Halide Q & A

[rguyler]

Johnnie, excess nitrite or ammonia could cause the "burns" you are seeing if left as-is. The stress of the water quality could also lower the immunity of your fish to the point to where they have developed infections, such as basic fin/tail rot, which would also look very much like something has been chewing on their fins.

Stress is very bad juju in a closed habitat such as our aquariums. Bad things (bacteria, parasites, etc.) are almost always present in our water so keeping the fish in high quality water and feeding them high quality foods regularly is crucial to building their immune systems up to where they can fight these things off themselves. I supplement every feeding with Vitachem or Selcon.

 

[myreefcentral]

What's the best 250watt DE bulb to run with IceCap ballasts...I want some blue...right now I have a 14k Phoenix in it but it's not giving off enough blue compared to my 150watt 14k Phoenix that I run off of a Current Sunpod. Any suggestions on bulbs?

 

[saltwaterpimp]

I have a 250 watt 14 k Icecap Pendant, i Have the fixture 9 inches from the water, Over a 40 breeder filled with 15 inches of water. the Soft corals on the bottom look like crap, but LPS looks great. First question, is the 14k icecap bulb normally this white ? second, whats a average height for the fixture for a mixed reef(frag tank)? I switched from 4 t5s because of the same reason ...Im clueless at what to do next???:fun2:

Here is some Blue atheilia(spelling) and some Brown Tree corals..Lmao not really the color i was expecting

 

[Tony Romano]

How long have you been using new lighting?

 

[saltwaterpimp]

Not very long, a few weeks ..I know i need to give it time.I wonder if some of these corals are to the point of no return(color wise)? Are these bulbs always this white ?


Thanks in advance..

 

[Mark 75g]

Looking to buy a 175g Bow front 30in deep. The wife wants me to have the hood on the tank so I am limited to lighting fixtures. What do you think about the Maristar 72in 3-250w MH with 4 39w T5s. looking to mainly have LPS and soft corals throughout the tank.

Is this enought light to reach the bottom

 

[Tony Romano]

Yes on lighting. Why does she want hood? No hood is so much better, I converted mine to ceiling mounted. Tank looks better and is super easy to work on.

 

[Mark 75g]

She wants the hood because she likes the way it looks. YOU KNOW WOMEN!!!! Its all about the furniture and how it looks in the house.
It is either the hood or no tank-Which one would you pick?

Do you have a picture?

 

[fernandoh]

150W Bulb in 250W Elecctronic Ballast

150W Bulb in 250W Elecctronic Ballast

Hello actually I have 3 250W MH that have been working excelent in my tank, but I'm moving and there is no place where I can fit my actual tank so I'm buying a smaller one. Can I run a 150W MH with a 250W electronic ballast?

 

[Tony Romano]

No - I will get one, best of both worlds having high cap. Are you planning on stock Ocieanic top? I think it is open topped....

 

[Mark 75g]

It is a stock wood oceanic hood. I think it is open and the owner actually cut holes in each side and installed fans for cooling.
Have you ever heard of Maristar Lights

This is the link for them.

http://www.marineandreef.com/Sunlight_Supply_Maristar_72_inch_3X250W_4X39W_T5_p/rss00773.htmistar

 

[mayjong]

hey all-
really quickly, when would you consider a bulb to be "too old" ???
(when should they be replaced?)
thanks!

 

[Tony Romano]

6 - 9 months is current thinking.

I am using 1500 as bulb life, bit of a guess based on corals seeming to fade. My next big purchase is a PAR meter, so I can use real #s.

 

[mikenjo]

150 vs 250 watt mh heat output

150 vs 250 watt mh heat output

will 150 watt light put out allot less heat i had 250s on my 90 and the tank got hot in the summer and cant afford a chiller if i used 150s will the heat problem be as bad i have all softies in my tank so i think the downgrade would work

 

[spslove]

I'm currently setting up a rimless 220g 5' by 3' by 2' height. I wanted to go with a 2 400w 20k metal halide setup.

Iv noticed most nice fixtures dont go above 250w halides. While 400w halides are stand alone fixtures. They are also bulky and and non pleasing aesthetically unless in a retrofit hood. My furniture and tank is real clean and modern looking so i wanted the lighting to match.

Are there any good looking fixtures that use 400s?

 

[Tony Romano]

I don't think there is a 400W DE bulb on market. You have no hood or top currently?

 

[spslove]

Nope I don't have any type of top. The tank is rimless, so I want the lighting atleast 1foot above water. Ya my best bet is retroing some kinda lighting fixture, prob is its hard to make it look good. Sucks geisemann and all those other companys don't do anything w/ 400w halides. I really didn't want to do it all custom, I feel its Going to be more expensive and less quality, then say a geisemann fixture, or if I Hung 3 250w elos mh. What do you think?

 

[myzislow]

I'm currently setting up a rimless 220g 5' by 3' by 2' height. I wanted to go with a 2 400w 20k metal halide setup.

Iv noticed most nice fixtures dont go above 250w halides. While 400w halides are stand alone fixtures. They are also bulky and and non pleasing aesthetically unless in a retrofit hood. My furniture and tank is real clean and modern looking so i wanted the lighting to match.

Are there any good looking fixtures that use 400s?

sounds like you need a giesemann spectra ($$$$) or sfiligoi xr6($$$$) fixture.

 

[spslove]

sounds like you need a giesemann spectra ($$$$) or sfiligoi xr6($$$$) fixture.

your saving my life here, thats exactly what i'm looking for. im liking those.

 

[dustinc]

I have a 20" cube Solana and am currently using a 14k Phoenix bulb. I'm really wanting my colors to pop more. Most things have great color, but my pink birdsnest has never been pink. I've been looking at switching to the 20k Ushio, but I don't want to lose a lot of par... What is a good bulb with both par and still give me a more blue look...