Metal Halide Opions

[phenom5]

So I had some LEDs in my hot little hands for all off a few days...they sent me the non-controllable version, so I had a chance to look at them and then return them . Hate them.

Now the more I've been reading/ seeing, the less it seems LEDs are ready for SPS.
I was thinking about upgrading my T5 setup with either an ATI fixture or a LET retro from ReefGeeks.

But I've also been eying metal halides. I love the look of Radiums, and if we're just talking about aesthetics that is definitely the way I'd go. But that means I'm going to be spending more on bulb replacement every year, more (not a ton) on electricity, and I'm going to have to deal with the heat.

I've run MH in the past, but on a smaller tank. How much of an impact on the tank temp will 2x250W MH have? How much of an impact will 2x250 MH with an open-top canopy have on the ambient temp of the room? That room gets so hot in the summer, even with the AC...

 

[David520]

I run a 400w metal halide over my cube, with no chiller and the room temp at 78° during the summer and the tank runs at 78 at night and 80 in the day. The only cooling I use is a small fan between the light and the tank. As far as led's my AI sol whites did the job for sps frags at full power, 6 inchs above the water and the colors were great oh and the frags were @ 10~15 inches below the water line. Hope this helps!

 

[brettinteriors]

Did you consider t5 plus led

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[phenom5]

I'm leaning more towards a 6 bulb T5 retro in a canopy...for today at least. Damn, I'm just paralyzed by indecision right now.

Anybody have an good designs for an open top canopy? I have an idea of what I want to do, but I still need to hammer out some of the details in my brain. I'm thinking I want the canopy to open roughly 10" back...tank is 18" wide, I still want good access to everything. Open top to I don't have to open it to feed/ reduced heat.

Any issues with mounting the ballasts over the bulbs? I've always had ballast down below with retro I've used in the past.