Lighting system - MH only

[Verti]

Hi,

Anyone with MH only lighting system (with no additional T5\T8\etc.)?
What Kelvin are you using for these MH bulbs (10K, 14K, 20K, etc.)?
Any issues with coral growth or algea due to this "MH only" system?

Thanks

 

[200mfromocean]

20k 400s are the some of the best standalone for color and plenty of hp to grow anything anywhere in the tank.

 

[Verti]

200mfromocean, thank you.
Is it per your own experience, please?

 

[N+D frags]

i was running just two 250 watt 14000k dont know make of bulbs but didnt look half bad.

 

[t4zalews]

I used a 400w radium over my 65g and had superb growth and color. I wanted a canopy so I switched to 2x250w radiums and it still looks great. I installed my T5's tho because I wanted dawn/dusk...I may just have my T5's run a half hour before and after the halides and have them off when the halides are on.

I would suggest going the 14k-20k route. The 10k's will really give you a yellow look and your color will suffer for it.

 

[Fishdisease]

Phoenix 14K's are pretty sweet on their own. I only have seen 250W in action and there's no need to supplement there. Great growth and colour. Colour however is very much a personal choice.

 

[Verti]

I will probably go for 20K. I like this blue color much more.

t4zalews,
Do you have any experience with other (brand) 20K bulbs?
My list contains XM, Ushio, Giesmann and Radium - any suggestions (per self experience only please)?

 

[campos]

i run 2 USHIO's 250 watt, 20 k

 

[falconut]

I mainly use just (2) 250Watt Pluerite 14K bulbs on my 90 gallon. The corals (SPS, LPS, Softies, Clams) grow great under them. I do have (2) 110Watt VHO bulbs that I run for just a few hours a day, just for the extra blue tint. The tank looks best with the VHO's on, but looks great without them too. I run the MH's on (2) hellolight magnetic ballasts.

 

[t4zalews]

I will probably go for 20K. I like this blue color much more.

t4zalews,
Do you have any experience with other (brand) 20K bulbs?
My list contains XM, Ushio, Giesmann and Radium - any suggestions (per self experience only please)?

For 400w I've used Radium, Reeflux 12k and XM 20k

For 250w, I've used radium, xm20k, hamilton 14k and pheonix 14k (HQI)

400w - the radium made the colors pop more than the xm20k, although the xm20k was still a nice bulb (and cheaper). teh reeflux 12k had this purple tint in it that i really didnt like, but many people like this bulb...personally i dont like it.

250w - XM20k look very good, but suffer in PAR numbers. Radiums almost have like built in actinics and are my favorite for 250w applications, great color and PAR. the hamilton 14k's were weird, something I couldnt really put a finger on, almost had a monochromatic tone to them. If running a DE system, I'd use the pheonix 14k, I'd say they are the radium of the DE world.

 

[Verti]

Thanks Taylor!
I am going to use 400W, so I raised radium bulb with few points :thumbsup:

 

[t4zalews]

400w Radium in Lumenarc reflector only:

you'll really like that combo. I used a 400w galaxy ballast with mine

 

[Verti]

It looks great to me!
Not too blue (as I suspected it might be). Seems perfect!

I am going to use two Giesemann System 400 plus 1x400 W + pl 9 watt

 

[t4zalews]

What size tank is it? did you already buy that fixture? cuz I'd suggest getting the biggest reflector possible for your tank

 

[Verti]

The tank size is: 130cmX60cmX70cm
Yes, I got this fixture already.

 

[Verti]

I am intrested now on Giesmann "Coral" 400W SE bulbs.
Anyone with experience this bulb?

 

[returnofsid]

Along these same lines, I'm setting up a 40 breeder, with MH only. Tank will be lit with a 250MH Hamilton Pendant. I'm wondering how high above the water surface, I should hang the pendant. This tank will be predominately SPS. Any suggestions?