Lighting suggestions

[jesterns2]

Within the next month I am planning on updating my lighting. I want to switch to MH`s. Spare time is not something I have a lot of so I was thinking to hang two 250w pendants(75g tank).

Now if I do this I will not be able to have actinics which would help a lot with color. Does anyone have any suggestions on what bulb would be best to make the corals look good but also be the most beneficial to the corals?

Also I am assuming I won`t have any limitations on what I keep if I use two 250w halide`s correct?

Thanks Bill

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

I have (2) DE 250w now over my 75 and I can keep anything. That will be fine for you. I have (2) 54w T5's but that is just for the dusk to dawn look. I run 14k Phoenix bulbs and love them. You get great growth from theses bulbs and they give the tank an icy blue look, not too white and not too blue.

T5 is an option also. You can get a nice fixture that will also allow you to keep anything in the tank. I Like the shimmer I get from MH though. Initially cost was a factor for some people because you can get away with less wattage in T5 bulbs so you would be running 324 watts for (6) T5's as opposed to 500 watts for (2) 250. But with the fact that most people are running MH lights less the cost isn't much of an issue since I switch my Phoenix out every 24 months so to replace them is $120 for both bulbs which comes out to $60/year. If you replace the T5's every year that would cost you around $138/year. Also with running less wattage over the tank it meant less heat transfer to the tank. I don't have a chiller but have never had any issues with heat and MH and I have a canopy.

 

[jesterns2]

Thanks, I think when I make the purchase I will get 14k's. Does the brand of the bulb matter much? Also I think I will get ice cap because there pendants and electronic ballast can do 250w or 400w which will come in handy when I eventually switch to a bigger tank

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

Yes brands matter very much. They vary from color to par to price. Unless you plan on upgrading to a 500 gallon 3 foot deep tank, you can still light larger (180,220) with 250w bulbs. I am just adding one more 250w when I set up the 220 so I will have three over it.

 

[jesterns2]

I definetly plan on getting a 500g tank right after I win the powerball! LOL! As far as lamp brand how are the ice cap bulbs?

 

[NaClH2Opgh]

I definetly plan on getting a 500g tank right after I win the powerball! LOL! As far as lamp brand how are the ice cap bulbs?

You and me both..lol Hell I'll build a fish building and not just a fishroom.

I have never tried the icecap bulbs so not sure. pm Steven Pro as he has some knowledge of Ice Cap products....:lmao:

 

[jesterns2]

Nice! LOL

 

[cloakerpoked]

I think Icecap is what Elmer's was using a while back, and they looked ok. The 10k's were definitely yellowish, and the 20k's were a little too blue for me, but that's to be expected in a lot of brands. I'd definitely go with 14k and wouldn't bother with actinic supplimentation unless you don't get what you're after with the 14k's alone.

 

[jesterns2]

I just mainly like the Actinics when the main lights go off so it`s not a real big deal. The combination of the two does seem to make everything look a bit better. I have found hanging kits but can anyone recomend a retractable hanging kit that is reliable.