Got my lights set up today

Covey

Covey

New member
I got my order in from hello lights and set it up yesterday. 2/3 of the way done. I'll order the last third when I get paid again.
Anyway 2x400 20K XM on ARO m57 ballast.
2400new.jpg

I am liking the setup for being "budget" ballast they are well built, quiet, and for once something came with a power cord and lamp cord that is long enough to be useful. 3 year warrenty from Hellolights too.
IMG_0005.jpg

This being my first MH lighting they kicked on the first time and I was like thats not the bright... Oh its getting brighter... Damn thats bright...
newrl.jpg

So I built a rack to hang the lights out of Sch 80 PVC and added chains and hooks so I can adjust the height. Anyway I will have to put with the tinfoil tent and the eyesore until I get the third retro.

I am really liking the 20K XMs they look a little whiter in real life I am hoping I get some of that 20K magic going on.

What do you think?
 
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Looks good Covey, ease into the MH lighting. I didn't and had some serious bleaching on a few things because of it.

Luckily it was softies, which opened up more space for SPS.
 
Set the bulbs at 10" off the water and reduced the photo period to 6 hours. The overdriven T-5 throw the PAR of a good 250W MH and I was running a yellower higher par bulb so I am hoping that is enough.

On side note I like the way the XM make the green pop I diffentilly don't need actinics. I am going to have to get a green slimer frag from someone.
Sin20K.jpg

Check out what it does to the sinularia

I finally got a nice top down shot of one of my clams too.
blueclam.jpg


So when you fragging Billy?
 
Me fragging? Pretty soon on a couple things, you will have to drop by sometime while I am in town to see the tank. I have added a bunch of stuff and some of the things I have gotten from AE are coloring up good. My frag tank is about done cycling so it will be up soon, at that point I will be doing a bunch of fragging, as well as bringing more variety back from other stores out here in the west.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7518892#post7518892 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
Figured you were out of town Billy... Was in AE today and there was nothing on hold... :D
Click to expand...

They havent gotten much in the last couple weeks. I am bringing a load in from Denver tomorrow however.

I found a couple good acro's here as well as some acans. I am sure I will find more tomorrow when I go pick the stuff up and see all the extra space in the cooler. He had some real nice frags here, and the prices are good(15-20 for mini colonies).

You guys shouldn't have no problem beating me to stuff this summer. I am out of town every week between now and the first of August.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7523651#post7523651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
Who needs to beat you to AE when you just bring it in from Denver for us?
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I just picked up a few acro frags and a couple acan colonies. Matter of fact there in the floor here beside me waiting to get on the plane. Anywho, at any given time the store I go to has several hundered different corals for sale, both colonies and frags. He has three very large frag grow out tanks, as well as a hell of a selectioin of fish. There are three tanks around 200 gallons that are just frags, plus another three that are colonies.

Once I get a bigger tank, which is going to have to be soon, I will start fragging a bunch of stuff. I am getting a pretty good selection right now.
 
Hey Covey, nice lights, how are your coral's reacting to the change? When do you think you'll get the 3rd light/ballast.
Also, how is the rock curing going? And drop in the pH yet.
 
On side note I like the way the XM make the green pop I diffentilly don't need actinics. I am going to have to get a green slimer frag from someone.
Click to expand...

I really like the 20k color, especially what it does to things that naturally flouresce anyway. When are we being invited over for the updated viewing?
 
Somewhere around the end of july if anyone wants to see the tank the tank and stand should be done by then. Considering it is new lighting, new skimmer, and a few more goodies it should be something to see.

As far as how the corals are reacting. My A. noblis has turned flour. green in 3 days. I have had that frag for over a year now and it was as brown as brown could get. DSB, BB, different skimmers, different additives it didn't matter.

400W 20K's the sucker was green in 3 days. Very happy.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7533795#post7533795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Covey

As far as how the corals are reacting. My A. noblis has turned flour. green in 3 days. I have had that frag for over a year now and it was as brown as brown could get. DSB, BB, different skimmers, different additives it didn't matter.

400W 20K's the sucker was green in 3 days. Very happy.
Click to expand...

How many watts of T5 lights did you have before on the other tank?
 
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