price but its a nice deal vs spending the money on like tek lights.