60 Gallon lighting ?

[kendo]

I'm trying to decide on lighting set-up for my 60 gallon cube (24x24x24),is 400 watt Mh to much or should I go with 250 watt. Also skimmer recomendations would be helpful too.
Thanks.

 

[all-apologies]

i just got a 60 cube and im gonna go with a a 250 light fixture. Im not too hardcore about keeping acro's and the big-time light corals.

im using a euroreef rs 5-2

 

[bencozzy]

depends on what you want to keep, me personally id get the 400w with a lumen arc reflector.

 

[avp]

any other lights?

any other lights?

are you looking at just one MH bulb, and that's it? If you are what bulb are you thinking about?

If not, what are you going to suppliment it with T-5/VHOs?

thanks,
-avp

 

[BreadmanMike]

I'd go with a lumenarcIII and a 400w 14k Aquaconnect, 20k Radium, or 20k Helios on a SLS Galaxy Electronic ballast.

 

[uhuru]

why electronic ballast? wouldn't you get more PAR using an HQI ballast for the Aquaconnect since it's an HQI bulb? I think you get significantly more output. I think that's what I'm going to use on my 70g cube.

 

[BreadmanMike]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9933846#post9933846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uhuru
why electronic ballast? wouldn't you get more PAR using an HQI ballast for the Aquaconnect since it's an HQI bulb? I think you get significantly more output. I think that's what I'm going to use on my 70g cube.

SLS Galaxy electronic ballasts run like European HQI ballasts. I'm using them on HQI rated SE Giesemann 14.5k Coral bulbs. Color is great and so is the growth.

 

[jimsta]

The Galaxy ballasts are supposed to run the AC's, radiums, and helio's at near HQI levels. SUPPOSEDLY

 

[uhuru]

and the benefit of the electronic ballast is what? less power consumption? have you found your electricity bill significantly reduced? sorry to hijack this thread - trying to make a decision as well!

 

[kendo]

I was thinking about the Ice cap 400 watt 14k retro with the spider reflector, and mabey add a couple of vho to suppliment, I have an Ice cap 430 that came with the tank. Would it be ok without the VHO's . Thanks

 

[jimsta]

yes....less on the electric bill......and less stress on the bulb I think.

 

[uhuru]

so the $40 extra in cost of the e-ballast will be recovered in electricity savings? I can get a PFO HQI ballast for $150.

 

[RichConley]

250 in a lumenarc. 24" isnt deep enough to justify a 400w.

 

[vthondaboi]

On my old 60G Cube I used a Hamilton 250W DE Pendant with 14K Phoenix bulb. I also had two 75W URI Super Actinic VHOs which helped color the corals up real nice.

I ran an AquaC Urchin Pro on it and then a Triger Systems TS300 temporarily. If I were to do it again then I would use a Tunze 9010 Skimmer.