need advise...

[PnoyReefeR]

I have a 120gallon that I am setting up and currently have 2x175w MH plus 2x96 PC. The other MH ballast is not working and I also need bulbs for the MH since it has 6 months on it. Should I buy a new ballast and bulbs or upgrade my MH to 2x250?Im planning on buliding a BB SPS tank.. thank you guys

 

[dppitone]

For that you should use two 400 watt fixtures. Or at least three 250 watt fixtures. Skip the PC bulbs.

 

[PnoyReefeR]

I have this Hamilton lights setup and the PC are almost brand new. is 2x400 plus 2x96 is good? damn I am confused right now...thanks dppit..

 

[PnoyReefeR]

hey dppit what ballast will you recommend for 400w? thanks

 

[dppitone]

IMO the cheapest ones you can find. I have three 400 watt ballast/moguls/reflectors over a 150g, and I paid about $75 for each set, and then bought new bulbs for them. Other folks will have different opinions and may prefer specific ballasts and end up paying $300 for each set. But I find that industrial ballasts, bluelines, coralvue, etc, all work fine.

 

[ALTI]

im not crazy about the 400 watters. IMO 250 watters are very close in par and will give off less heat. you should be fine with the dual 250 watters.

 

[samsfishnchips]

reeferpnoy,

when you run BB, you will need less light, people running up to 12hrs had to drop down to even 4hrs because the corals were getting blasted,

since you want BB, and you want to do it right, remember you need top notch equipment, expend the money on good skimmer, good flow, calcium reactor, ect

use the current lights and if for some reason you want to change, you do it down the road, if needed

with 400w you will need a chiller for sure, good luck

sam

 

[PnoyReefeR]

nice to know all your opinions .... I might change to 2x250 and keep the pC for now and upgrade later on to t5 or VHO and nunez I do have a chiller =P....

 

[Phyl]

I have 2x250 over my 120 (4x2x2). I think that's plenty of light. I'm going to add VHOs though to reduce my MH period and give me that actinic *pop*.

Before you toss the ballasts open them up, find the transformer and take it to an electrical supply shop that sells them. You should be able to replace it/them for 30$ a piece, if memory servers me right. I found a place up by the Meadowlands, I think.

 

[PnoyReefeR]

ok if you do remeber the name of the place I wont mind spending 30 to fix the 175 electronic ballast... thank you

 

[samsfishnchips]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7029760#post7029760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeferpnoy
nice to know all your opinions .... I might change to 2x250 and keep the pC for now and upgrade later on to t5 or VHO and nunez I do have a chiller =P....

well thinking about it better, by the time you either stick with 175w and fix them and have them working, that pretty much will be the same price for a 250w setup,

but with 250w setup you will have more options on what you can keep, and have a wider selection of bulbs too

if you want a reliable ballast, you can't be the M58 at helloligths for 51 buck for SE ended bulbs

or 86 for the HQI ballast for DE bulbs

or you can spend some more on electronics, smaller, abit less performance but cute and easy to hide

oh and don't forget about the reflector is all about the reflector, that will determine if you light the tank or the room

for DE Reef Optix 3 at 99
for SE Reef Optix 2 at 24 and use your old sockets

good luck,

sam

 

[concept3]

pare, mag 250 watt halides ka na lang. okey 'yong setup ko. SPS tank rin dito

oh, with VHO's too.

tignan mo iyong signature ko.

 

[PnoyReefeR]

anong klase yung ballast mo?

sorry for the flip language lol

 

[dppitone]

It just like what my Mom says, "opinions - everyone's got some"

 

[samsfishnchips]

dppitone,

your mom is a very smart woman

there is nothing in reefkeeping that is not based on opinion

best skimmer? needle whell, beckett, dowdraft, airstone....
best lighting? vho,t-5, mh, pc, light-tube...
best additive? calcium, alk, strontrium, iodine, kalk...
best cal+alk additive? calcium reactor, kalk reactor, two-part...
best flow? powerheads, wavebox, closed-loop
best corals? sps, softies, lps...

its all about opinion, some like "overkill" others don't

just like the saying of origin 1920's "that's how the cookie crumbles"

250w mh 120g

150w mh 160g

sam

 

[PnoyReefeR]

wow! very nice.... gimme some sps lol

 

[concept3]

250 watt 75 gallon

icecap iyong ballasts ko.....
ARO iyong VHO's for $35.00 sa hellolights dot com

 

[PnoyReefeR]

magnetic o electronic pare?

 

[BobCReef]

is this a 4ft tank or 6ft tank. 2 - 250watt on the 4ft is plenty. I had 400's and downgraded to 250's. it really was as expense and heat issues that made me change.

 

[jf2381]

I told this fool to stay with the 250 x 2 and then upgrade to t5 or vho if he feels the need. LOL
Steve, Talk to you later. Call me when you get a chance.