what is the best MH set up

[fishaholic911]

I am going to set up a 240 with 4 175 w MH what would be the best ballest and bulbs to buy within reason l. The tank is 8 by 2 by 2.I like the looks of the higher k bulbs more blue.I am only going to keep frogspawn brains polyps shrooms and a few other softies plus I will be running 6 6 foot 160 watt vho's

 

[simon.007]

I have SPS and I use two 400W HQI 10K and two 250W HQI 10K. The SPS and LPS seems to grow better in the 10K's


Simon

 

[Roll221]

Use Ice Cap ballast and 20K XM. That is the combo I use and will use nothing else.

JMO,
Ed

 

[fishaholic911]

does xm make a 20k 175 watt bulb

 

[Satori]

My personal experience is limited to 175 10k german and 175/250 14k hamilton. I would say 14k hamilton all the way, but Ed has definitely had great results with his 20k XMs.

If you want to compare ballast/bulb combos, here's Sanjay's lighting page:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

 

[cerreta]

I use the HQI phoenix 14k and am very happy with them. I also use the ReefFanatic ballasts. They cost less and have higher PAR ratings across the board for electronic units. The magnetic ballasts will last longer and run higher PARS than any electronic ballast. They also get very hot, are heavy, and consume more electricity.

Why not go with the 250's? It won't cost much more and has better penetrating power. Besides, you should do fine with three of those, or four 175watt.

 

[Roll221]

Yes, the XMs do come in 175W, and as Scott stated the different types of ballast all have thier advantages and disadvantages.

Ed

 

[want2reef]

If I had 175W, I would go the new 14K Iwasaki bulbs. IMHO