Best lighting for a 29gal under 200$

Can you tell me the exact bulb I should run on this ballast (what do you run)? I heard Phoenix 14k is sweet, will that work on the ARO pro series? Conversly, I heard the XM 15k isn't so good. Any more specifics would be helpful.
 
Started with 2X65 PCs...was ok, then changed to 250 MH (14K) by Aquamedic and couldn't be happier. No heat issues, max temp is 82 during summer but it has been a steady 78. The pendant sits 9" above the tank with one fan. You can't go wrong with the intensity and look of the MH bulb which really brings out the colors especially zoas and SPS.
 
I use a 14k hammy and it has great color, perfect mix of blue and white. I get excellent growth out of my corals.
 
I use the phoenix 14k 250 W DE (on an ARO electronic ballast) and i like it way better than the XM 20k that I used previously. The XM 15k had a notoriously low PAR value. The best mix of color and PAR using a single bulb is the phoenix 14k, according to my eye. I have noticed better growth already in the 2 months I have been using it. Does phoenix make a mogul based lamp?? I dont think they do. illuming.com has the best price I have seen for these lamps
 
I am using the XM 15k bulb I like it. But I have seen that they do get a bad rep for some reason. My canopy is made of wood. Painted the in side flat white and stained the outside. the back is half open. I have not had a heat issue yet. It might be because I have a large sump. HTH
 
Awesome! I found a sweet looking 150w HQI phoenix 14K retrofit on Illuming.com for 209$. I don't plan on keeping SPS and probably can't afford 250w anyway. Now I'm thinking I probably have to redo my canopy to make it higher, no big deal. Now I'n thinking: how high should I keep my MH above the water? I read someone said 9inches for theirs, do I need to go this high? How close can I put it for to not heat things up too much/ have the light reach the sides of the tank?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6879834#post6879834 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DesertBandits
Awesome! I found a sweet looking 150w HQI phoenix 14K retrofit on Illuming.com for 209$. I don't plan on keeping SPS and probably can't afford 250w anyway. Now I'm thinking I probably have to redo my canopy to make it higher, no big deal. Now I'n thinking: how high should I keep my MH above the water? I read someone said 9inches for theirs, do I need to go this high? How close can I put it for to not heat things up too much/ have the light reach the sides of the tank?
Click to expand...

Does the illuming 150watt HQI come with UV glass? I think not!!
illuming does have good prices on ballasts & lamps. But for a good pendant style HQI reflector, you can't beat the PFO's.
 
Make sure you get a UV Shield with what ever you get in the double ended HQI type setup's.

150w double ended penetrate more that 175w Singled ended.

175w SE setup - 8" above the water.
150w DE setup - 9-10" above the water.
250w SE setup - 10-12"above the water.
 
Yeah, so i guess I've got to shield the bulb. I understand that any glass blocks UV so I've got to put a glass plate inder the bulb to stop UV, and make sure there is no unfiltered light spilling out anywhere. seems kind of tricky. How is it that pendants work? they arent airtight are they? They allow air exchange but don't seep any light?

Do all you guys have pendants or do you do something else? Id like to avoid the 80$ for a pendant if I could.
 
Any glass will work, many people say to use tempered glass because it can withstand the heat of the lamp better and that is a great idea if you can find it. FWIW Acrylic does as good or better a job at removing UV light. I wouldnt worry too much about the small amounts of stray light. Are you retrofitting a hood or building a pendant? I have seen several pendants made from wood coated in a thin sheet of ABS... maybe that is a good way to go, just make sure its ventilated.

I had a glass aquarium lid that I cut to size and used that. I attached two small acrylic long "L" shaped brackets to the side of my hood using epoxy (ABS hood) and then used some double sided tape (the puffy stuff) to affix the glass to the acrylic. Its not permanent and seems to work out pretty well.

HTH

Brian
 
Ok good, so I can come up with some kind of diy for blocking the UV. Sounds good. Yeah, I guess I'll be building a new canopy, thats 10 in tall or so to accomidate MH. My current one would be ok for flourescent, but isn't nearly tall enough for MH.
 
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