30"x30"x24" SPS tank: 400w, 250w MHs or LEDs?

[Radioheadx14]

I am setting up a 93g 30"x30"x24" tank to replace my old 90g when I move. I will be selling my 6x54w ATI sunpower and using the money toward new lighting. I want to keep mostly SPS through out most of the tank but have lower light corals on the bottom of my tank. I also want to have great growth and coloration since I will be getting lots of frags (Sold most of my SPS due to moving)

I have done a lot of reading and it has made my choice even harder. Right now I am torn between MHs and LEDs. Metal halides are proven to work great. good coloration with 20k bulbs and good growth... BUT you have to replace bulbs, they produce heat and can create large electric bills.

LEDs on the other hand are more expensive at first, but use less electricity and give off little to no heat to the tank. My main concern here is that they are newer to the hobby and its hard to get definitive answers on performance. I have read people getting great results with SPS growth but mixed results on color. I have also read zoas and other softies/lps don't do as well (probably light intensity shock)

I started out leaning toward LEDs but now I am second guessing them. I am torn between using 5 of evilc66's par38 LED spot lights and a MH setup using a lumenbright 3 pendant with either a 400w or 250w MH bulb. I kind of like the idea of spot lights on my rock structures so that is not a con of LEDs for me.

Has anyone used newer LED lights on SPS with good coloration and growth? I'm wondering if a lot of the reports were nutrient or tank quality problems.

If I went the MH route. Would I need a chiller with a 400w lumenbright 3 pendant say 16"-20" from the surface? Would 400w be over kill? Would a 250w bulb give me good results too?

PLEASE! someone make this easier.

 

[elite401]

If it were between 250W and 400W MH I think it would depend on what your rock scape is going to look like. If you don't plan to have corals within 6 inches of the glass I would go with 250W with a luminmax elite. The elite is supposed to have a more focused beam compared to the luminbright. If you really want even coverage over the whole 30x30 then go luminbright with 400W.

As for LED's I don't doubt the light output is there but I don't like that I can't change the color without changing the amount of light(by dimming the whites or blues). I am looking for another year or two of evolution in LED's before I think they are worth the much higher price in most cases.

 

[Radioheadx14]

I'm starting to think I might go with MH now and wait for LEDs to mature. I did the math and running a 400w MH x 6 hours a day x 30 days / 1000w x $.10/kwh (PA average) is around 10 bucks a month. Which is not too bad at all. Maybe I could rig a single spot light with 80* optics for supplemental lighting when the MH is off.

I use a aquacontroller 3... I thought I remembered people having problems using 400w MHs when plugged into the DC8 with heats, pumps and what not (doubt the heater and light would be on at the same time.) Would this be a problem and should I just get another timer for the light?

 

[Radioheadx14]

EDIT: double post.

 

[Radioheadx14]

Now my dilemma is 250w or 400w?
I have read that a lot of people like 400w radiums but they need a special ballast to fire correctly (like 360w or something?)
I have also read that some 250w DE HQI's have good PAR with great colors (run around 300w or more?)
I have read most of sanjay's articles but I still can't decide.
Does someone have a link comparing different 250w setups to 400w setups?

I am just looking for a single lamp/ballast combo that will give me great colors (anything from 14k-20k) and high par with good growth. I also don't want to replace my bulbs every 6 months, so I don't think I want to over drive anything. 400 or 250, doesn't make a difference. I really like the lumen bright 3 pendant, so thats what I will be using.

 

[kentrob11]

The 400 watt radiums look bets on HQI Ballasts...I've got one I'll let go for cheap if you're interested...

 

[elite401]

I use a 250W phoenix bulb on a mag ballast and IMO it is too white to run without actinic supplementation. I think the phoenix bulb on an electronic ballast is considerably more blue and still puts out good par and its inexpensive.

 

[reefsic]

Radium Bulbs will require a pulse start magnetic ballast. Will work with the normal magnetic ballasts, but life is cut in half (6 months) and you won't receive the full spectrum output that every hobbyists use Radiums for!

Either way, Radiums look awesome in 150w/250w/400w. If your height is only 24", I would go 250w Radiums. This should be plenty for your Tank dims to even place SPS down below!!!

Just my 2 cents

 

[Radioheadx14]

What ballast should I run a 250w radium on? Also what is the difference in par between 250w radium and a 400w radium running on the right ballast? I hear coloration can be more of a water quality/nutrient issue but I'm thinking I will be happier with a 400w MH for better growth unless someone can show me otherwise.

I was thinking of using the Blue Wave 1 400W Metal Halide Ballast (Pulse Start) : I found it at reefgeek.com for $85.
Any one use this ballast with a 400w radium?

 

[LifeAquatic]

$.10 KWH..... Man that is cheap. Be thankful you dont live in California. Not sure about Ohio, but in california the electric bill is on a tier system. The more electricity you use bumps you into a higher tier. Electricity is expensive in california.. Think my monthly tier is around $.45 KWH.

 

[LifeAquatic]

Srry I had no good advice to post about lights. Honestly, I cant wait to switch to an LED system. Im going to give it a few more years though for quality to improve and cost to drop. If you have a few extra thousand laying around check out the new Stfiligoi LED thats coming out. Its much more feture rich then the last model but so darn expensive. I hear the new one will have the ability to adjust color and it will be dimmable. Its already the best looking LED in my opinion. The cost is the only draw back. Havent done the math but Im sure it would take a few years to recover the money speant on electricity from using MH. Good luck

 

[reefsic]

$.10 KWH..... Man that is cheap. Be thankful you dont live in California. Not sure about Ohio, but in california the electric bill is on a tier system. The more electricity you use bumps you into a higher tier. Electricity is expensive in california.. Think my monthly tier is around $.45 KWH.

LOL....:lolspin: I was thinking the same thing! I too reside in SoCal and got rid of my pair of 400w MH's due to the monthly cost of my electric bill!

Sorry, didnt mean to go off track with this thread; Yeah, I would do the 250w. The ballast you found on ReefGeek is a steal. You might want to read through the Radium Primer on the Lighting, Filtration Forum as well...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1802877

 

[Radioheadx14]

LOL....:lolspin: I was thinking the same thing! I too reside in SoCal and got rid of my pair of 400w MH's due to the monthly cost of my electric bill!

Sorry, didnt mean to go off track with this thread; Yeah, I would do the 250w. The ballast you found on ReefGeek is a steal. You might want to read through the Radium Primer on the Lighting, Filtration Forum as well...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1802877

Did you notice any difference with growth rates in your corals when you switched to 250s from 400s? Also what reflectors, bulbs and ballast did you use on each. With initial price being very similar, I am still leaning 400w.

 

[illal]

400!

 

[JMalone81]

I would go with 400w radiums

 

[reefsic]

Did you notice any difference with growth rates in your corals when you switched to 250s from 400s? Also what reflectors, bulbs and ballast did you use on each. With initial price being very similar, I am still leaning 400w.

I went from 2x400w to 8x54w T5's. The only reason why I suggested 250w is because you can get the same results and spend less on electricity with a pair of 250w Radiums. Also less heat which may help save usage on your chiller.

IMO, the overall difference (i.e. heat, energy, color, growth) between the 250w vs 400w is not huge! In the end, its really your decision!

GL

 

[bluface]

400! Big diff!

 

[Manwolf]

Have you looked into a t5 set up? There alot of people out there with amazing tanks that use t5s

 

[Radioheadx14]

Have you looked into a t5 set up? There alot of people out there with amazing tanks that use t5s

I have a 6x54w sunpower on my 90 right now. I'm going to sell it to get a new light for a new tank. MH's are much cheaper for square tanks than t5. I would need 8-10 bulbs which is insanely expensive. Plus replacing those at 20 bucks a lamp would also be insane. I could set up a quality, new 400w MH for around $300. With a good T5 setup, I'm looking at ~$1,000~

 

[therman]

I'm building a 156 Cree array for a 36x36x18 acro dominated tank. The technology is here, just takes a little effort but it's very much worth the extra investment.