wave point lamps

[wmboots]

my lamps are a year old looking at lamps I have been using (ati,geisman and UV) and noticed Wave Point lamps on a couple of online sites. Does anyone have any experience or info on Wave Point? I notice they are running a few dollars cheaper than ati and geisman and nearly a 33% cheaper tha UV.
Only downside I see is they don't offer anything other than 12k in the whiter spectrum

 

[izoid]

They are an OK bulb but certainly not the same level as the others you mentioned. I would prefer to spend the extra couple of bucks and get the bst you can, you only make the purchase once a year.

 

[rdnelson]

I use them. Got them from Jenn. I found some good info on RC where several people did side by side testing and they actually preformed as well as if not better than the higher priced ones.

 

[wmboots]

had jenn penciled in for a phone call on tuesday to see if she carried and had any info, I got my last lamps from jenn and prefer to keep purchases local if at all possible even though local to me is 45 miles away

 

[rdnelson]

I am in about the same boat. Not 45 miles but not much short of that. I saw she had some the other day when I was in picking up salt. You looking for 36" right?

 

[jennm]

We use Wavepoints on the 65 and now on the 57 (and on the 40 at home before that).

I'm low on 54W right at the moment because someone came in and bought 'em all on Friday - more on order (some on back-order).

I'm placing an order today - if you want some, let me know.

I can get the other brands too - ATI, Geisemann etc., if someone wants to order, I can do that too.

I usually keep the Wavepoints in stock ('cept when somebody buys them all at once)!

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

JennM;728990 wrote:
someone came in and bought 'em all on Friday - more on order (some on back-order).

Don't you just hate it when that happens? :tongue:

 

[jennm]

Don't like the back order, but do like when somebody buys 'em all!

I have 36" and 24" still. I think I have 1 Blue-Wave (they just change the name of that to Super Blue I think).

Jenn

 

[ichthyoid]

Here are Wave Point (not Blue Wave) PAR #'s from an RC post-
(Very respectable/good, IMHO. FWIW- I did my homework and bought some too)


Blue Wave bulbs:
Blue Wave "Super Blue Actinic" 460 / Blue Wave "REEF WAVE Super Violet O3 Actinic" 420
PAR = 625-675 right below the glass

Blue Wave 460 / Current 420
PAR = 670-700 right below the glass

Current 460 / UV 420
PAR = 475-500 right below the glass

Current 460 / UV 420 (duplicate setup to above)
PAR = 460-480 right below the glass

Sfiligoi 420 / Sfiligoi 420 (these bulbs are older)
PAR = 275-300 right below the glass

Geissman 420 / Current 420
PAR = 430-470

Current 460 / AquaticLife 420
PAR = 440-480

 

[rdnelson]

I am pretty sure that is the thread I read that sold me on them. I am happy with them. But what do I know. I am just a noobe.

 

[ichthyoid]

~50% higher than the Current bulbs, if the readings are accurate.

 

[thanh386]

I don't understand how he measure that and how relatively high those numbers are. I have used wave point before , for it's price it's a really good bulb. But those numbers Are hard to swallow. I have tested and those numbers blow even my KZ numbers away. Maybe I need to look into these bulbs again

 

[cbj25]

Thanh386;729108 wrote: I don't understand how he measure that and how relatively high those numbers are. I have used wave point before , for it's price it's a really good bulb. But those numbers Are hard to swallow. I have tested and those numbers blow even my KZ numbers away. Maybe I need to look into these bulbs again

Maybe the dude was overdriving the wp bulbs...

 

[ichthyoid]

cbj25;729133 wrote: Maybe the dude was overdriving the wp bulbs...

FWIW- According to the post, all measurements taken in same fixture, from same distance.

 

[rdnelson]

Just an observation here. If it takes a par meter to tell which is better, is it really all that important? LOL I am just saying, from everything I have read, they do a good enough job that the "Experts" have to debate it. That tells me I (or my corals) most likely won't know the difference. All I can say is I am having no problems. Maybe things might be growing a bit better under other light but I can't imagine it would be much.

 

[ichthyoid]

rdnelson99;729147 wrote: Just an observation here. If it takes a par meter to tell which is better, is it really all that important? LOL I am just saying, from everything I have read, they do a good enough job that the "Experts" have to debate it. That tells me I (or my corals) most likely won't know the difference. All I can say is I am having no problems. Maybe things might be growing a bit better under other light but I can't imagine it would be much.

Yes.

The 'response curve' of the human eye to light is almost exactly the opposite of what is required for PAR detection. We are pitiful at 'seeing' what is good for corals.

Don't go down that road Rich, there's a train wreck at the end!

Top curve is for PAR, bottom one for human eye sensitivity.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkhalxtZUR2nHnK0sBhsBUaEVdUDw8LAi8HrcoW7k6vhMmZgGk" alt="" />

[IMG]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMBVecVkCBCmx899jbVPlnGr_lfywfmwxIETzJ_JT884OtsI5Q" alt="" />

 

[thanh386]

cbj25;729133 wrote: Maybe the dude was overdriving the wp bulbs...

I am over driven all my bulbs.

 

[izoid]

I think the findings are flawed somehow. If you notice when he added the Current 420 to the Wavepoint 460 the PAR readings went up, yet wehn the same Current bulb is coupled with the Geismann there is a drastic lowering of PAR. I just don't see the Geismann being so inferior that it knocks the Current bulb down to those levels.

 

[thanh386]

Is this test done above the water line and single bulb?

 

[rdnelson]

ichthyoid;729154 wrote: Yes.

The 'response curve' of the human eye to light is almost exactly the opposite of what is required for PAR detection. We are pitiful at 'seeing' what is good for corals.

Don't go down that road Rich, there's a train wreck at the end!

Top curve is for PAR, bottom one for human eye sensitivity.

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkhalxtZUR2nHnK0sBhsBUaEVdUDw8LAi8HrcoW7k6vhMmZgGk" alt="" />

[IMG]http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMBVecVkCBCmx899jbVPlnGr_lfywfmwxIETzJ_JT884OtsI5Q" alt="" />[/QUOTE]

Didn't mean to insinuate that my eyes could tell the difference. What I meant was, that if they are so close to the higher priced lamps that the people who really know what they are talking about have to debate them, I would say that they will do a good enough job for my corals so that I won't know the difference. As an example, if my living room is 20 sq. ft. bigger than my neighbors am I really going to see a difference without getting a tape measure out?

Edit: So if my corals are all growing great with cheaper lamps, am I going to notice a huge difference with the more expensive?

Edit: Tell you what, I have a six lamp with the Wave Points in it. They are almost 6 months old. If anyone has a par meter and wants to bring it by you are welcome to test.