Need help choosing MH fixture

[reefanatik]

I don't want a debate between MH, LED, and T5s please. I currently have LEDs but am pretty sure I will swap to MH. For a quicker response I am posting here for help on choosing a MH setup for my 48x36x24 planet aquarium tank that I will b ordering next week. So if any of the MH experts read this please help me choose which fixtures to buy. Also 250 or 400W? Please help

 

[sirreal63]

Two of these... http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cozumel-Sun-Systems-2018

Or two of these...
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cabo-Sun-Systems---Large-Mogul-Base-Reflector--2123

You can go with 250's but the hard part is choosing a bulb/ballast. If it were my tank I would go with M80 magnetic ballasts and Radium bulbs. I would also consider adding a couple L.E.T T5 retro's.

 

[reefanatik]

Two of these... http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cozumel-Sun-Systems-2018

Or two of these...
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cabo-Sun-Systems---Large-Mogul-Base-Reflector--2123

You can go with 250's but the hard part is choosing a bulb/ballast. If it were my tank I would go with M80 magnetic ballasts and Radium bulbs. I would also consider adding a couple L.E.T T5 retro's.

Well I looked and correct me if I'm wrong but the M80 only has an option for 250w not 400. When I looked at the m80 ballast it says 250w. "Includes Hamilton Assembled 250 Watt M80 ballast (L8" x W6.5" x H4.5")".
How about this one? "Includes German made Radium Metal Halide Lamps (250 Watt or 400 Watt) and four German Made 460nm Blue T5 High Output lamps
Includes High Output M80 (250 Watt) or M135 (400 Watt) Metal Halide Ballasts for increased PAR".

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Radium-Cebu-Sun-Systems-with-M80-Ballast-2214

 

[sirreal63]

M80 is a 250 watt HQI ballast and the M135 is for 400 watt. If you want to run the 400's you need the M135. There is not enough par difference between them to justify the extra heat and electrical consumption of the 400's IMO. The 400's will put out more light but you will have to make that decision for yourself. The 250's will provide more than enough light for the tank.

 

[sirreal63]

The Cebu will not adequately light the 36" front to back depth.

 

[reefanatik]

The Cebu will not adequately light the 36" front to back depth.

Awesome . Thanks

 

[reefanatik]

I think I will just go with the M80 with 20k radium and Cozumel sun reflector. They will go in a canopy and will have either 4 or 6 T5s for supplementation. I haven't taken it apart but I hope I can use my old TEK T5 and do some DIY to set it up in my canopy with 2 or 3 T5s on each side. At least until i save some more money and get some better retrofit T5s. What do u think?

 

[sirreal63]

The TEK will work fine, I would probably change the ballasts if they are Workhorse to a proper T5 ballast but the TEK will work as is.

 

[reefanatik]

M80 is a 250 watt HQI ballast and the M135 is for 400 watt. If you want to run the 400's you need the M135. There is not enough par difference between them to justify the extra heat and electrical consumption of the 400's IMO. The 400's will put out more light but you will have to make that decision for yourself. The 250's will provide more than enough light for the tank.

That's the delema u know. It's hard for me to make a decision on 250 vs. 400w since this will b my first MH setup. I don't mind a little extra heat, I just want to make sure I can grow any SPS I want. That's my main goal. But I also want some softies in the bottom also so I'm not sure if I could do that with a 400w and only 24" depth tank. I guess I will have to do some more reading and just decide from there.:rolleye1:

 

[reefanatik]

But then again if I'm not happy with the 250 I guess I could just upgrade the ballast to 400w. $400 for two ballast wouldn't b much of a hit anyways later on down the road once I have the reflectors already.

 

[sirreal63]

If you cannot grow what you want under the 250's then the problem isn't the light.

 

[reefanatik]

If you cannot grow what you want under the 250's then the problem isn't the light.

Good to know. LOL. I do pretty good with the LEDs but deff a bit lacking in time to grow. I say i do pretty good cause of polyp extension and great color, parameters are spot on and stable. Just not getting the growth I want and I hope the MH will b the difference I'm looking for.

 

[reefanatik]

Thanks a lot for your help Sirreal63. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[sirreal63]

Growth is not limited by light alone, nutrition is equally as important as light, maybe more so. With LEDs growth is rarely an issue, coloration frequently is. I suspect you will need to feed more with the halides if increased growth is desired. Contrary to popular myths, corals need more than light, as virtually every living creature does. There are commercially prepared coral foods or you can make your own.

 

[reefanatik]

Well i didnt have an issue with coloration. Just growth.... yes they grew... but slow.

 

[reefanatik]

Two of these... http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cozumel-Sun-Systems-2018

Or two of these...
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cabo-Sun-Systems---Large-Mogul-Base-Reflector--2123

You can go with 250's but the hard part is choosing a bulb/ballast. If it were my tank I would go with M80 magnetic ballasts and Radium bulbs. I would also consider adding a couple L.E.T T5 retro's.

I am going to go with the M80 magnetic ballast with Radium bulbs but not sure of which reflectors. Which would b the best for a 36"W tank?

 

[reefanatik]

What bulbs other than the radium can I run on an M80 ballast. I'm asking cause if I don't like the Radium I would like to have other options for bulbs. Can I use any 250W bulb on the M80?