Sunlight Dual Galaxy 2x250

[MikeD]

Any input or opinions on this? I just saw this for the first time. I'm looking into this or the Dual Bluewave 7 which I guess would be my other choice for the reef optix III's I have.

Mike

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Mike,

The BW7 is magnetic, and will give you anyhwhere from 10% - 25% more light output with your bulbs, just depending on which specific bulb you are using. However, the ballast is bigger, heavier, puts off more heat, and pulls more power. Really the only disadvantage to the Galaxy is that it will underdrive your bulbs some.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[MikeD]

For a 24" deep tank, would you recommend the magnetic over the electronic? Or can electronics like the galaxy do just as fine a job.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Unless the tank was nothing but sps, and extremely high light sps towards the bottom, I think the Galaxy would do just fine for you. Are you concerned about power consumption at all?

 

[MikeD]

Of course, I would like to save money on electricity! I saw that the galaxy is a dual fixture. But I'm lighting a 3 fixture 180 (72" long) tank. But would like to control each light independently. Does that mean 3 galaxy fixtures? or can one control two of them independently?

Mike

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi Mike,

The dual ballasts only have 1 power cord on them, so you couldn't control those separately. Having a dual ballast is always risky from a stand point that if one goes bad, you'll lose both when you send it in. Initially it costs more to get single ballasts, but the redundency is worth it in my opinion.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[MikeD]

I just saw that you had single unit galaxys! Excuse my question!!! I would be running 14k phoenix bulbs (250) over a 24" deep tank. If I put my SPS on rocks (no sps on the bottom) I should be okay? I just put my corals in random places actually but thought it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I think you would even be fine with sps on the bottom, you just need to pay close attention to which species are going down. So for example, you could put A. tortuosa, A. simplex, A. granulosa, A. valida (just as examples) down on the bottom with no ill effects at all. While A. hyacinthus, A. humilis, A. samoensis, A. clathrata (just examples) would not do as well in growth or coloration being that low. HTH