wrassie86
Premium Member
Ok little history,120g AGA tank.as of now i am running 2x400w MH standard ballast with 14k coralvue bulbs (lowest par of all acording to sanjay)did not know this when i bought them.-But acro colors are ok at best altho my greens are lacking.
I have since ordered 250w standard ballasts with some ebay 10k bulbs that i will assume are not the highest par either,so that the shock to the corals is not so great.i figured i would run these for a few months then buy some XM 10k,and go from there.
Also i am running 440w's VHO on ARO ballasts, 3 URI attinic and 1 50/50 I would like to do away with these also.
.As we can see i am trying to save on power/heat and lower my bill alittle but not take away from the corals.
Now here is where i am stuck.I have ran 10k's before but this system was set up for 20k xm from the begining, so i like alittle blue and VHO is pretty wastefull also.
My thoughts were changing to 4x T5-54w blue bulbs (tek retro)How would this look? also about 200w savings from VHO.
Or 2x 175w MH 20k bulbs running with the 10k and when there off.not the power savings of the T5s but a 100watts or so less then VHO along with less bulbs and hassle.
What would you guys do? i would like to keep atleast the 14k look,The wife has given the go ahead on what ever for lights as long as it is saving power costs,But really i think the tanks are just growing on her after 6 yrs
I just see the savings as more money for corals.
:rollface:
But really what do you guys think??
I have since ordered 250w standard ballasts with some ebay 10k bulbs that i will assume are not the highest par either,so that the shock to the corals is not so great.i figured i would run these for a few months then buy some XM 10k,and go from there.
Also i am running 440w's VHO on ARO ballasts, 3 URI attinic and 1 50/50 I would like to do away with these also.
.As we can see i am trying to save on power/heat and lower my bill alittle but not take away from the corals.
Now here is where i am stuck.I have ran 10k's before but this system was set up for 20k xm from the begining, so i like alittle blue and VHO is pretty wastefull also.
My thoughts were changing to 4x T5-54w blue bulbs (tek retro)How would this look? also about 200w savings from VHO.
Or 2x 175w MH 20k bulbs running with the 10k and when there off.not the power savings of the T5s but a 100watts or so less then VHO along with less bulbs and hassle.
What would you guys do? i would like to keep atleast the 14k look,The wife has given the go ahead on what ever for lights as long as it is saving power costs,But really i think the tanks are just growing on her after 6 yrs
I just see the savings as more money for corals. :rollface:
But really what do you guys think??
