Metal Halide Retro Kit

[tsutherland]

This is kinda a dumb question but could you run MH as the only lighting or would you want some fluorescent with it. I have a coralife power compact 4x65watt Lighting system with two 10,000k bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs right now. I have mushroom corals and I am looking to get some better lighting for them and maybe so I can expand what I can keep in my tank. The other problem for me is finding a MH and Fluorescent combo thats skinny enough to fit on my 13" wide 55 gal tank, Coralife's combo is like 15" wide so I don't think that it would work.

 

[dugg]

Yes you can use MH only. If you like the look of actinics, use a 14 or 15k bulb. If you like the blue look, use a 20k bulb, and if you like yellow more natural looking light, use 10k. The corals like the 10k best, but i like the 14k a lot better for bringing out the coral's colors.

Remember, MH lights are direct light sources, and only light a 2 ft. X 2ft patch. If lighting a 55 gallon, you will want 2 175w or 250 w lights. If you only use one light, you will get a shadow from the center brace, and 12 inches on each end of the tank won't be lit well at all.

 

[tsutherland]

so then the fluorenscents with the MH is really just for looks?

 

[dugg]

100% for looks

 

[tsutherland]

thanks for all the help, is there a brand of bulb for a 175watt MH that you would use over another?

 

[dugg]

My personal prefference would be hamilton 14k, but it all depends on what you like in color temp. Here is a link to help you decide what color you are looking for.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=254667

Here is a good place to buy one. They have the cheapest price anywhere.
http://www.roesmarineworld.com/xmhbulbs.htm

 

[GMAX]

I just went to Reeflux bulbs from Coralvue. They have 10 and 12 Ks but I got the 10ks and I think the color is better than with the XM 20 Ks I was using. Growth should be better with 10 Ks too and my tank is so much brighter I cant beleive it.

 

[Palancar]

I just bought two Hamilton 14Ks from HelloLights. They price matched Roes. $61

 

[dugg]

Wow, they lost money on you lol. My lfs got mad when i told him roe's price. He said it was the exact same price he paid for them ordering direct from hamilton, and he had to buy 10 to get that price. All of Roe's orders ship direct from Hamilton, Roe's just passes the order on.

 

[supertech3]

I like the new xm 15k over the 14k hamiltons, I lost two of the hamiltons 14k bulbs within 4 months of new and did not care for the reimbursement for them almost had to pay price of new and bought them from hellolights.