Metal Halides-doing it right the first time

[CeeGee]

if you guys could pick any combination what would you do?

I am thinking of going with a 2 X 250 watt halide supplemented with T5's when I go to a larger tank. I have been looking at these phoenix 14k's as I have seen a few tanks around here that are running these and the pics are gorgeous. I know some people don't like the DE bulbs though.

On the other hand I have seen a tank running 10k's with VHO supplementation in person and it looks astounding.

No matter what I do I will have to use my existing T5 setup as supplements.

Not quite sure what to do but I have to get it right the first time. I don't have an unlimited money supply.

Thanks for your suggestions,
C.G.

 

[Wiskey]

When you say "larger tank" how large are you talking? Dimentions?

Whiskey

 

[oosurfin]

some threads ive seen lately it seems people are switching back to single ended bulbs. i dont have the best setup but i like the growth, coverage, and color. i run 2x250w 10k xm's on a hamilton magnetic ballast with 4x55w pc act 03 from hellolights.com. i have a wonderful crisp white color. i use the pc's purely for viewing pleasure and dont always have them running. some times i dont even notice the yellow color of the 10k's when i first look at the tank. you might want to look into lumen arc (sp?) reflectors they seem to be all the rage. i have some simple pfo reflectors that i love and they do a good job of giving me complete even coverage in my opinion http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PF2635 i have 2 of them on my 135. the tank is center braced and i dont really notice the shadow either. hth

 

[CeeGee]

either a 75 gallon or a 120 gallon oceanic tank.

I may even run a single bulb on my 38 gallon before the upgrade. Doubtful though.

 

[ricka]

Doing it right = lumenarc reflectors.

--Rick

 

[FastFish720]

doing it right = not an oceanic tank

 

[FastFish720]

doing it right = A custom acrylic tank or a starphire glass tank

 

[jsweir]

I have 250DEs with phoenix bulbs and T5 supplement. Nice, but....if I have the chance (I may move) I am switching to SE with Lumenarc IIIs.

 

[ricka]

FastFish720,

I think he is talking specifically about halides, but I would like to know why you hate oceanic tanks. I have heard nothing but good things about them.

--Rick

 

[CeeGee]

he obviously hasn't seen the new tek series oceanic tank in person. Starphire front, their version of eurobracing, covered dual overflow......Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

and comes in $500 cheaper than the miracles in glass I was looking to have made.

you can keep the acrylic scratchfest. I think I may have scratched an acrylic tank by typing that. Thanks for not even addressing the question. Anyone else have anything unrelated to metal halide to share?

 

[DaddyJax]

I am a fan of the single ended bulbs. No worries about uv rays. I used 10k Ushios with T5 actinics for the first year and switched to Aquaconnects 14k+ for the past month. I would do the 14k Ushio, AB, AQ, Coralvue reflux or the Iwasaki but definately 14k.
Please remember that it is all personal preference. I would not recommend 20k if you are using Actinics.

 

[thefuture]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7120184#post7120184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CeeGee
..... Anyone else have anything unrelated to metal halide to share?

yes
doing it right = the way he wants it done. :lol: :lol:

and u cant just recomend lumenarcs just because u like them. how do you know if they are fit for his tank. he didnt even post dimensions so how do you know if the lumenarcs are way too big or not

 

[CeeGee]

That was meant in good fun.

the tank will be a standard 75 reef ready oceanic or a 120. Both tanks are similar in size and very common.

 

[ricka]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7120316#post7120316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thefuture
and u cant just recomend lumenarcs just because u like them. how do you know if they are fit for his tank. he didnt even post dimensions so how do you know if the lumenarcs are way too big or not

First of all, the mini's will fit over almost any tank.

Second of all I speak from experience. I have tried every possible lighting combination out there and they all have their pluses and minuses.

From where I sit, there is no better reflector than the lumenarc and using a single ended bulb gets you a lot more choices than going DE.

With DE, if you want to upgrade from 250 to 400W you have to buy new reflectors. With Lumenarc's, you just move the socket.

Lumenarc's have also been proven to be more reflective than anything else out there. Just check out the study that Sanjay did.

--Rick

 

[CeeGee]

ricka,

is there a place to buy setups similar to what I posted above with the ballasts and a lumenarc?

I just like the idea of buying a setup like those that reefgeek offers. There is not a lot of guesswork. I just order it and that is that. I bought my current T5's from them and they are a first class vendor.

 

[ricka]

CeeGee,

There are several online vendors that sell complete lumenarc kits. pacificgardensupply.com is the manufacturer and they have kits that include magnetic ballasts. They also sell them with PFO connectors so you can buy the reflectors from them and plug them into standard PFO ballasts. That makes it pretty easy.

Reefexotics has a nice kit here:

http://www.reefexotics.com/lumenarc.htm

--Rick