Metal Halide suggestion
Moderator: snoopdog
Metal Halide suggestion
My tank is a 75 gallon. I have 2 4ft 110w 50/50 URI VHO's, 2 4ft 110w Actinic blue URI VHO's. I will be adding 2 175 watt Metal Halides. My question is what brand and k rating should I get with the current combination of VHO's? I am open to all suggestions for brands and k rating because I am new to this kinda stuff so I don't know what to start with to get that nice color in the tank. Also the ballast will be a PFO that runs dual 175's so I don't think I can run pulse start bulbs.
- Scott
- Goby
- Posts: 2495
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:00 pm
- Are you a Bot ?: No
- Location: West Mobile
- Contact:
If you are planning on keeping the 50/50 bulbs you may want to look into the higher K bulbs. Something in the 13k-20k range. It really depends on what corals you are keeping and how much growth you want. I use full spectrum bulbs because I want growth. The Aqua Connect bulbs are new but have had great reviews. They don't seem to have them instock yet here:http://www.aquaristics.com/pro_lighthit.php but they do have them listed.
Wanted: to set up a tank again.
- Scott
- Goby
- Posts: 2495
- Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:00 pm
- Are you a Bot ?: No
- Location: West Mobile
- Contact:
10k bulbs with 4 actinics is a good choice. You may want to try them with the vho set up that you have now just to see if you like the color. XM and Ushio bulbs are good choices. I think XM's are a little cheaper than the Ushio's. http://diyreef.com/shop/index.php?cPath ... 3e73866edf
Wanted: to set up a tank again.
Brian ushio doesnt recommend this ballast be used with their bulbs, the starting mech don't mesh. I have been using them but I did have to swap out bulbs a few times to get some that would fire properly. Ushio also said you wont get as long of bulb life with this ballast.
If you want to try the ushio's I can take you by James' store, he matched internet price ($67.95ea) for me on the bulbs last year-print out the price from seaquestmarine.com and bring it with you. He can also get the xm's but doesnt usually keep them in stock.
Joe
If you want to try the ushio's I can take you by James' store, he matched internet price ($67.95ea) for me on the bulbs last year-print out the price from seaquestmarine.com and bring it with you. He can also get the xm's but doesnt usually keep them in stock.
Joe
Yeah I knew the Ushio's did not work correctly. I figured I would try to use the ones I get from you until I find out which ones I like the color of etter and everybody says I should go with. So far I have had a few people I know tell me XM's were good so I will probably try them once the tank is finished cycling.
I personaly like my vho to come on first and go off last so use 4each 50/50 bulbs.....then my MH come on and go off first...1hr after vho come on and 1hr before they go off....these I like to use 20kbulbs...I have used a bluer bulb for vho but makes the tank too dark when mh are not on....this is just my opion and everyone likes something different...that is why everyone does not have a red car.....you will have to try several things to find what you like ....then you will be happy.....
Scott its something about the start capacitors in the ballast I think. The ushio's have the cap built into the bulb and requires a pulse start (or maybe thats backwards) or electronic ballast. Mine will sometimes light for about 15 sec and go back out, repeat this 2 or 3 times before staying on. Actually it hasnt done this in the last few months just mainly when they were new.
Joe
Joe