need advice on 400watt system

[trueblackpercula]

hello everyone and thanks for the time to answer my question. well here it goes I have in place one 250watt se 13k megachrome bulb on a icecap with 150 actincs. I want to keep my hood and upgrade the ballast and install a 400 watt bulb and keep the actincs as well. can everyone that has 400 wattsplease share your photos and expericances. I would like to know if the extra lite will make the corals look better and grow faster. Or do i have enough?
I have a freind that is willing to give me a setup that he is not using .
can you please share the info bellow.
1st What type of bulb kelvin
2nd How long do you leave your light on
3rd How high above the tank is the fixture
4th How often do you change the bulb
5th do they give off more heat then 250watt
6th do you use actincs with them.
Thanks for all the help...............should i move up or stay at 250?
Michael

 

[gasman059]

Michael I run 3 400w MHS 20k XM's
1st What type of bulb kelvin(XM 20 K)
2nd How long do you leave your light on(8HRS)
3rd How high above the tank is the fixture( about 14 inches)
4th How often do you change the bulb( 6-8 MONTHS)
5th do they give off more heat then 250watt( OF course way more)
6th do you use actincs with them.( yes actinic supps.)
Thanks for all the help...............should i move up or stay at 250?
Michael
To finish I love the 20k deep water look- but in my experince u sacrifice growth, to an extent. As far as bulbs I've tried Ushios-Radiums and others Xms are good and well priced.
My next set may very well be some 14-15k to compare.
Recently gatting some frags I'll c in 6 months.

 

[Michael7979]

Ok I'll do my best to answer as asked:
1- I have used both Radiums and Helios both 400w run off of HQI PFO ballast. (both 20k)
2- Mine run for about 6-7 hrs a day
3- Mine are in a hood not a pendant.......12" off the water
4- about every 9 months w/ Helios.....7 w/ Radiums
5- YES
6- No I run my actinics before and after the MH's is on

Hope that helps you out.

 

[jackson6745]

Michael do you light your cube with one halide? If so you should consider changing to a luminarc reflector. Your current 250 will be much brighter and cover the tank better. You can decide on 400's from there.

FYI I just changed from 250 DE's to 400w SE. Using the 10k Reeflux bulbs. Hasen't been very long yet but I can tell you that blues are insane under this bulb.

 

[Unarce]

1st What type of bulb kelvin

400W Ushio 14k

2nd How long do you leave your light on

5 hrs

3rd How high above the tank is the fixture

Bulb is 9" from the water

4th How often do you change the bulb

Once a year

5th do they give off more heat then 250watt

In my case, I jumped from 250W DE to 400W SE. It actually seems cooler, but that probably has more to do with the DE shield (then) and the Lumenarc (now) doubling as a great heat sink.

6th do you use actincs with them.

NEVER!

Thanks for all the help...............should i move up or stay at 250?

Some of the experienced reefers I've lucky enough to chat with, flat out say that certain corals just jump to another level in coloration. It's a difficult thing to gauge, as so many have a different idea of what 'great color' is. You'll have one guy with 400 or 1000 watters, and they're in love with the deep, rich colors that it brings out. OTOH, you'll get T5 users that prefer the pastel, fluorescent-fade. Both look great, but everyone has a preference.

Give it a shot, see how you like it.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Does any one have any pictures of there tanks they could share? I am thinking this may be a good idea and just looking to see what you guys/gals corals look like. There really is not that many choices out there when it comes to 400 waters. I did see that some 250 watt bulbs have a higher per then the 400 can this be true? I am looking for good growth and great color what do you recomend as to what bulb to buy.
Michael

 

[kirstenk]

I am looking for good growth and great color what do you recomend as to what bulb to buy.

A lot depends on your ballast choice. What is it?

PS....From your made some progress thread, I think your tank and colors look great right now.

I run 400W 20K XM on magnetic ballasts and pic are in my gallery.

 

[Giovanni]

How did this turn out?