20K MH bulbs

[FastUno]

What were your experiences like in terms of coral growth & which brand did you use?

We know they look cool, but is it worth it? Sacrificing growth? Is there a brand that puts out more par then the next?

I am more worried about too much light & am about to get my first set of MH fixtures. Which of the following would you get:
A: 2-175W SE MH (10K XM) & 2 54W T5's or
B: 2-250W SE MH (20K XM) & 2 54W T5's or

Just so you know what I am growing

Also, has anyone been to Northern Bvd Aquarium, the one on Nblvd on the corner before Main st.
Their tanks have only 175W bulbs (I believe) & their fixtures are dirty. Yet any coral that they put in looks great. Don't know about growth though? Does anyone know exactly what bulbs they use?

 

[bad coffee]

If you can get 14k bulbs. with actinics, 20's will look too blue. My tank has a 14 on it without actinics and I think it looks really nice. Not too blue, not to white.

How big is your tank and do you intend to upgrade it?

That's my answer on the lights.

I have a 150 over a 20, so for your 55 - 90, I'd go with 250's.

HTH
bc

 

[FastUno]

So you think I should go with something like a 14 or 15K 250W MH.

Current tank is a 90g, & if anything will downgrade to a 75 in future.

Do you or anyone else have trouble keeping brains, maze brains, mushrooms, favites, or blastos with MH. Can you keep them fully exposed to the MH light?

[ June 13, 2005, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: FastUno ]

 

[bad coffee]

I have a brain, a damaged favites*, and shrooms and rics in my tank. Oh. and a Clam. I've also got an orange plate that's loving the light. The rics an shrooms are in the corners of the tank where it's a bit shaded. everything else is out in the light.

I didn't like my current tank with a 20kk WITHOUT actinic. It was way too blue. I think it would have been blueberry blue with 03's. I'm satisfied with the 14. I'm adding some 470nm LED's soon, and I'll see how it looks. I may end up going down to a nice 10kk.

I have to say that I REALLY liked my 10K + 7100 Blue PC's I had on my 10 gallon. It was just ballanced nicely. I didn't get the florescence from my corals, but I still liked the look of the tank.

BC
* the favites was pretty bad when I got it. I started it in the shade, and moved it out into the light over a couple of weeks. Now it's almost center in the front of the tank, and it's doing amazingly well. I can see so much new growth over the old skeleton-almost everyday I notice it's filled in more. So If you acclimate them, they should be fine!

 

[Justin_NY]

i just change my bulbs to 14k coralvue from tony and i really love the color. i will stay away from the 20k, they just to blue.

 

[Pedro]

If you are thinking about getting 20k, definately go for the radiums on HQI. The 20k xm's are too weak. In terms of color, i love my 20k radiums. I personally don't think they are as blue as some make them out to be. If you are ever in the area, feel free to check mine out, it's the only way to determine what you like. I must also add that mine are burnt in, so they are whiter. Good luck with whatever bulb you choose, im sure it won't be the last. I have gone from 65k to 20K, that includes everything in the middle.

 

[Justin_NY]

i always want to change my tank to 20k radium, but what i hear from premium aquatics, they only last for 6 months.
dunno if that true or not

 

[FastUno]

I have considered the 14k coralvue, but am a little worried. Every single plot that I have seen of coralvue bulbs seems unusual. They do not show the general bell shape curve. Seems to have peaks where you normally don't expect it. Does anyone know where I can find a plot for 14K coralvue, JB NY & Sanjay don't have plot for this bulb.

Coming over to see the tank sounds like a nice gesture, I might take you up on that toward the end of the week.

[ June 14, 2005, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: FastUno ]

 

[KuyaMark]

hey Zoren I still have that purple hairy mushrooms u want let me know when u want to trade

Mark

 

[FastUno]

The lavender ones? I really wanted those, how do you think they will respond to strong light?

I am worried about keeping mushrooms, since some of them didn't like my strong lights. I vowed to keep only rics, although one species of my fuzzy green mushrooms really love the light.

Reefers with par meters have recorded par readings of about 300 at the BOTTOM of their tanks with T5's (54W & 80W).

 

[Pedro]

Justin,

I am not sure about the 6 months, i do know that the 400 radiums last 9 months or so. I don't see why the 250's are any different.

Fastuno,

ARe you running barebottom? I recently made the change. So far i like it. The only concern is that i didn't get the uv rated board. Time will tell what, if any, effect the uv will have on it.

 

[FastUno]

Yes, my bottom is bare.
Feelings are mixed, but overall it seems to be a lot easier to maintain. Stuff at the front always remains clear, but it builds up over time in between rocks & low flow areas. I siphon out from time to time.

I used eggcrate as my base, then applied a layer of crushed coral & epoxy, and then a layer of epoxy & fine sand to smooth out the surface.

 

[FastUno]

What do you guys look for when choosing MH's? Do you read other reefers opinions, look at spectral plots, go for the cheapest one?

If you look at the spectral plots for a Radium 20K & Hamilton 14K, it seems that the Radiums can do more for the corals. It has a higher peak in the blue spectrum. Do you look for a nice bell shaped curve that peaks in the blue range & tapers off?

 

[jhale]

I go by other reefers opinions, but they must have a tank that show's they know what their doing.
Then I look at JBNY's research and see what the par values and color look like in his tests.
I'm trying to figure out what to upgrade to myself.
I have 2x175's with coralvue 10k's.
I want to upgrade to 3x 250's 10k, or 14k, or a mix.
I'm not sure of the bulb's yet, or what ballasts, electronic or magnetic. The choices are confusing, I don't want to have to buy lights again for a while after I upgrade.
I'm even thinking of going with 400's, but the E bill cost kind of scares me. But if BC can have a 150 over his 20, then maybe I should just get the 1000's for my 120
jk, but the 400's would be nice

 

[FastUno]

I know what you mean, I don't want to keep on having to purchase lighting anymore. I want this to be my last purchase, at least fixture wise. I have to make the big decision between 175W & 250W, so I am trying to consider the par output beforehand.

Keeping this in mind, I am almost forced into the 250W & if happens to be too much lighting I can use 20K bulbs & if not enough I can upgrade to 12-15K.

How long do you guys keep your MH bulbs on? I see a new trend that dictates a shorter time frame, something along the lines of 5-6hrs. Reportedly corals will have better coloration.

Also, what would you guys expect to pay electric wise to keep 2 250W bulbs on for 8hrs a day, for 1 mo? Probably between 20-30 dollars more a month?

[ June 18, 2005, 12:47 AM: Message edited by: FastUno ]