400 watt S51 ballast...

Bob 1000 · 07-27-2007, 01:17 AM

I just purchased my 1st mh ballast on the road to super reefhood...My new word for a reef tanks that looks brighter,acros that have bright color, and you can grow anything on the bottom of tank...Does anyone know about this ballast and what bulb would be good for me... 180 gallons...no sand...I want to grow acros on the bottom... Right now I'm using pc's and t5's I only have frags their color is good, they are growing enough for me to notice growth after a week...But I'm ready for big time reefhood..After 10+ years in the game...I have heard that 6400 is the best for coral growth... Please elaborate??????

House of Laughter · 07-27-2007, 01:41 AM

Bob, kelvin rating is said to do something for coral growth, but in fact, water quality and temperature/stability are larger factors to coral growth. I read somewhere about how corals photosynthesize better at 65k, but truth be told 65k is closest to natural sunlight, however, it's a bulb, not the sun.

Much of what the bulb does is dependant on the ballast that drives it - I have nevr herd of the ballast you outlined, and you may find yourself "trying" many different bulbs to get the color/growth/look you want - however, again, water qualit and stability are better for monitoring coral growth.

IMO

house

Bob 1000 · 07-27-2007, 11:43 AM

My water quality has been stable for some time now. I have recently taken 2 show size Vlamingiis, 1 show size brevorostris, 1 5.5 in blueface,1 4.5 in emperor, 1 4 in swallowtail, 1 3.5 in regal, 1 5in Chrysyrus,1 3.5 in Blueface out of my system.. Leaving a 3 in chevron, 3in powder brown, 2 2.5 in dussimer tangs,a midas blenny, watchman goby, 4 pj's 1 in.,1 scissortail goby, 1.5 in, 6 2in cleaner shrimp, 1 6.5 in mex rock lobster in my 280 system. So I can imagine their might be some change in system...

The guy that sold it to me said it was a plant ballast that could be used with hps or mh...brand new in box...

House of Laughter · 07-27-2007, 11:45 AM

Awesome - good luck with it.

House

Bob 1000 · 07-27-2007, 11:59 AM

He said I could probably go with 6500 to 10k.. Is this good for a 400 watt bulb..Can you recommend a bulb that looks more blu than white..

Eznet2u · 08-05-2007, 11:56 AM

IMO, 6500k or even 10000k will look like someone peed in your tank.
This hobby is to be enjoyed...I don't think I would look at my tank
very much if it had been peed in...

JMHO

Bob 1000 · 08-05-2007, 12:42 PM

I went with the ReefLux 12k... It gave me the perfect look I aws looking for ...I'm picking up 2 lumerac reflectors tuesday... I hope this adds to the nice look and doesn't just heat up the tank more... I've been lucky no chiller needed yet... I add the 2nd 400watt wednesday... I didn't want to shock my acros with too much light.. Is this enough time spread to change from pc's to metal halid 400's?????

Bob 1000 · 08-05-2007, 11:23 PM

Hello can anyone here me????

reefman · 08-05-2007, 11:24 PM

no

Bob 1000 · 08-05-2007, 11:27 PM

How long, Something weird is going on with my acros ,,,They are changing colors... My blue tort colony now has blue purple and green ,is this good...

07-27-2007, 01:41 AM	#2
House of Laughter www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ossining, NY Posts: 10,291 Reefer Ratings: (124) Friends: (36)	Bob, kelvin rating is said to do something for coral growth, but in fact, water quality and temperature/stability are larger factors to coral growth. I read somewhere about how corals photosynthesize better at 65k, but truth be told 65k is closest to natural sunlight, however, it's a bulb, not the sun. Much of what the bulb does is dependant on the ballast that drives it - I have nevr herd of the ballast you outlined, and you may find yourself "trying" many different bulbs to get the color/growth/look you want - however, again, water qualit and stability are better for monitoring coral growth. IMO house __________________ House of Fish (914) 424-0366 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

07-27-2007, 11:45 AM	#4
House of Laughter www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ossining, NY Posts: 10,291 Reefer Ratings: (124) Friends: (36)	Awesome - good luck with it. House __________________ House of Fish (914) 424-0366 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

07-27-2007, 11:59 AM	#5
Bob 1000 Professional Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 3,707 Reefer Ratings: (32) Friends: (36)	He said I could probably go with 6500 to 10k.. Is this good for a 400 watt bulb..Can you recommend a bulb that looks more blu than white.. Last edited by Bob 1000; 07-27-2007 at 12:02 PM.

08-05-2007, 11:24 PM	#9
reefman Chairman of the board Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: queens Posts: 3,306 Reefer Ratings: (27) Friends: (0)	no __________________ GlobalLionDancer-Premier Internet provider of Chinese Southern Lion Dance Equipment!

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08-05-2007, 11:56 AM	#6
Eznet2u Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Central Valley, California Posts: 78 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (0)	IMO, 6500k or even 10000k will look like someone peed in your tank. This hobby is to be enjoyed...I don't think I would look at my tank very much if it had been peed in... JMHO

08-05-2007, 12:42 PM	#7
Bob 1000 Professional Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 3,707 Reefer Ratings: (32) Friends: (36)	I went with the ReefLux 12k... It gave me the perfect look I aws looking for ...I'm picking up 2 lumerac reflectors tuesday... I hope this adds to the nice look and doesn't just heat up the tank more... I've been lucky no chiller needed yet... I add the 2nd 400watt wednesday... I didn't want to shock my acros with too much light.. Is this enough time spread to change from pc's to metal halid 400's?????

08-05-2007, 11:23 PM	#8
Bob 1000 Professional Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 3,707 Reefer Ratings: (32) Friends: (36)	Hello can anyone here me????

08-05-2007, 11:27 PM	#10
Bob 1000 Professional Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 3,707 Reefer Ratings: (32) Friends: (36)	How long, Something weird is going on with my acros ,,,They are changing colors... My blue tort colony now has blue purple and green ,is this good...