ashish
New member
My name is ashish and I currently run a 120 reef tank. Few years ago I purchased odyssea 760 watt (HQI 250x2 Powercompact 65wattx4). I purchased this after a lot of research and bought it knowing I will have to change out the ballast. The MH are great this is regarding actinic replacement.
I really do not get much out of the power compacts actinics. I think for there (bulb replacement) price and watts they are worthless. Since 1 of my PC ballast burned out I was thinking about (if possible) retro fitting the fixture with 2 VHO 110 watt actinics. I feel since the fixture is suspended 1' above the water, the effect of the PC is garbage and I need higher watts or something closer to the water-line. This is what I had in mind:
1. Get rid of the Powercompacts and retrofit some VHO Actinics
2. Get rid of the fixture and just buy some reflectors for the HQI
3. Find some actinic LED strips that I can use to supplement HQI. (that are'nt a wrip-off).
4. I have a older T5 4x54 fixture...Could possibly re-use the ballast and fittings and just purchase some nice bulbs.
Questions
1. If I made an open-top canopy...Would actinics attached to the side walls be an hazard?
2. Whats a good Waterline distance for 2 x 110w VHO bulbs?
3. Is it possible (or recommended) to replace the PC/ballast to VHO bulbs/ballast with in a fixture? or will it be to-much size problems, heat, etc?
4.. My tank is very blue (20000K), would a row of daylight bulbs and row of actinics work good?
5. Has anyone used different MH actinics (VHO, T5, LED).. What would you recommend for both coral health, looks, & pricing.
note: This is in a public place so has to be clean-cut and easy to maintain. The tank only looks good for the 8 hours when the HQI's are on. I would like to have the actinics actually bring out the neon in my corals & somehow have it closer to the water line. While Led's would no doubt provide the best color I just don't think the price is justified.
I really do not get much out of the power compacts actinics. I think for there (bulb replacement) price and watts they are worthless. Since 1 of my PC ballast burned out I was thinking about (if possible) retro fitting the fixture with 2 VHO 110 watt actinics. I feel since the fixture is suspended 1' above the water, the effect of the PC is garbage and I need higher watts or something closer to the water-line. This is what I had in mind:
1. Get rid of the Powercompacts and retrofit some VHO Actinics
2. Get rid of the fixture and just buy some reflectors for the HQI
3. Find some actinic LED strips that I can use to supplement HQI. (that are'nt a wrip-off).
4. I have a older T5 4x54 fixture...Could possibly re-use the ballast and fittings and just purchase some nice bulbs.
Questions
1. If I made an open-top canopy...Would actinics attached to the side walls be an hazard?
2. Whats a good Waterline distance for 2 x 110w VHO bulbs?
3. Is it possible (or recommended) to replace the PC/ballast to VHO bulbs/ballast with in a fixture? or will it be to-much size problems, heat, etc?
4.. My tank is very blue (20000K), would a row of daylight bulbs and row of actinics work good?
5. Has anyone used different MH actinics (VHO, T5, LED).. What would you recommend for both coral health, looks, & pricing.
note: This is in a public place so has to be clean-cut and easy to maintain. The tank only looks good for the 8 hours when the HQI's are on. I would like to have the actinics actually bring out the neon in my corals & somehow have it closer to the water line. While Led's would no doubt provide the best color I just don't think the price is justified.
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