400w Upgrade

[MstgKillr]

I currently have a 215 gallon (72x24x30) tank with (3) 250w Phoenix Bulbs, Bluewave HQI Ballasts, Lumen Max 3 Reflectors, and (4) 39W Super Actinic Bulbs. I want to upgrade to (3) 400w lights and maybe some supplemental if needed and keep them in a canopy.

If you had it to do all over with a tank like mine what would you get? Bulbs, reflectors, ballast and supplemental lights.

I don't have any experience with 400w lights but I was thinking of

Aquaconnect 14k Bulbs, PFO HOI Ballasts, and Lumen Max Elite Reflectors with the glass shield.

OR

Radium 20k Bulbs, Galaxy Electronic Ballasts, and Lumen Max Elite Reflectors with the glass shield.

Thanks

 

[moo0o]

Radium 20k Bulbs, Galaxy Electronic Ballasts, and Lumen Max Elite Reflectors with the glass shield.

 

[MstgKillr]

How would the growth be vs the two or any other setup. I would like the best of both, growth and color.

I know this may be a stupid question but I will ask it anyways. Does the bulb choice actually change the color of the coral or just change how it is perceived under the light?

 

[Kip]

AC14kSEs in luminarc minis driven by the new IC400w eballasts

what i run... i've been thru a lot of lighting variants

 

[MstgKillr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13593183#post13593183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kip
AC14kSEs in luminarc minis driven by the new IC400w eballasts

what i run... i've been thru a lot of lighting variants

Why would you choose the electronic ballast over the HQI? I am assuming the AC14SEs = Aquaconnect 14k, right.

 

[Kip]

yeah.... the new ICs drive the bulb as white and same high intensity as HQI w/o the extra wattage .... have a look at the sanj data

 

[scrapz]

radium 20k, galaxy ballast, lumenbright mounted 14-16" off the surface

 

[K5reefer]

im running 3 galaxy 400watt 10k lumenarc III with an ice cap 660 +2 5 foot t-5s atinics and im seeing some great growth i like a crisp white tank. Heat is the down side of 400 watt lights. i have to run my rig at night to keep the temp down.

 

[MstgKillr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13593371#post13593371 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kip
yeah.... the new ICs drive the bulb as white and same high intensity as HQI w/o the extra wattage .... have a look at the sanj data

According to Sanjay's reef lighting guide, the Icecap does not produce the same PPFD, 143 compaired to the HQI of 170.

 

[Kip]

in a 3d reflector.... the difference is ppfd off the bulb isnt a big deal IMO... especially with the trade off of bulb life and decreased wattage/heat

 

[MstgKillr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13594040#post13594040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kip
in a 3d reflector.... the difference is ppfd off the bulb isnt a big deal IMO... especially with the trade off of bulb life and decreased wattage/heat

Why do you prefer the Lumen Arc Mini over the Lumen Max Elite?

Would you use the glass shield?

 

[Kip]

i dont use the glass shields on SEs because they filter light... but a shield is good protection against water splashes

i got the lumenarcs minis just for their size

 

[MstgKillr]

Anyone else with these lights or something better.

 

[hahnmeister]

I was thinking that 400's seem like a bit much. If you do go with 400's, you are going to be looking at a 20,000K to keep from scorching the corals.

What do you want to grow and where? What dont you like about your lighting right now? I was thinking that if anything, you could use a more daylight bulb like a 14,000K Ushio, and switch those T5's over to blue+ bulbs. Thats a much more intense combo that actually looks day-blue... sorta icey, but still 'full spectrum' so corals pigment in well.

I would be more inclined to suggest swapping out the T5's for 5' bulbs/reflectors, and run 3 rows of them on an icecap ballast... blue+ bulbs (ushio 14,000K halides have more actinic in their spectrum than any other bulb).

 

[MstgKillr]

The reason I was thinking of 400's is that my tank is 30" deep and I already have a lot of SPS and plan on getting a lot more.

I just got one 10k XM XDE bulb to experiment with but it seems way to white even with my current supplemental lighting.

I would like the best of both worlds, great color and growth. I thought I may need more PAR for the growth, that's why I tried the XDE bulb.

When is it a good call to use 400w MH.

 

[LUVSPS]

I would do 400w SE 14k Aquaconnects in lumenarcs. That's what I have on my 120 and I love them. I love knowing that I can put SPS or clams anywhere I want. I also have the Coralvue dimmable e-ballasts so that I can acclimate the sps at the top of the tank properly.

The 14k ACs are crisp white with a hint of blue. Beautiful.

 

[MstgKillr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13638495#post13638495 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LUVSPS
I would do 400w SE 14k Aquaconnects in lumenarcs. That's what I have on my 120 and I love them. I love knowing that I can put SPS or clams anywhere I want. I also have the Coralvue dimmable e-ballasts so that I can acclimate the sps at the top of the tank properly.

The 14k ACs are crisp white with a hint of blue. Beautiful.

Do you use the full size lumenarcs?

What do you do about the salt spray?

 

[MstgKillr]

How does the PAR compare between the Phoenix 14k and the Ushio 14k on a 250w HQI ballast?

 

[LUVSPS]

I have the minis. My tank is only 18'' wide so the full size reflectors would not fit.

I have read that because the SE bulbs already block the UV light, using the glass shields would be detrimental to the par levels. I am hoping salt spary will be minimal because my canopy is 15'' tall.

I went back and re-read your OP and saw that you already have Lumenmax reflectors. Will you use those when you upgrade? I do not know how they compare with Lumenarc. Are they better or worse? That'd be good if they compare favorably 'cause keeping those will definately cut the cost of the upgrade.
HTH

 

[hahnmeister]

Aquaconnect 14,000Ks on HQI ballasts (what they are designed to run on) will generate 2x the PAR of a pheonix 14,000K, and about 1.7x the output of the Ushio 14,000K. Hella bright. You could go with them, and skip supplimenatal lighting if you want (not needed).