MH lighting for a 125 gallon reef

[Swirlygig]

I currently have 760 watts VHO in my tank. I was thinking about removing 4 X 110W bulbs to going to MH lighting.

What is the difference and would I get better color and growth?

What would be the recommended wattage? 3 or 2 X 250W? I would keep 2 (6ft) x 160W VHO bulbs in the tank...

 

[flasher1]

Why would you switch? The VHO' at that strength would be fine for almost all corals and you will probably get better color out of them.

 

[Swirlygig]

It is time to replace the bulbs on my tank...I am just exploring options...

What about T5 lighting? Any take on those? better / worse?

I have 2 icecap 660's?

 

[lifesworksataol]

i would say go look at the 120 at reefworks to see what t-5s can do! wow! - if my tank wasnt so deep i would probably do it as well. mh can just go so much deeper then anything else!

 

[chrisstie]

Hey Jeff you have seen my tank- its running T5s. I can't remember, did you have a canopy over yours?

With T5s you'd have a few options. If you have a canopy you could stagger either 4' or 5' bulbs inside (they don't make 6' ones I believe and you'd need to double check the length that it will fit inside) using individual reflectors in a retro kit.

Alternatively you could get a fixture that sits on top of the tank like mine does, and i'm sure there are a few other ways to do it (hanging, etc) all depends on how you want to do it.

If you have a high power bill and are considering going "green" with the changing of the bulbs, T5s are the way to go.

Otherwise, if its a 125 that is 6' by what 18" by whatever the height is you could do 3 175w or even 250w .. I'd actually go with 3 and leave out the VHO supplement and do 14 or 20ks if you want better looks. The whiter you go (down toward 10k) the more growth but the less popping you'll get. In the whiter spectrum you tend to see colors popping at the tips but in the bluer you see it all over the corals.

I know they are expensive but you might consider LEDs. Of course you need to save up for them but a) they do work very well, b) use extremely small amount of power, c) wont have to change out the bulbs for 7-10 years.

It'd be like spending all of your bulb changing needs ever all at once.

VHOs are tried and true but I have noticed are slowly becoming less readiliy available and less recommended just with the power of the new types of flourescents being out and working so well.

Oh well just some brain storming ideas and reasons to go with one versus the other

 

[evega]

In my 125 I'm running 3 xm 250w 15k's MH. 2 54w t5's actinic and 2 54w t5's 10ks. Looks awsome. Canopy 18" high. T5 are staggered. 1/3 horse water chiller no cooling fans.

 

[JUICE!]

no way will you get better color out of VHO's or T5s than Metal Halides. I have tanks under all three. There are just too many color choices for halide bulbs for the flourescents to compete.

Even zoas and leathers and softies will be much more colorful under the right Metal halide than they would under T5's or flourescents.

Not to say you can't get good color out of them. My T5 tank is pretty impressive, but the stunner is the big tank under Metal halides + LED actinic.

I'm burning 3x400W MH over my 125.....but I'm sure with good reflectors, 250W halides would be plenty for even high light SPS.

in my 125G there is no chiller even with the 400W halides.....but it stays pretty chilly in my office.

~D

 

[orb]

jeff, i have some bulbs, icecap reflectors, and 2 icecap 660's. you're welcome to come over and try them out for a while if you want. if i'm able to make it, i was going to try to sell them at the garage sale, but you can use them as long as you need. just give me a hour or so to dismantle it from the old tank.

edit..they are 4ft bulbs, and 4 reflectors.

 

[Swirlygig]

nice, i sent a pm...

 

[Swirlygig]

hey Juice...what brand MH do you use? and what LED? I am just curious...Do you have a picture of your tank? I am interested to see what the color looks like...

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[chrisstie]

er nevermind i can't read ignore this post

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

I'm running 2-250w Aquamedic HQI pendants with Phoenix 14k lamps (which I love.) And I have 4-48 inch T5's with 420nm actinics. I think the color combo is outstanding, and in the near future when I replace my lamps, I'm getting Phoenix's again.
Granted, this is on a 5 foot tank so you may need a 3rd MH in the middle. I opted not to do this so my LPS's have a place to take refuge from the high light. Hope that helps you some.

And for the record, I've tried a DE Ushio 20k and it was way too dark and blue and a DE XM 15k, not as bright as the Phoenix and much more white. I've noticed much more color from the corals with the Phoenix lamps. And at $65 shipped, you can't beat that.

BUT, your lamp/ballast combo may vary.

 

[orb]

Morgan, where do you buy your bulbs at?

 

[JUICE!]

Ummmm...not since I put the LEDs in.....but WWC has some nice shots of his tank. I have some shots of corals I can through up and a tank shot at one month old.

I'm using Hamilton 14Ks in my sps tank with an aqualine 13K that short shots in the middle for 3 hours


The big tank is 12K reeflux +2 VHO actinics +24 1W LED actinic.

I just changed reflectors so the LEDs need to be put back in, but I'm building a few test 3W leds with a 45 or 30 degree lens soon. The one watt ones are very focused, but hve 3X the Par of T5s one a 1W...


tank at one month....2Xvho super actinic +3X400W 12K reeflux

other random coral highlights...crappy pictures.....sorry

Rick, terri....that's your baby bubbletip :-D

this is the only picture I have under LED actinic +MH.....and it's crappy

here's 12K+Actinic T5s

and under 12K reeflux + 2x VHO + LED

I know the first picture is much clearer....but the difference is almost that much

If I got the LEDs in right and did 40, I would remove the VHOs. with the VHOs and the Actinic....coupled with lumenarc reflectors, WWC cut their halide burn time down to 3 hours a day without losing color or growth. The actinic and LEDs burn 8 or 10 hours though

IN a few weeks when I have time to put the LEDs back in and figure out my camera, I'll post some tank shots......unless someone has a nice camera and tripod that they know how to use.......I might have a frag or two in trade

~D

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12015992#post12015992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by orb
Morgan, where do you buy your bulbs at?

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=815

$59.95 and free shipping

 

[Swirlygig]

Any probs with that tiger cowrie and anemones?

I heard they find them tasty...or at least the condi's...

I could use one of those for my algae sheesh!

 

[JUICE!]

he likes to eat blatos and micros

he sucked all the skin off the PPEs pictured above....they recovered completely though....

He's cleaning up my little tank right now.....and FAST...holy cow!

He'll probably be a fuge snail if he bothers anything in my 46.....but definately likes the blastomussa and micromussa for sure!

 

[JUICE!]

David and I will be working on some 3 watt LEDs with a larger degree lens to cover more area....hopefully by increasing the wattage we'll get about the same par.......this will make coverage more uniform and make installation much easier.


The trouble with the power brite strips is that they beams are so focused, you have to put a bunch of LEDs in there to cover. I think maybe 12 of the 3 watt will be enough, where as it would take to least 30 to do a 6 foot tank.

we put the light meter on the strips during the last meeting and the readings were phenominal! I bet the new solaris will bleach corals out at full strength.....the blue one watt LEDs were reading more than 4 times stronger than the T5s in Rick and terri's frag tank.

but out side of the beam of light it went from like 1200 to 10, so there is almost no ambient light.

We'll see

 

[Swirlygig]

I may stick with my 760Watt VHO for money sake...Adding MH or T5 will just cost me a lot of money unless I can find some cheap used equipement...

I currently have 6 bulbs total...4 X 110W and 2 X 160W...I currently have 2 Actinic White and 4 Super Actinic...

I wanted a more blue look, but don't want to kill the spectrum...

What would you recommend that would give me a good blue glow and still be lit up good? Do you think this is enough for SPS still? I have a couple in my tank (cap, orange monti or Digi, and they are doing good...


5 Actinic and 1 Aquasun?

 

[Swirlygig]

oh they have new 75/25 VHO bulbs! I might try those...hrm...now how many to get?

4 - 75/25 14k bulbs and 2 super actinic?