My New Toy...

[Travis Savant]

Hey guys, I finaly have started getting ready for my SPS Propagation system, and I have gotten my first item for the system. It's a 400w SE MH ballast, socket, and reflector.

Just to give you all an idea of the size of this fixture, here's a shot of it next to a 5g water jug.

I will probly be using an AB10k, but I have heard the the I65ks will grow SPS faster than the grass grows in your front lawn?

 

[Kip]

be prepared for heat

 

[Wiskey]

How efficant is that reflector having the bulb on it's end like that? It seems that you might get more bang for your powerbill if you put the bulb in a lumanark.

Whiskey

 

[Travis Savant]

I am prepaired to run a chiller if nessisary, but I doubt that one will be needed because I will have a window AC Unit blowing at the fixture and the shear fact that it will be about 2 feet from the water and the Prop Tub will be open top. I doubt there will be much of a heating issue.

Replacing the reflector, or polishing it is an option, but how much reflection does a 400w MH Bulb realy need? I'll have to wait and see when I get a bulb for it.

 

[trueblackpercula]

The question I have that know one has asked you is. how deep of a frag tank are you building?

 

[Travis Savant]

I am going to be using one of those Black Pond Tubs, so I'm not sure on how deep it will be as I have not decided on how many gallons I want to have.

 

[sm fragman]

wiht the bulb pionting down like that you will get very poor light coverage that way ,,i think you should try and get your money back ,,,go with a pfo ballest if money is a problem or a diy ballest ,,but you will not like the out come wiht that ficture ,,i have a friend with a pretty extensive grow out system and he uses 1 400 watter on 1 vat and 2 250s on the other vat all 250s are hqi the 400 watter he uses a pfo inclosure i think

 

[Ludwigia73]

Something I noticed... When I went barebottom, for a short time before coralline grew, the white reflected the light up and made the corals grow faster. Just an observation.

 

[Travis Savant]

Fragman, the fixture was a freebe, so I think I am going to try and rewire the ballast so that I can run it remotely and use a better reflector and run the bulb horazantaly.

 

[Travis Savant]

Ok, I just removed the reflector and the socket. All I need to do now is run get some wire and a new bulb and reflector.

 

[Travis Savant]

I'll more than likely end up with this socket/reflector.
http://www.hellolights.com/methalparref.html

Any suggestions on a bulb type? I am thinking an AB10k, oppinions? I use a 250w DE AB10k over my display and I like how it looks and there's good growth from my SPS.

 

[shelburn61]

That one is better, but you are going to get a lot of light leakage with that reflector. IMO a lumenarc really would be worth it. DIY your own if you don't want to buy it.

BTW an XM just about doubles the AB PAR.

 

[Travis Savant]

Hey shelburn61, great suggestion on the Lumenarc. Looks like a good idea.

 

[Travis Savant]

Just compared bulbs on Sanjay's Reef Lighting and the Hamilton 10k was better than the XM. The Hamilton seems to be to most bang for my buck.

 

[jay24k]

That basically is a spiderlight reflector. Id at least go for the parallel PFO as it reflects quite a bit more light. Of course the lumenarc imo is the best.

 

[Travis Savant]

Yeah, I think I will end up going with the 19.5" x 19.5" Lumenarc.