Upgrade question

[jmccoya]

I want to upgrade to metal halide. I have a 75g with just VHO's now. Was thinking of going with 2 icecap 250w ballasts with 20k radium bulbs. Not wanting to have to supplement actinic. I want to do this the right way so I won't have to change lights anytime soon. The last question is a canopy or go with an open top with some sort of reflector or pendant. Want to be able to put whatever I want in the tank without worrying about enough light.
Thanks for your input.

 

[jiriki]

Radiums are one of those HQI bulbs. They are meant to be overdriven which the Icecap ballasts can't do. You can try an Ushio 20k bulb instead or maybe a Reeflux 20k bulb.

Or go with a bluewave hqi ballast if you want to stick with Radiums. Those would be overkill in a standard 75g, imo.

I like the lumenbrite minis or the Lumenarcs. They are kind of big though. But they ensure you get every last drop of light down into the tank. Maybe not quite every lasttttt... drop.. but it really increases efficency.

 

[szwab]

Might want to consider a lumatek ballast with the variable output. They cover 250, 250hqi, 400 and 400hqi bulbs. This way if you ever change your mind you won't have to change the ballast. They ae priced th same or close to the icecaps.

I'm not 100% on this one since I haven't done it myself, but a radium on an icecap will have quite a bit more blue since they are designed for an m80 ballast.

 

[jh2pizza]

The new Galaxy select a watts are the same way as well. Im very happy with mine.

 

[szwab]

The new Galaxy select a watts are the same way as well. Im very happy with mine.

Probably the same ballast just a different color case

 

[A.VOID]

Have you considered T5's?

 

[jh2pizza]

Probably the same ballast just a different color case

When speaking with support for one of the companies, they would not come right out and say it but......

 

[jmccoya]

A.Void- no I have not considered t-5 I think ilike the shimmer effect.
Ok so you guys have changed my mind on the icecaps and radiums. Other than a selectable watt ballast what bulbs togo with. Moguel or the double ended? What K and brand? Metal halide is new to me so don't know muchbout them. Looking for suggestions.
Thanks Guys

 

[hollback]

...Was thinking of going with 2 icecap 250w ballasts with 20k radium bulbs. Not wanting to have to supplement actinic...

This is what I run on my 120 and love it. They do run a little more blue but there's no need for actinics.

 

[jmccoya]

Hey Jiriji- Whats the setup you have on your 180 there. Saw your tank this past weekend and it looked awsome. Are you happy with it? And would you change anything if you had it to do over again?

 

[jiriki]

My lighting setup consists of 3x DIY Lumenbrite Minis, 14k Artemis 250w SE bulbs, and icecap ballasts.

A note about the Artemis bulb: it is an ebay bulb and it generally carries the reputation that it is not a quality bulb compared to $60+ bulbs out there. Personally, I am happy with it. To each their own. These bulbs go for around $15. The visible color is nearly perfect for me. Might be a tad too blue but I can live with it. I was previously a Reeflux 20k bulb user.

The only thing I would do differently, buy Lumenbrites instead building them. It took way too much time to do. Or use thinner reflective metal.

As for SE vs DE, there are more variety of bulbs and colors in SE form. SE bulbs are generally cheaper by a few bucks or so. DE bulbs are ideal for fixtures with thinner profiles. The DE bulb is much smaller than an SE bulb. If you are going to use a big reflector like the one I have, might as well go with SE. I do not see (someone can correct me) any benefit to using a DE bulb in a large reflector such as a Lumenbrite.

 

[jmccoya]

Thanks for the input guys. Next ??...to go with a canopy or not what's the benefit either way.
Thanks

 

[motley]

Hey Im running one icecap 250 ballast with a 12k sunburst se bulb and an icecap 660 with 2 ati blue plus and 1 actinic bulb over my tank and I have a vho under where my refugie is. I have a 65 show reef and I love the color the bulbs give off.