MH Suggestions

[sabien]

I need to replace all the bulbs on my tank. I have 3 250W mh's and 4 96W Sunpaq's.

I am undecided on which route I want to go. My first thought is getting 3 XM 10k's for the MH's and 4 dual actinic Sunpaqs. I was thinking the 10k's will provide maximum growth while the actinics will counterbalance the yellow and bring out the color. I don't have much experience here so perhaps some of you know if this would work.

My other option was to go 1 XM 10k in the middle and 2 HM 14k's on the side and still getting the 4 sunpaq dual actinics. My thought here was that if the mh's were too overbearing for the sunpaqs I could soften them a little by adding the 14k's.

I have gone to http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm and checked out the PAR's. I've been impressed with the XM 10k rating. Another site I checked out is http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm It's interesting how one site rates HM's 14k PAR at 352 and the other at 218. Not really sure what to believe. I appreciate any feedback you may have.

 

[sabien]

Shameless Bump

 

[skippysmind]

Go with all XM 10k and the actinic Sunpaqs. That's exactly what I use and I love it. I have 2@250w XM10k and 4@65w actinic Sunpaqs.

 

[ZURCSREEF]

I am in the same perdicament, I have a 120 gallon (4x2x2) and was wondering if I should go with two (was thinking three, but I think that might be over doing it) xm 10k's, and use four 110w VHO super blue actinics (already have them) or should I go with four 65w actinic instead (already have aswell)... Let me know what you think about getting three 10k mh setups aswell, thanks!

 

[edwar050]

I just went with four VHO "2 10K" and 2 Actinic over my 120 with 12K sunburst-

 

[sabien]

Decided to go with 3 SE 250W 10k XM's and 4 Dual 96W Sunpaq Actinics. I'll let you know how it works for me.