Best halides for a 55?

[Chypriss]

Give me some suggestions. Thanks.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

2x175 should be good enough i would think. But get some t5's or pc's to add actinics too.

 

[hawkfish21]

You could just go with T5 as well?

 

[gman0526]

Ushio 175W 15k's

 

[Poorcollegereef]

depends on the height of the tank, but I am guessing it is the standard tall skinny 55 seen at all big pet stores right? If it is about 20-24 inches deep, I would go with 2 250w and if yu want supper growth go for 400w, but thats for sps. 175 should work if you want lps or just some sps at the top of the tank. If you dont want the sps with fast growths go with t5 and avoid the heat issues.

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

It all depends what you want to keep in the tank SPS , LPS Softies or Clams and how intense the lighting you want for your tank and your lighting bill cost!
Some people use single 250-400 watt MH and I know others have dual 175, 250, 400 MH watt plus vho on their 55 gal!

 

[ahullsb]

I was worried that I should have gone with 250's on my 55. But I'm glad I didn't! All my sps are up high, and get great amounts of light. I find myself having to move a lot of things down farther into the tank.
Check out the current usa outer orbit lights. I have one and love it.

 

[Chypriss]

None of you have any issues with the halide setup being to wide for your tank. I was looking at some and they were 15inches across and the tank is only 12 inches. I wonder if that will be an issue. Right now I have 6 65 watt pc bulbs, but I want metal halides for the look for the coral and so I can also keep a couple clams.

This is my tank right now.

The powercompacts are nice, but they don't make the coral glow like halides.

 

[michaeldaly]

I think 2 150W Halides would be good.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Ushio 175W 15k's

i've never used MH before, but from what i read on here, 15K's give out the lowest PAR rating of all the MH's (of course that probably does depend on brand). Even lower than 20K's from what i hear.

 

[jbittner]

i run 4x54 wt T5 and I coulld not be happier. I have SPS, LPS, Softies anf Clams. I used to run a 2x 250 Mh system with VHO actinics, but the heat they produce was to much for my 55 to handle. I see better growth and coloration with the t5 and none of the heat issues, I actually had to buy another heater. MH give you shimmer lines but alot of heat in such a small tank.
Here are some of my clams. These are 8 months old now and have grown and maintained there coloring

The CC has been removed.

 

[ahullsb]

Ha. My tank is 12 inches wide and my light is closer to 15. I was worried too but no big deal. The t5's are set in a little bit so that they really only hang off a little. I want a bigger tank soon someday so I don't care that much. It doesn't look that bad, although I want to build a three sided canopy to keep light from pouring across the room

 

[gman0526]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9205920#post9205920 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
i've never used MH before, but from what i read on here, 15K's give out the lowest PAR rating of all the MH's (of course that probably does depend on brand). Even lower than 20K's from what i hear.

And that would be wrong the Ushio's 175 watts 15k's give a higher PAR rating when running on electronic ballasts than some 250 watters.

I think you're referring to the XM's in which case you're right the 15k's XM's stink.

 

[michaeldaly]

I'm running the BLV 14000K and I really pleased with them, not a blue look but a crisp white.

They are the same as Ushio 14000K bulbs.