Lighting question
- Thread starter jfbhd4
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Im Lon 2
Premium Member
I'm not sure if there is a big difference if you have the same Watts of lights other than One may penetrate the water better than others.
IMO - I have had VHO and PC for supplemented with MH and I like the look of VHO's & MH (for that matter NO bulbs as actinics & MH) much better than the PC, but again that my opinion.
IMO - I have had VHO and PC for supplemented with MH and I like the look of VHO's & MH (for that matter NO bulbs as actinics & MH) much better than the PC, but again that my opinion.
DrBDC
Active member
Wattage is just how much electricity they use and has nothing to do with output. There is an efficiency rating of par/watts for different ballast/bulb combinations. Sanjay has many of those metal halide combo's listed and some will surprise you.
The issue with the mh's supporting some animals that other lights won't, or don't easily also deals with the whole spectrum not just the primary peak spectrum. Those are on his site as well. I personally haven't seen any full spectral graphs for any fluorescent type bulb. There may be a reason?
The issue with the mh's supporting some animals that other lights won't, or don't easily also deals with the whole spectrum not just the primary peak spectrum. Those are on his site as well. I personally haven't seen any full spectral graphs for any fluorescent type bulb. There may be a reason?
Light penetration in the water.
PAR ratings.
Peoples experience. (If 98 out of 100 people said they have had success with anemones under halides and 50 out of 100 said they had success under PC and I wanted an anemone I would get halides.)
Trial and failure.
Lots of lighting forums on reefcentral, check em out and read up. I still dont fully understand lighting.
PAR ratings.
Peoples experience. (If 98 out of 100 people said they have had success with anemones under halides and 50 out of 100 said they had success under PC and I wanted an anemone I would get halides.)
Trial and failure.
Lots of lighting forums on reefcentral, check em out and read up. I still dont fully understand lighting.
Im Lon 2
Premium Member
look at the size of the bulb it takes to equal a 250 or 400 what MH To get that in a VHO bulb you need at least 4 - 4' bulbs each 110 Watts that covers a 4' section. the MH cover a 2x2 foot area to the light is much more intense coming from the MH.
I have had a Nano for years with good growth with out MH. I just setup a friends 29gal with a 250W MH over the top of it. His growth on his corals where awesome. I really thought at the time I was over doing his tank, but figured he would want to upgrade later on to a bigger tank so I said I thought it would be best for him to go with the 250. I was very impressed how well his corals had done under the MH lighting.
I have had a Nano for years with good growth with out MH. I just setup a friends 29gal with a 250W MH over the top of it. His growth on his corals where awesome. I really thought at the time I was over doing his tank, but figured he would want to upgrade later on to a bigger tank so I said I thought it would be best for him to go with the 250. I was very impressed how well his corals had done under the MH lighting.
It's a good thing the ocean is filled with metal halides, otherwise those corals, anemones etc, would be screwed! :rollface:
Sorry, I have a sarcastic sense of humor.
Basically what you were reading said the corals, anemones, etc, require high levels of light. You can achieve high levels of light different ways. It is easiest to achieve high levels of light using metal halide because the lamps are small, and through the use of light fixture optics, high intensities can be achieved.
It is 100% false to say that corals, anemones, etc, can ONLY survive under MH light.
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