Halide Q & A

[sirreal63]

I am not keeping anything difficult, I have spent the past year building our future home and the tank has taken a severe beating. I am undecided if I will keep the more labor intensive creatures in the future, my time is severely limited, but I am ok with that, at least for now.

 

[jonb154]

Yeah all I have is an orange shoulder tang, and some acros that didn't die off in the past month, all my water chemistry is good, I even had the LFS check for me to be sure... So all that's left is the light, which is right at a year old, I really need to invest in a par meter!

 

[ccscorpion200]

Got a 280g 72x30x30 sps setup, been using LEDs . Want to try metal halides. What is a good setup for it? Can I use 3 250 20k lights? What would you recommend? New to metal halides, seeking advice.

 

[StaghornE]

You can probably raise that lumen right reflector around 40" from the bottom of the tank and get better coverage. How high is it now?

 

[sid101]

Hello everyone, can i use a regular non aquarium mh reflector with aquarium mh bulbs? i hav a couple of 150watt reflector and i was thinking on using them for a 60 inch tank i am putting together with ushio bulbs, is it all right?

 

[sid101]

another quick question, why are mogul bulbs almost double what double ended ones? thank you

 

[Jeremy B.]

Got a 280g 72x30x30 sps setup, been using LEDs . Want to try metal halides. What is a good setup for it? Can I use 3 250 20k lights? What would you recommend? New to metal halides, seeking advice.

I would suggest looking at either the Hamilton Cabo Sun Large reflectors for maximum coverage, or if those are just too big to fit in your area (20" x 20" reflector) then scale down to the Cabo Sun Mini reflector (12.75" x 12.75"). The Large will be a little less PAR straight down, but more PAR in the outer areas of the reflector. The Mini will be more PAR straight down, but slightly less in the outer areas.

From there I would suggest using the Luxcore adjustable ballasts. Just a note that the 250-400 ballast will actually drive a 250w bulb harder than what their smaller 150-250 ballast will on the exact same setting. I would opt for the larger ballast assuming you never want to run 150w or 175w lamps.

Bulb choice is up to you. The 20k Radium is pretty popular and would provide you with decent growth rates and excellent coloration. If you want more growth then take a look at the 10K XM, just be prepared to supplement heavily with blue to see the coloration. This is a great example of what can be done with 10K XM's if you supplement correctly:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/25-tank-of-the-month

Hope this helps!

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hello everyone, can i use a regular non aquarium mh reflector with aquarium mh bulbs? i hav a couple of 150watt reflector and i was thinking on using them for a 60 inch tank i am putting together with ushio bulbs, is it all right?

Assuming that the endcaps are the same, then yes.

 

[ccscorpion200]

I would suggest looking at either the Hamilton Cabo Sun Large reflectors for maximum coverage, or if those are just too big to fit in your area (20" x 20" reflector) then scale down to the Cabo Sun Mini reflector (12.75" x 12.75"). The Large will be a little less PAR straight down, but more PAR in the outer areas of the reflector. The Mini will be more PAR straight down, but slightly less in the outer areas.

From there I would suggest using the Luxcore adjustable ballasts. Just a note that the 250-400 ballast will actually drive a 250w bulb harder than what their smaller 150-250 ballast will on the exact same setting. I would opt for the larger ballast assuming you never want to run 150w or 175w lamps.

Bulb choice is up to you. The 20k Radium is pretty popular and would provide you with decent growth rates and excellent coloration. If you want more growth then take a look at the 10K XM, just be prepared to supplement heavily with blue to see the coloration. This is a great example of what can be done with 10K XM's if you supplement correctly:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/25-tank-of-the-month

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Scubareefman]

I am upgrading my 41G cube. it is 24x18x24deep I currently am running
-24watt T5HO
3x ATI Coral Plus
1x ATI Purple Plus

1x Kessil 150W Ocean Blue 15K LED spotlight mounted on gooseneck about 6 inches off water.

I am replacing the T5HO's with a 250W MH radium with ice cap ballast. I will use the Kessil for sunrise, sunset and off in the mid day.

My questions are;
-What range of height should I be shooting for final MH location?
-Will the Kessil be to much light for sunrise/sunset? (the goose neck can let me have it 1 inch to about 1 1/2 feet above water line.

I have no fish currently in the tank (two baby clowns in my QT waiting)
I have a small purple birds nest frag about 4 inches from top that seems to be happy (color lose but great polyp extension) I am hoping for it to color up with the MH.

As always thank you for taking the time to read.

Tom

 

[beadlocked450r]

Your gonna want it between 8"-13" you might have an issue with the light heating up the tank too much so be prepared for that. It will boil a tank that size pretty fast if it's too low.

 

[Scubareefman]

Your gonna want it between 8"-13" you might have an issue with the light heating up the tank too much so be prepared for that. It will boil a tank that size pretty fast if it's too low.

I hung it at 16 inches, and can lower/raise it pretty easy ( I may raise it another few inches for a few days). I moved my one coral down on the sand for now.
I own a 1/10 chiller if the heat becomes a problem. Its a few years old but worked before I put it away, so I am hoping it still works . It should be able to hold the temp down a few degrees without over working itself.

I don't like the Kessil as the sunrise/sunset, it just seems to be a bit to much. I may replace it with an old fluval LED bar I have. I think its 34 watts.

thanks so much for the help.

Tom

 

[Shawn_k]

I have a standard 40 breeder using leds at the moment, I bought a 250w mh will this one pendent be enough coverage for a 36in tank or will I need to leave one of my kessils at one end of the tank, and how far above the water should I hang this light when mount it?
Thanks shawn

 

[bdsage]

depends what reflector... do u have pics. or name of pendent?

 

[lu9103]

I have a 29g and a 14g bio cube, do they make a metal hilide for them?

 

[Scubareefman]

I have a 29g and a 14g bio cube, do they make a metal hilide for them?

I have seen people use 150w Vipers on them but I don't think JBJ makes a MH just for biocubes. I could be wrong though.

 

[Shawn_k]

depends what reflector... do u have pics. or name of pendent?

these are the reflecters

 

[bdsage]

looks like Hamilton bali sun pendants, similar to what I use @ 14'' awl... I would use the kessil's to sup, dawn/dusk

 

[Shawn_k]

How high should I start it to get the corals acclimated to it?

 

[bdsage]

that depends on a lot of things...I would start at 16''awl for 8 hrs. and watch your corals reaction...intensity is more important than duration per say...