Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

Those are the same as the old IceCap reflectors, they do a 24x24 area ok with a hotspot under the bulb. It is also almost the same exact reflector as the ReefOpticsIII.

For a standard 6' 125 gallon tank (72Lx18Dx22T") and a single center brace it gets tough to light adequately. You basically have two 36x18" areas and a reflector that does the 36" will spill way out on the 18". I had two braces on my old 125 which made it easy. I have a suggestion but you may not like it.
 
sirreal63 said:
PC reflectors can be found here...
http://www.ahsupply.com/index.html
Click to expand...

Thanks but it seems they only have kits--unless I'm missing something. All I would want is the reflector--I have ballasts. In this case I would just get t-5s to frame the halides--which is an option.

Am keeping my eye on the craigslist here but most stuff so far is chinese junk. Plus, being in the DC area everyone thinks $10 off retail is a good deal on a three year old system w/ old bulbs. It's fun to watch them sit and sit though. I will say I do enjoy selling honey here though--and soon sweet corn too once I get the barn built in PA (and the electric fences up).

Don't really want to modify the brace--don't think my wife would allow it for fear of a failure. She thought I was done w/ this when we moved to Fort Campbell 12 yrs ago.

Not worried about some shadow but melting the center brace and reducing integrity of the brace.
 
AH used to sell the reflectors individually, you may have to send him a message to get the pricing.
The Hamilton Cebu Sun may be the easiest option, I hate the reflector in them but it would spread the direction you need it to.
 
I hope you guys don't mind asking for advise here but I have been following this thread for a while and there is a wealth of knowledge here.

After a visit to a locals house I am thinking of doing halides again. I'd like some opinions on how to light the tank I have.

36x36x20
No canopy
Mixed reef mainly want sps and some LPS. Zoas of coarse.
I will supplement with either ReefBrites or BML. prob 2 24" or 30" strips.

I really like the color of 14k Phoenix SE on Lumateks and RB's or Radiums.

Thinking

1. Large 20x20 Hamelton Cozumel Sun with 250w or 400w

2. 2 x 250w either Radiums or Phoenix with a decent reflector.
not sure if this is too much light. I would do a short photo period like my buddies. 4hrs maybe

Thanks for the help and if this is the wrong place I will post a thread.

Kc3
 
kc350twin said:
I hope you guys don't mind asking for advise here but I have been following this thread for a while and there is a wealth of knowledge here.

After a visit to a locals house I am thinking of doing halides again. I'd like some opinions on how to light the tank I have.

36x36x20
No canopy
Mixed reef mainly want sps and some LPS. Zoas of coarse.
I will supplement with either ReefBrites or BML. prob 2 24" or 30" strips.

I really like the color of 14k Phoenix SE on Lumateks and RB's or Radiums.

Thinking

1. Large 20x20 Hamelton Cozumel Sun with 250w or 400w

2. 2 x 250w either Radiums or Phoenix with a decent reflector.
not sure if this is too much light. I would do a short photo period like my buddies. 4hrs maybe

Thanks for the help and if this is the wrong place I will post a thread.

Kc3
Click to expand...

Personally I would go with the 2x 250 Watt setup and use radiums, And use reefbrite xho as supplement or dawn dusk affect,that would be perfect lighting for that tank imo
 
kc350twin said:
I hope you guys don't mind asking for advise here but I have been following this thread for a while and there is a wealth of knowledge here.

After a visit to a locals house I am thinking of doing halides again. I'd like some opinions on how to light the tank I have.

36x36x20
No canopy
Mixed reef mainly want sps and some LPS. Zoas of coarse.
I will supplement with either ReefBrites or BML. prob 2 24" or 30" strips.

I really like the color of 14k Phoenix SE on Lumateks and RB's or Radiums.

Thinking

1. Large 20x20 Hamelton Cozumel Sun with 250w or 400w

2. 2 x 250w either Radiums or Phoenix with a decent reflector.
not sure if this is too much light. I would do a short photo period like my buddies. 4hrs maybe

Thanks for the help and if this is the wrong place I will post a thread.

Kc3
Click to expand...

I would agree with DSP on the 2 x 250w. I would also second the Radiums, on an M80 ballast if you can. I used 3 Radiums in Lumenbrite large pendants on my 180 (2' x 2' x 6') and occasionally I turned on my VHOs to get a little extra pop. I'd probably use LEDs for that today. I'm getting ready to pick up a Hydra 52 for my 60g cube to see how it compares. I LOVE the Radium's on M80s though, and the Lumenbrite is a seriously efficient reflector. I felt like the Lumenbrite larges were too large for my 24" front to back depth. I wanted the next size down but everyone was back ordered for months when I ordered. The larges would be perfect for your 36x36 footprint. There are the Lumenbrite reflectors (only) and pendants with a black metal covering. I used the pendants (no canopy either) and made some nifty looking hangers with wire rope and electric conduit I painted black. It looked pretty sleek.
 
I know this thread is about dumping LEDs and going back to halides, but has anyone gone back to halides as the main light source and kept LEDs for actinics? I had a DIY LED fixture on my last tank, a 40 breeder, and really loved the actinic punch it gave the tank with just the royal blue, blue, and true violets on, but not so much when the whites were on. So, when I set up my Solana, I added two LED actinic strips consisting of a total of 8 royal blue with four true violets LEDs to two sides of a PFO metal halide pendant. I think it is a pretty good compliment to the look of my halide.

Now that I'm getting ready to set up a 75 gallon to replace my Solana, I'm contemplating doing the same thing. I really liked the look of VHO actinics with an old 75 that I had halides on years ago, but this tank will not have a canopy to hide them in, so I think I want something a little more sleek looking.
 
elmatth1 said:
I know this thread is about dumping LEDs and going back to halides, but has anyone gone back to halides as the main light source and kept LEDs for actinics? I had a DIY LED fixture on my last tank, a 40 breeder, and really loved the actinic punch it gave the tank with just the royal blue, blue, and true violets on, but not so much when the whites were on. So, when I set up my Solana, I added two LED actinic strips consisting of a total of 8 royal blue with four true violets LEDs to two sides of a PFO metal halide pendant. I think it is a pretty good compliment to the look of my halide.

Now that I'm getting ready to set up a 75 gallon to replace my Solana, I'm contemplating doing the same thing. I really liked the look of VHO actinics with an old 75 that I had halides on years ago, but this tank will not have a canopy to hide them in, so I think I want something a little more sleek looking.
Click to expand...

You could and that would work out really well. I kept my LED's but added on a metal halide in between them to kind of fill in any spectrum gap I might be missing. The metal halide only runs for 3 hours each day between 11 and 2.
 
elmatth1 said:
I know this thread is about dumping LEDs and going back to halides, but has anyone gone back to halides as the main light source and kept LEDs for actinics? I had a DIY LED fixture on my last tank, a 40 breeder, and really loved the actinic punch it gave the tank with just the royal blue, blue, and true violets on, but not so much when the whites were on. So, when I set up my Solana, I added two LED actinic strips consisting of a total of 8 royal blue with four true violets LEDs to two sides of a PFO metal halide pendant. I think it is a pretty good compliment to the look of my halide.

Now that I'm getting ready to set up a 75 gallon to replace my Solana, I'm contemplating doing the same thing. I really liked the look of VHO actinics with an old 75 that I had halides on years ago, but this tank will not have a canopy to hide them in, so I think I want something a little more sleek looking.
Click to expand...

There is no other light source like LED's when it come to popping the florescence in the tank when you do not add any full spectrum lighting. Yes they can create a very stunning dawn to dusk effect.

Have you thought about making a DIY fixture with the LED's and MH's?
 
elmatth1 said:
I know this thread is about dumping LEDs and going back to halides, but has anyone gone back to halides as the main light source and kept LEDs for actinics? I had a DIY LED fixture on my last tank, a 40 breeder, and really loved the actinic punch it gave the tank with just the royal blue, blue, and true violets on, but not so much when the whites were on. So, when I set up my Solana, I added two LED actinic strips consisting of a total of 8 royal blue with four true violets LEDs to two sides of a PFO metal halide pendant. I think it is a pretty good compliment to the look of my halide.

Now that I'm getting ready to set up a 75 gallon to replace my Solana, I'm contemplating doing the same thing. I really liked the look of VHO actinics with an old 75 that I had halides on years ago, but this tank will not have a canopy to hide them in, so I think I want something a little more sleek looking.
Click to expand...

Be carfull attaching LED's to the Metal Halide Pendant. The Pendant puts off a lot of heat and the LED's may get cooked!
 
13 months ago one of my very old metal halide died
So I replaced it with ecotech marine gen2
My 200 gallon bow front has been up and running
With no major changes for over 11 years. So 1/2 the tank
Is under Led and 1/2 under 400 watt MH. My tank is very basic and
I did not spruce it up for pics , in fact I'm about to do maintenance. I just
Removed 3 rose anemones ( yeah store credit!) but you can still see the difference .
I'm saving up for another led by Ecotech, their
Customer service is awesome and look at
Attached picture.
 

Attachments

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Yes it's a 1/4 circle. Front bow measures 6 feet
And it is 24" deep. My original clown fish pair are
15 years old, they are totally ok with the
Hybrid young clowns I added after trapping
And "gifting" away 2 large tangs.
 
Has anyone dumped their led's and went back to metal halides..........................then come back to their senses and went back to leds???????????????.............................................................................................................................LOL........................
I just found out I am growing SPS corals with 95 watts of leds!!!! I am HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!!
 
I run leds on zoanthids went from a zetlight to a mitras and bleached everything par was about the same on meter


now for sps tank and some zoanthids I run a total of 16 bulbs and I here that's a lot of money in bulbs replacements

since ai sols and every other led I tried I would have been able to buy bulbs for 5 years,. u don't make money buying and selling lighting. I have also lost money in corals being fragged. I had no problems getting rid of the leds because all the new people would buy them up quick.
 
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