Thoughts on 175w MH for an SPS dominate tank?

[arc eye]

Hello,

I am planning on setting up a deep sea aquatics model 100 extreme bowfront tank. The dimensions are 48"long x 22.5" wide x25" tall. The tank will be SPS dominant.

My primary lighting will be two 175w metal halides in lumenmax elite reflectors. I may supplement with either one 30" reefbrite actinic blue or a pair of t-5s.

I am trying to decide between the following 175w bulbs:

- Ushio 14k (fairly high par and spectrum shows decent 420nm spike)
- Iwasaki 15k (highest par and spectrum shows decent 450nm spike)
- Phoenix 14k (par and spectrum unknown...maybe similar to the 150w version?)

If you have experience with sps and any of these bulbs, please share your thoughts.

Also, any thoughts on sps and 175w halides in general would be greatly appreciated!

 

[arc eye]

I forgot to add...I am trying to replicate a 250w radium look with a 175w footprint, cheers!

 

[Epicreefer]

The 14k Phoenix are a fairly crisp white with a bit of blue, I liked it a lot but it's been a while since I had one. It takes a decent amount of supplementation to get from 14k to 20k so a dual t5 with ati blue plus would be a good supplement. I plan on the phoenix and blue plus combo for my next tank to start but may go to radiums if there isnt enough pop for me at bulb change out. Ati blue plus bulbs are great for getting good color. With the 25" deep tank you may just want to go with the dual 250 w radium setup with a less than ideal/small reflector to begin with then add some supplements for dawn and dusk. I went from a 20k xm with vho supplements to a radium alone back in the day and the radium was instantly better, made everything pop.

 

[arc eye]

Thanks for sharing. Just to clarify, were the Phoenix's you were running the 175w version? I was hoping maybe I could use them as a stand alone if they are bright enough.

 

[kaserpick]

It's worth noting that the '175w' SE Phoenix bulbs are still 150w HQI. If you use a 175w ballast, you'll overdrive them. This will result in a whiter spectrum. I'm speaking from experience, as I am currently running one over my cube at 175w. It's ok, but not the color it should be. When driven properly, it's a great color.

I'm a little unsure of using 175 watters on a 25" tall tank. The Iwasaki might be your best bet, since it's a PAR monster.

 

[glennr1978]

The iwasaki will definitely be strong enough. It's amazing how bright they are for a 175w bulb. In the past I've had dual 150's (phoenix 14k, and reeflux 10k), and iwasaki 15k's. While the phoenix were obviously he bluest od the bunch, the iwasakis were by far tue brightest. Every bit as bright as the dual radium 250's I'm running now.

I still have the iwasakis and I'll sell them if you're interested. Just shoot me a pm.

 

[arc eye]

It's worth noting that the '175w' SE Phoenix bulbs are still 150w HQI. If you use a 175w ballast, you'll overdrive them. This will result in a whiter spectrum. I'm speaking from experience, as I am currently running one over my cube at 175w. It's ok, but not the color it should be. When driven properly, it's a great color.

I'm a little unsure of using 175 watters on a 25" tall tank. The Iwasaki might be your best bet, since it's a PAR monster.

Thanks Kaserpicks, I've often wondered if other 175w bulbs are also really 150w bulbs in a different package (I.e. single ended instead of de)

 

[Epicreefer]

Some are the same some aren't. DE technology is newer and a smaller footprint but in case you haven't knowticed you can pretty much hook up any ballast to any fixture and it will "run". Some of the bulb companies have taken advantage of half of each technology to sell more bulbs, designing one lamp and packaging it in two formats. And for instance radium utilizes the nice SE reflectors but the extra power of a hqi ballast, running their "400w" bulb more around 450w.

I was running 150hqi on a 40g with a 36x 14 footprint I believe. It gave good light to most of the tank, I'd say 24" and the edges were low light areas. Two on a 48" tank should be good.

 

[Pink Dolphin]

it would be a good choice.

 

[Pink Dolphin]

the ushio 14k is what i had

 

[arc eye]

Looks like I might be going with a deep sea aquatics 140g instead (60"x20"x27"). I keep going in circles on the lighting...can't decide whether to go with dual 175w and t5ho, an ATI Sunpower, an Led and t5ho retrofit, or all led!

I want t5 color and growth, MH shimmer, and led efficiency! Is that too much to ask for!

 

[diciple]

yea it is !haha! maybe plasma huh?if you go with bigger tank better go bigger light good luck

 

[allsps40]

250W MH and T5 supps and be done with it.