old school 1990 lighting 75g reef?

[living_waters]

hello again question for all you experienced reefers i just bought a 75g with a beautiful stand and canopy 30g fuge sealife aquatics bubble magus skimmer for 200g rated tank it also came with a huge fat old coralife fixture that looks like it came from my grandpas reefing days or sumthing lol even the logo for coralife was all dull and in big huge ugly bold letters it has 2 250w metal halides and power compact 50/50s on both sides of the fixture with mini blue bulbs across the fixture for atinics im guessing there leds but i dont know if they even had leds back then down to the question ive never used halides or power compacts always used leds on my previous tanks and im wondering is this enough lighting or to much also are the power compacts just for looks or do they actually do something also the halides came with these huge black boxes that supply them with power are these needed why cant i plug directly into the wall? im confused also ive heard people talk about the 10k look or the 20k look with halides what is that? depending on what my temperture reaches with them i might keep them or buy some reef breeder leds if i was to keep them when should i replace the bulbs for the compacts and halides the guy said they were four months old idk how true that was but i got the whole setup for 300 bucks so win/win either way thanks to you all and forgive my newbness and many threads i ask alot but try and look around to answer what ever i can to the best of my knowledge happy reefing and thanks again.

 

[brcb7tuner]

The black boxes are ballast you need them. The power compacts are usually just for actincs to add some blue to the tank. I think you will have more then enough light for a 75. The higher the k rating the bluer the spectrum. If they really are only four months old I would say you have at least six months of life left out of them.

 

[living_waters]

so how much k do i have now?

 

[Moeis]

the halides came with these huge black boxes that supply them with power are these needed why cant i plug directly into the wall?

The big black boxes are the ballasts for them which you need.

im confused also ive heard people talk about the 10k look or the 20k look with halides what is that?

10,000K produces a crisp white color that is designed to mimic sunlight in the shallow depths of the ocean and the 20,000K produces a deep blue appearance that brings out color like no other spectrum. This lamp creates a look similar to those found in deeper levels of the coral reefs

depending on what my temperature reaches with them i might keep them or buy some reef breeder leds if i was to keep them when should i replace the bulbs for the compacts and halides the guy said they were four months old idk how true that was

Your probably gonna have to replace all the bulbs anyways just to be safe and by the time you replace all of them you might as well have bought your Reef Breeders LEDS.

 

[brcb7tuner]

You would have to find out what bulb you have to find out the k rating it varies each manufacturer usually has atleast a 10k 14k and a 20k.

 

[Moeis]

To give you a general idea of the cost replacement for each bulb..

10k,14k,15k,20k Metal Halides $60-$80 Per Bulb

Power Compacts $25-$50 Per Bulb

and usually replacement is between 8-10 months for best results.

 

[Moeis]

so how much k do i have now?

Wouldn't worry to much about that as long as you have a good lighting and PAR you will be fine.

 

[Moeis]

Double Post

 

[living_waters]

what happens if i dont change the bulbs for say three months untill i buy the reef breeders?

 

[Moeis]

Shouldn't be a issue have you started to cycle the tank?

 

[living_waters]

nope i want to paint the back black first and have to buy a return pump any sugestions?

 

[Moeis]

Than waiting 3 months should be fine till you buy your reef breeders. a month before you order your lights i would start the cycle of the tank so when your lights come in you will be ready to rock and roll. As for the return pump i would go with a MAG.

 

[Timber77]

just use the halides and consider a retrofit of blue led or t5s where the pc lights are currently 2 250 mh is perfect for you tank size (or if on a budget just get 2 new 20K mh bulbs and don't use the pc's the halides are fine, the pc were not very good and vho, t5 or led would all be better than buying new pc bulbs IMO.

 

[living_waters]

how would i make the pcs into t5

 

[Jarrok]

Sounds like a relatively (mid 2000s) modern aqualight pro fixture.