Halide Q & A

[GregsReef28]

With a focus on budget, what would be the best pendant to hang over a 24x24x18 marineland cube? Mostly LPS with a few clams and choice SPS. Thanks in advance for any responses

 

[spankysreef]

I prefer MH over T-5,so far I see MH is the closest thing to natural sunlight that coral on the wild are growing under.

I prefer a mixture of both! 20k mh's with Ati blue+ T5's . Its an INSANE color combo! But i favor the bluer spectrum.

 

[reefWW96]

With a focus on budget, what would be the best pendant to hang over a 24x24x18 marineland cube? Mostly LPS with a few clams and choice SPS. Thanks in advance for any responses

gregsreef,
not sure how many gallons that is but a 250 watt 14k would be close to perfect

 

[Tony Romano]

Look at Icecap at Marine Depot. 150W would work as well, less heat. (less PAR as well). What room is this going in? I as for heat considerations.

 

[Tony Romano]

I prefer a mixture of both! 20k mh's with Ati blue+ T5's . Its an INSANE color combo! But i favor the bluer spectrum.

20k Rocks!

I am going back to all 420n tubes, may go 20k on MH as well.

This go around I has a 10k, 12k and 20k. 10k is very yellow and has 40% better PAR. (I may use 10Ks for growth) 20 or 12 for long term display.

 

[Ralph ATL]

anyone have a link or two on recent articles on how much par Stony corals need to live/grow? Also, I read somewhere that a par meter will not read a 20K bulb efficiently, so I'll need to add a certain %.

I have 2, 400 watt EVC 20k bulbs with 2 galaxy change a watt ballasts.

85 gallon 21 inches deep.

 

[nlandgraf]

What type of t5 bulbs do you use to supplement the halide light? I like the bluer look.

 

[Tony Romano]

anyone have a link or two on recent articles on how much par Stony corals need to live/grow? Also, I read somewhere that a par meter will not read a 20K bulb efficiently, so I'll need to add a certain %.

I have 2, 400 watt EVC 20k bulbs with 2 galaxy change a watt ballasts.

85 gallon 21 inches deep.

IMO - You have plenty of light! (maybe too much) :lol2:

"What type of t5 bulbs do you use to supplement the halide light? I like the bluer look."

460nm Super Actinic or one of the mix bulbs (Actinic I think they are called) . Personally I am going away from mix to pure 03, I discovered it is easier to see sps health under blues.

 

[Ralph ATL]

No T-5 bulbs.

Just a pair of Hamilton Reefstar Pendants.

Par was mostly at 300 or so, low 250 to a high of 350 where acro's are under water.

 

[dcombs44]

I'm getting ready to set up a 10 gallon zoanthid tank.

I have some lighting options from my old tanks, so here is what I'm planning to use.

I have a PFO dual 175 watt ballast that was given to me. I believe they are magnetic ballasts, but I'm not sure without ripping it apart. I'll see if I can get info on the ballast label.

I was able to pick up a PFO rectangular pendant on clearance and a hanging kit for it. What bulb would give the best PAR values on a small tank like this? I've always used Hamilton 14,000K bulbs on my other tanks (both 250 watt and 175 watt) I've got some of both that I can use now, but they are older and need replaced.

I only plan to use one bulb over the tank obviously. I know there's a thread with PAR values out there somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

Thanks.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

New to MH lighting and I think I may have jumped too quickly on my first fixture. It's an Outer Orbit 250w + 4 24w T5 fixture. I think I should have gone with the 150w version, is there any way I can switch over? Is it as simple as switching the ballast? If I do just have to switch the ballast, can I switch from the magnetic to an Icecap or Galaxy at this point? Thanks!

 

[Tony Romano]

New to MH lighting and I think I may have jumped too quickly on my first fixture. It's an Outer Orbit 250w + 4 24w T5 fixture. I think I should have gone with the 150w version, is there any way I can switch over? Is it as simple as switching the ballast? If I do just have to switch the ballast, can I switch from the magnetic to an Icecap or Galaxy at this point? Thanks!

I think you have to change socket as well, yes you can change to electronic. (Only way to go)

250W is good all around #, why do you think it is too much? I have some 150s wish they were 250s!

 

[NaClCrocodile]

My tank is pretty shallow - 25x18x18. So all I'd have to do is change the ballast and the socket, I wouldn't have to touch the cord that goes into the fixture?

 

[Toadally]

Your 250 watter should work fine on that tank. I had a 250 over a 25 gallon for over a year. The coral was growing out the top of it. What are you going to keep in it?

 

[NaClCrocodile]

I'd like to go SPS dominant with a VSV (hopefully) ULNS. It may be tough with college starting but SPS dominant if I can keep it stable. Should I just go mainly actinic with the T5s? I've got a Reeflux 20K in the 250.

Maybe
Fiji Purple
Blue +
Aquablue Special
Blue +

Thoughts?

 

[KrazyOnetime]

Hey i'm setting up a 135 gallon 72" 18" 24" I want it to be a mixed reef able to handle what ever i decide to put in it with in reason. What should I do as far as lighting? I was thinking 2 400w MH's (instead of three 250w) on either side of center with t5 supplements so I have some not so bright spots in the tank for different requirements but should I buy the 2 ballasts bulbs and reflectors from my lfs for $400 or buy used from classifieds here/ebay ect. And whats the difference between electronic ballasts and the core-coil kits that a person can wire themselves (they are so much cheaper) Just trying to make the best choice concerning the wallet

 

[KrazyOnetime]

my bad that was a single dual 400w ballast 2bulbs and 2 reflectors for $400 from my lfs

 

[Tony Romano]

my bad that was a single dual 400w ballast 2bulbs and 2 reflectors for $400 from my lfs

What brand? You want electronic, your plan seems sound to me. (2 vs 3 mh)

 

[KrazyOnetime]

i cant remember they were blue but not icecaps

 

[KrazyOnetime]

can a guy use any 400w ballast to run these kind of bulbs