Halide wattage suggestions

[Atticus]

If you go MH plan to invest in a couple Ice Cap 4in. variable speed fans. I know you would be ok with most acros under T5's, but the shimmer of halides alone is enough reason to switch.

 

[Kevin64]

Wow! Thanks for all the input. I'd like to stick with the T5s, but I don't think what I have is enough light. I have several softies and a clam that have all been doing well but with what research I have done, everyone seems to have halides for the sps corals. I'd really like to be able to frag some and make some money back on this hobby. At least that is what I told the wifey. I just purchased a couple of Reef Optix III Pendants here on Reef Central that were supposedly only used a week. I hope I'm not getting taken for a ride. He said the connector on it was SLS terminations. Can someone tell me what that is? Forgive my ignorance.

 

[slovan]

The recepticle from the reflector will match up with an SLS ballast. If you plan on using Ice Caps or others, you'll have to wire up your own. You can buy them from PA. At least that's where I got mine to wire up the ballast.

To be honest with you, 250W MH should be just fine for your tank. Heat will be more manageable as well. I'm just speaking from my own experiences with T5, MH in both 250W and 400W so take it for what it's worth.

BTW, here's what you'll need.

 

[got2lb]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think most of the HQI type ballasts have that style plug on them? I'm pretty sure the PFO ones do anyway. I had to put the same ones as slovan on my icecaps to match up to my PFO reflectors.

 

[Coralfreak]

They may, but its not to big of deal either way, you can rewire to match it all up.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

i have 2-400's over my 75 gal but thats because i use xm 20k's gotta make up for the par i'm losing

 

[Kevin64]

So 10K AB bulbs and Icecaps ballasts should give me good results? How long do the bulbs usually last?

 

[Coralfreak]

If you use Icecaps you can easily get a year, possibly close to 18months. If you decide on 10K's you may want to keep your T5's to balance the color better. I'd also take a look at the new 14K Iwasaki, I have one on the way, not sure if you would need actinics or not with this one.

 

[Kevin64]

That is what I'd really like is something that does not require the additional actinics. I won't have room for both the T5 fixture and the pendants I fear.

 

[Coralfreak]

Probably will want to go with 14K or even 20K then.

 

[dascharisma]

My standard lighting reply is 400 watt radiums on an hqi ballast. I think it looks better than anything else. That being said, I would go with 250 watters. In a 55 gallon tank, 250 will allow you to keep anything anywhere. I had dual 400s over a 90, and the heat would have been an issue if I hadn't had 200 gallons of sump.



Brad