Just wondering what kind of setup I would need for my 75gal? Should I go with 2 MH's and if so, what ballast/bulb/wattage should I go with. Or should I just get a Nova Extreme T-5? Also, would a VHO retrofit system be better? I'm new to the lighting thing, all I have is a Coralife Aqualight.
Lighting Help...
- Thread starter WhiteysTA
- Start date
I posted this in the other thread...but I don't think you will find a cheaper setup...this one has the bulb in it and you would need two kits and a hood to house them.
http://www.hellolights.com/17methalbalk.html
http://www.hellolights.com/17methalbalk.html
DrBDC
Active member
I don't agree with the energy part. A 6 bulb tek t5 w individual reflectors puts out about half of a what a 175 watt Iwasaki 15,000K bulbs does. So on a 75 that is 2 of them. Still 350 watts of mh for almost 2X the light of 320 watts of T5HO. Heat is related to watts directly too.
I can attest to the fact that T5's do heat up too...but the heat is spread over a larger area and can be just as troublesome to remove from a canopy. I had my fun with all T5's and still run them but I am hooked on halides and my corals responded so much better to halides than T5's. Run those T5's on an icecap ballast and watch them get very very hot.
chadfarmer
Premium Member
do you like
yellow, white, blue, very blue you can make your tank look that color any light setup you have
i have had every light setup i have the halides (but it hard to put them on my tank because a simple fan to cool the t5 bulbs makes a world of difference in growth of corals)(dont even get me started about overdriving the t5s)
what are you going to keep in the tank?
if it was me i would get the t5 or the 250w metal halide either one buy a small fan to blow across the water
also most stores have more than one bulb combination setup
yellow, white, blue, very blue you can make your tank look that color any light setup you have
i have had every light setup i have the halides (but it hard to put them on my tank because a simple fan to cool the t5 bulbs makes a world of difference in growth of corals)(dont even get me started about overdriving the t5s)
what are you going to keep in the tank?
if it was me i would get the t5 or the 250w metal halide either one buy a small fan to blow across the water
also most stores have more than one bulb combination setup
Im Lon 2
Premium Member
This is the best 250w retro I have found. I have one of them on my tank and love it. And from what I have read so does everyone else that has them.. there 10k bulb is nice crisp white with no Yellow. and their 14k is really blue like the 20k Radium bulbs.
My next setup will be all T5's.. I have seen some really nice tanks with them.. And there is a place on E-bay that sells the t5 Retro's really cheap, and they will add on the single W shaped reflector for each bulb for the same price. 6-80 watts for 399. Not to bad. Just don't have the money to through at it right now.
My next setup will be all T5's.. I have seen some really nice tanks with them.. And there is a place on E-bay that sells the t5 Retro's really cheap, and they will add on the single W shaped reflector for each bulb for the same price. 6-80 watts for 399. Not to bad. Just don't have the money to through at it right now.
Another quick question, if I go with 2 MH 250w SE lights, should I go with 2 different color lights or both 10k's? Also, what kind of timer would I use to control them and would I start one before the other and how long should I stagger them. Well, guess that wasnt a quick question after all! My bad!!
Im Lon 2
Premium Member
You can run 2 different K bulbs, but you will be able to tell a huge difference in the K. especially with only 2 bulbs, one on one side and one on the other. I run 2 different K bulbs, but I have 3 bulbs and the center one is the one that is a different k. And you can the difference between the K's
If you go with MH I would supplement them with VHO (all Actinic). On a 75 you can run just two bulbs, but you will not be saving "much" more money than just buying the set that runs 4 bulbs, other than cost of the extra bulbs.
On the timers "most" people turn them on and off at the same time. Now if you add the VHO you will want to run them at least an hour or so before and after the MH's go off.
If you go with MH I would supplement them with VHO (all Actinic). On a 75 you can run just two bulbs, but you will not be saving "much" more money than just buying the set that runs 4 bulbs, other than cost of the extra bulbs.
On the timers "most" people turn them on and off at the same time. Now if you add the VHO you will want to run them at least an hour or so before and after the MH's go off.
Reggae Fish
Premium Member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9026124#post9026124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WhiteysTA
Another quick question, if I go with 2 MH 250w SE lights, should I go with 2 different color lights or both 10k's? Also, what kind of timer would I use to control them and would I start one before the other and how long should I stagger them. Well, guess that wasnt a quick question after all! My bad!!
Bulbs- Depends on the brand of bulbs and reflectors and just like cooking, it's all on what YOU like. Go look around. I like the look of the 14k hamilton (which I have 2 of just waiting to get setup) Depending on how you have them set up, you'd want to do the same bulb or you'll have a different colored tank on each side.
Timers- With the amount of money you spend on your system, buy a controller. Solves that problem (and others) However, if not, the bluewave ballasts can be ordered with an integrated timer. I don't like the coralife ones (and similar AT ALL)...I like the intermatic but as arsenal said, they lose time which is just annoying. Still want to add an actinic even if is small. You can do 2 vho's on that for cheap and I'd bet you could find some spare parts around the club.
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