Need a link or some info
- Thread starter barebucta
- Start date
- Location
- 11756
Well with tanks up to 24inches in depth most people use 250watts single ended or double ended bulbs.
400watt bulbs hardly ever come into use because of the amount of electricity they burn and unless your tanks signigicantly deeper than 24inches--i.e. about 30inches deep--there really isn't a need for them.
175watt bulbs hardly get used because of the small price difference between them and 250watt bulbs.
Anything else?
-Kris
400watt bulbs hardly ever come into use because of the amount of electricity they burn and unless your tanks signigicantly deeper than 24inches--i.e. about 30inches deep--there really isn't a need for them.
175watt bulbs hardly get used because of the small price difference between them and 250watt bulbs.
Anything else?
-Kris
- Location
- 11756
No problem, If you're thinking 175's then go with 150 DE bulbs.
- Location
- Forest Hills
i like my 400w mh
- Location
- Howell, NJ
i went with 2 250 watt SE and i love em...
just make sure u decide on a good bulb... many of the fellow reefers here can recc. great bulbs...
just make sure u decide on a good bulb... many of the fellow reefers here can recc. great bulbs...
it seems to come down to depth- HQI bulbs have more 'punch' than SE bulbs, SE bulbs are known for better consistancy of color...
for example, I'm putting a 250w SE Radium (20k) bulb overdriven by a HQI PFO ballast over my 37g tank. the tank is fairly deep at 21.5", so I was worried that 150w wouldn't cut it, especially since I will be having the bulbs around 10" from the water (total 31.5"). In a custom made hood.
w/ HQI bulbs you can keep them closer to the water, due to the fact that you need to have a tempered glass shield between them and the water line (due to the fact that HQI bulbs aren't encassed in a UV resistant glass like SE bulbs), making splashes of water a non-issue... if you use SE bulbs you can't have glass between them and the water, since they already have a glass UV resistant sheild around them- any more glass will decrease the amount of light getting to the tank signifigantly. Hence the deeper you go, you will need a higher wattage SE bulb than HQI bulb.
If I were to use a HQI fixture that stood on legs above my tank, I would go w/ a 150w HQI fixture w/ two T-5 or PC bulbs for actinitic supplementation. Most fixtures keep the bulbs about 4" above the water line.
Since I am planning on a custom hood for my tank, I will be going w/ a 250w SE Radium bulb around 10-12" above the water w/o any supplementation from PCs or T-5s..you need to keep SE bulbs pretty far from the water line as any splashes of water will shatter the bulb when its on.
Different types of ballasts change the color of the bulbs as well- an Icecap electronic ballast makes a 20k bulb look much more blue and than an overdriven 20k bulb on a magnetic ballast, but w/ a life expectency of about 1/2... lots to read about!
Lots of links on this site if you do a search- leading to tons of links that compare the PAR of bulbs based on ballasts, etc...
Good Luck!
for example, I'm putting a 250w SE Radium (20k) bulb overdriven by a HQI PFO ballast over my 37g tank. the tank is fairly deep at 21.5", so I was worried that 150w wouldn't cut it, especially since I will be having the bulbs around 10" from the water (total 31.5"). In a custom made hood.
w/ HQI bulbs you can keep them closer to the water, due to the fact that you need to have a tempered glass shield between them and the water line (due to the fact that HQI bulbs aren't encassed in a UV resistant glass like SE bulbs), making splashes of water a non-issue... if you use SE bulbs you can't have glass between them and the water, since they already have a glass UV resistant sheild around them- any more glass will decrease the amount of light getting to the tank signifigantly. Hence the deeper you go, you will need a higher wattage SE bulb than HQI bulb.
If I were to use a HQI fixture that stood on legs above my tank, I would go w/ a 150w HQI fixture w/ two T-5 or PC bulbs for actinitic supplementation. Most fixtures keep the bulbs about 4" above the water line.
Since I am planning on a custom hood for my tank, I will be going w/ a 250w SE Radium bulb around 10-12" above the water w/o any supplementation from PCs or T-5s..you need to keep SE bulbs pretty far from the water line as any splashes of water will shatter the bulb when its on.
Different types of ballasts change the color of the bulbs as well- an Icecap electronic ballast makes a 20k bulb look much more blue and than an overdriven 20k bulb on a magnetic ballast, but w/ a life expectency of about 1/2... lots to read about!
Lots of links on this site if you do a search- leading to tons of links that compare the PAR of bulbs based on ballasts, etc...
Good Luck!
I haven't researched bulbs in a long time, last i remember 250W had the largest variety of bulbs to choose from.
Also you can keep almost all high light corals, clams, anemones in the hobby under 250W MH.
The ballast & reflector make a huge difference in performance.
Click on the pics.
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm
Another link.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/
Also you can keep almost all high light corals, clams, anemones in the hobby under 250W MH.
The ballast & reflector make a huge difference in performance.
Click on the pics.
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm
Another link.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/
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Sup Phil-those tank picture are gonna come soon,
Guys I got a standard 75 gallon perfecto tank, pretty much all sofies, eventually would like to explore the world of hard coral. Just contemplating on future lighting. I been doing my homework on the ballast/bulb/par/color comparison etc. In the process of building a canopy (or at least in my head-just haven't had a chance to go to HOme Deopt yet)
Guys I got a standard 75 gallon perfecto tank, pretty much all sofies, eventually would like to explore the world of hard coral. Just contemplating on future lighting. I been doing my homework on the ballast/bulb/par/color comparison etc. In the process of building a canopy (or at least in my head-just haven't had a chance to go to HOme Deopt yet)
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Another link.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/[/quote]
I went to this link a few times before, maybe I'm reading it wrong, where does it show the par value? or does it? (PPFD/CCT)?
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/[/quote]
I went to this link a few times before, maybe I'm reading it wrong, where does it show the par value? or does it? (PPFD/CCT)?
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