If you could choose 250 or 400 MH

M007

M007

Acro Whore
All $$ values aside and you have a 24" deep reef. Not a flat plateau style of rock work but one with a rear reef wall and a few large pieces of LR extending out from the wall. 250W MH or 400W MH. 4x80W T5 will also be built into the fixture. All opinions are welcome and thank you in advance :cool:
 
A lot will depend upon your intended stock. If it's a mixed reef, most go with 250's as 400's may be to much for some LPS/ Zoanthids/ Softies. If you're SPS dominant, you might consider 400's.

I use a Select-A-Watt ballast as it let's me switch between 250, 250 HQI, 400, and 400 HQI dependent upon my whims and fancies. I currently run 400w Radium's, but I'm choosing not to run them on the "HQI" setting which will overdrive them a bit.
 
250W Radium on a M80 Ballast run at 330W to spec which believe it or not extends the life of these bulbs over elec. ballast. Running 4 Radiums with 8 54W T5 B+ is slightly too much Par 400's range in a 26" deep tank with rockwork 1/3 up. I stagger my lighting for this reason. Defiantly recommend the 250W on Magnetic ballast such as aquacube,Hamilton or bluewave. Going on 12 months and the par has not dropped over 5% and may possible get a year and half on these bulbs.
 
I agree with tdb, i think 3 or 4 x 250W bulbs will be more than enough mate when you consider the rock scape you're going with and those T5's. 3 x 400W mounted higher would also do a great job but might give you headaches with too many high light areas along the high back wall rocks. Goes without saying which bulb i recommend....... starts with an RRRRRRRRRRR :smokin:
 
TDB so you're saying that a Hamilton (for instance) M80 "HQI" would be far better to run a Radium than an electronic ballast? Andrew what are you thoughts/what ballast do you run on your 250W Radium? :) this thread is definitely handy!
 
biggles said:
I agree with tdb, i think 3 or 4 x 250W bulbs will be more than enough mate when you consider the rock scape you're going with and those T5's. 3 x 400W mounted higher would also do a great job but might give you headaches with too many high light areas along the high back wall rocks. Goes without saying which bulb i recommend....... starts with an RRRRRRRRRRR :smokin:
Click to expand...

20K Radium is the weapon of choice, I have run them in the past in a similar set up, 2 x 400W SE + 4 x T5 over 48x24x25". The heat was the big issue which is why I'm thinking 250's this time around. 3 x 250W SE + the T5's over 84x28x24. I like the design of the Hamilton fixture having the MH's in one long fixture vs. the Giesemann design that had each bulb in its own reflector pod within the fixture.
 
I don't like those tiny little reflector pod fixtures either, always better to have a more open design i think for ventilation. I had 2 x 400W Radiums over my 4x2x2 and it gave me heat issues in summer when i was living in a house without air conditioning. :fun5:
I wouldn't underestimate the power of those 4 x 80W T5 tubes either mate, i'm switching to Giesemann T5's soon because my LFS is stocking them now and getting hold of ATI tubes is a pain most times with stock levels in Aus always being a problem it seems. I'd rather give the money to the LFS guys anyway as with the expensive freight charges here it doesn't work out any more expensive than shopping online. :)

I run my Radiums on either 250W or 400W HPS ballasts Wrangy.
 
I'm running 2x250's. The 400s were just too much. There were some minor heat issues but it was too much for my softies. 2x 250 with 4x t5s is perfect for me. Everything is happy.
 
biggles said:
I don't like those tiny little reflector pod fixtures either, always better to have a more open design i think for ventilation. I had 2 x 400W Radiums over my 4x2x2 and it gave me heat issues in summer when i was living in a house without air conditioning. :fun5:
I wouldn't underestimate the power of those 4 x 80W T5 tubes either mate, i'm switching to Giesemann T5's soon because my LFS is stocking them now and getting hold of ATI tubes is a pain most times with stock levels in Aus always being a problem it seems. I'd rather give the money to the LFS guys anyway as with the expensive freight charges here it doesn't work out any more expensive than shopping online. :)

I run my Radiums on either 250W or 400W HPS ballasts Wrangy.
Click to expand...

So 20K Radiums, 2 x actinics, and 2 x B+ would be a good start? I think I'll order it this weekend and post a pic or two under the Mitras for comparison down the road.
 
150Ron said:
I'm running 2x250's. The 400s were just too much. There were some minor heat issues but it was too much for my softies. 2x 250 with 4x t5s is perfect for me. Everything is happy.
Click to expand...

You have a 150 Gyre and soft coral? Would love to know your set up on that and what sorts of softies you have. I think Andrew is about to deploy a 150, which will work great for his set up, but my rock work is completely different.
 
Wrangy said:
TDB so you're saying that a Hamilton (for instance) M80 "HQI" would be far better to run a Radium than an electronic ballast? Andrew what are you thoughts/what ballast do you run on your 250W Radium? :) this thread is definitely handy!
Click to expand...


Yes as it drives the bulb to spec. The electric ballast under-drive them which degrades the life of the bulb.
 
I have a 24" deep tank with 2 400w 20,000K Radiums. My reflectors produce a rectangular light foot print which works well for my 60" long 100g. I have run par comparisons with my buddy's 24" deep 48" long 120g whose 2 reflectors (Lumenbright or max, I forget which) produce a square light foot print that work well with his tank shape.

With his more efficient reflectors, his 250w MHs can produce as much if not more par than my 400w MHs in my less good reflectors. So I'd say 250w can work, if one has very efficient reflectors. For me with my tank shape, 400w is the choice.

ct_vol said:
A lot will depend upon your intended stock. If it's a mixed reef, most go with 250's as 400's may be to much for some LPS/ Zoanthids/ Softies. If you're SPS dominant, you might consider 400's.
Click to expand...

My reef is mixed and I have no problem growing LPS or Zoanthids with 400w bulbs. Of course, my favias, blastos and acans are lower compared to my acros and my Euphyllia and Caulastrea are generally mid height.
 
M007 said:
So 20K Radiums, 2 x actinics, and 2 x B+ would be a good start? I think I'll order it this weekend and post a pic or two under the Mitras for comparison down the road.
Click to expand...

I'd get 2 x B+, 2 x coral+ and two actinics. That selection will cover every base for you with regards to supplementing the radiums imo. I think you might like front to back or swap the actinics for blue plus. I use blue+ and coral+ T5's only and have no probs holding saturated flouro pigments. I don't think T5 actinics are anywhere near the same thing as T12 VHO actinics when it comes to supplementing Radiums.

Coral plus
Actinic
Radium
Actinic
Coral plus

Build thread ? :)
 
having 250 and 400 watt fixtures over the years. I presently have 400 watt halide. If you are going to have a sps dominated tank, 400 watt halide is better if you plan to run 20k. If you are going to run 10k 250 should be sufficient. It sounds like you are looking a a cebu sun fixture, they are very good. If you are making a diy or can get a fixture with out ballasts, lumitec has a ballast that is switchable from 250 to 400, so it gives you more flexibility.
 
toothman said:
having 250 and 400 watt fixtures over the years. I presently have 400 watt halide. If you are going to have a sps dominated tank, 400 watt halide is better if you plan to run 20k. If you are going to run 10k 250 should be sufficient. It sounds like you are looking a a cebu sun fixture, they are very good. If you are making a diy or can get a fixture with out ballasts, lumitec has a ballast that is switchable from 250 to 400, so it gives you more flexibility.
Click to expand...

The Cebu Sun is the one I have in mind but was hoping to run 250's to mitigate some of the heat issues and keep the hydro meter under 10,000RPM :crazy1:
 
For those running 250 radiums, how long is your light period. I have 3 250 radiums, with Hamilton m80, over my 180 and they are on noon to 8 PM. Also 2 54 watt t5 (ATI actinic and purple +) that are on 10 AM to 9 PM
 
Oh lovely Andrew, do you have a link for the HPS ballasts? Hamilton don't make the HQI ballasts in 240V :(
 
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