I'm setting up a used 120G (4x2x2) open top tank. I'm planning to keep mostly softies and clams and but eventually will try to add a few SPS.
The setup came with a dual PFO 400 HQI ballast (AQ-400X2) and dual 400W Radium HRI-T 20K blue SE bulbs mounted in a canopy w/ reflector. However, one side of the ballast is blown so I'm going to have to spend some money.
Given my parameters and the fact that I don't like the strong blue coloring I've seen with the 20K bulbs, I'm planning to replace the Radiums with 250W 10ks, probably XMs. the Ushio 10K is a close second. The reflector is predrilled for 2 48" VHO tubes so I'll probably go ahead and add 2 110W URI Super Actinic VHOs for those times when I'm feeling a little blue.
The only thing up in the air is the proper ballast to drive the 250W SE 10k MHs.
I'm aware of Sanjay's data showing the tremendous PAR output of the XMs when driven by a HQI (M80) ballast. I'm kind of worried that this is akin to mounting a jet engine on a Cessna 172 and then marveling at its increased speed when compared to a standard propeller-driven version. The manufacture specs a M58 probe start ballast but an Ice Cap electronic will also function fine, correct?
A lot of the published data is about 3-years old and I know technology is always changing. What specific ballast would yall recommend to run either the 250W 10K XM or Ushio SE bulbs? TIA!
The setup came with a dual PFO 400 HQI ballast (AQ-400X2) and dual 400W Radium HRI-T 20K blue SE bulbs mounted in a canopy w/ reflector. However, one side of the ballast is blown so I'm going to have to spend some money.
Given my parameters and the fact that I don't like the strong blue coloring I've seen with the 20K bulbs, I'm planning to replace the Radiums with 250W 10ks, probably XMs. the Ushio 10K is a close second. The reflector is predrilled for 2 48" VHO tubes so I'll probably go ahead and add 2 110W URI Super Actinic VHOs for those times when I'm feeling a little blue.
The only thing up in the air is the proper ballast to drive the 250W SE 10k MHs.
I'm aware of Sanjay's data showing the tremendous PAR output of the XMs when driven by a HQI (M80) ballast. I'm kind of worried that this is akin to mounting a jet engine on a Cessna 172 and then marveling at its increased speed when compared to a standard propeller-driven version. The manufacture specs a M58 probe start ballast but an Ice Cap electronic will also function fine, correct?
A lot of the published data is about 3-years old and I know technology is always changing. What specific ballast would yall recommend to run either the 250W 10K XM or Ushio SE bulbs? TIA!
