Lighting?

R

Reefist

Member
I have one of those crappy Coralife 72" 3-250HQI with 4 96W Actinic PCs on my 210 and not only is it a pain to change bulbs because of the the thin Acrylic( 6' long) strip but to change MH bulb you practaically have to disassemble the whole thing so I'm thinking of changing to pendants and I found these http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Reef-Star-HQI-Pendant-Reflector-2085. Not the best but at $59 each its affordable since I have everything else. But the question is if I supplement with T5 actinic they only come 60"(80W) so I guess I would 6" offset 2 on either side of the pendants so that would be 4 bulbs. Why wouldn't I be better with 2-160W 72" VHO's(1 either side)? I know everyone likes T5's but I have never seen the difference .
Thanks
Tom
 
Thanks,
Do you have reflectors on the VHO's? If so what did you use? Radiums 20k?
I guess you used a 660 ballast or is there something cheaper?
Sorry for all the ?'s
Tom
 
VHO bulbs do not have a reflector. It is too tight a fit in my application. I have them on a 660 ballast. Not sure of other options cost. Radiums only make a 20K. Has been my favorite bulb forever.
 
Yeah But I've read no DE 20K Radium 250W . I'll probably get UVL Super Actinic VHO with internal reflector. Can't seem to find reflector sheets for DIY for 72". I'm going to make my own fixture. Can't find single VHO 6' Fixtures
Thanks
Tom
 
The UV Lighting VHO bulbs have an internal reflector built into them. I have the Radiums with the VHO for supplementation. I previously had T5's for supplementation and I like the VHO's much better. There is nothing like the color from a VHO Actinic.
 
Hey Chris that's funny , the reason I struggled with getting T5's was because of your tank. It looked awesome when we had that viewing at your house some time ago. And after talking to one member there she told me that UVL Vho light with built in reflector passes back thru the bulb which is less effecient then a reflector around the T5 bulb. But I knew the reflector wouldn't last long with salt splash and I didn't like the 60" bulb. I feel alot better about the VHO's now knowing you changed and like it. I still have some the frags I got from you. The Vermiculata(sp?) is awesome. Always growing. What MH bulbs do you use?
Thanks
Tom
 
So as far as MH consensus goes all you guys use 20K MH with Actinic supplementation.I was under the impression that there was better growth with 10k.I will have to try it. I'm using 14K now. So what the best recommended(or preference) 250DE 20k bulb?
Thanks
Tom
 
I have heard that the Phoenix 14K DE bulb and the EVC 20K DE bulb are supposed to be good DE bulbs that are similar to the Radium.
 
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