Help with my bulb ballast combo

[bader]

So new to mh lighting not to the hobby. I have had all different kinds if light PC t5 led loved the t5 LEDs where OK but not my favorite and I'm planning a new tank 120 48x24x24 I want to go with mh in this build I have 2 lumenmax elite reflectors that I will use but want to know what bulb ballast to use. I liked the crisp whites I got from my t5 setup I have herd great things about the radion 20k bulbs but worried it may be to blue. Or should i go with an xm 10k or 14k. I have thought about supplementing with 2 t5 too what bulb do you all like best pictures also what ballast should I get so I could play around with different bulbs if I want to .

 

[jda]

Radium 20K are not all that blue. They look great IMO.

If you are going to have a mixed type of reef, then 250W bulbs on 250W Magnetic Ballasts are good. If you are going high light SPS, then 400W bulbs on 400W Magnetic Ballasts (good) or 400W HQI (better).

I personally don't think that these bulbs need supplemented with T5s.

 

[bader]

I plan in having mostly sps and clams.

 

[brett7768]

if you wanna go with radiums make sure you get hqi ballasts.

 

[bader]

That's the problem I'm nit sure if u want radioms or not as I have no experience with them if j get them and want to go to a xm14k instead would the magnetic ballast still be good for those different bulbs

 

[bader]

So I think I have confirmed that I will use radium 20k bulbs would the 250w on the m80 aquamedic cube be good for sps clams in the 25" deep tank or do I really need to go with 400w. Would prefer to stay away from the 400 watt

 

[rsaha]

I used to run the same reflectors - really fine reflectors BTW - the only issue I had with them is that they are super focused so you need to put them up fairly high to avoid the coral burning spot light effect. I had them 10" above the water and that was too low. Probably perfect around 14"...

+1 on the radium 250 on an M80 ballast if you want crisp. XM10K on (I think) M58 if you want insane growth and can put up with the somebody p_*ssed in your tank look.

 

[bader]

Thank you for the response. I will have all kinds of overhead room