A dilemma about adding metal halides...

[Anonymous]

I currently have a full hood over my 75 gallon reef, with 440 watts of VHO running off an IceCap 660 ballast. I had the hood wired up for me because know nothing about that sort of thing. I'd like to get metal halides for my tank, but am really wondering how I can go about it, due to the following concerns :

1. Will I have to scrap my hood completely?
2. Should I get pendant MH's and hang them from the ceiling?
3. Can I put the MH's in the hood even tho it's only a few inches from the water?
4. Will I have to eliminate 2 of the VHO bulbs, and only keep the actinics?
5. How much will this probably cost me? I'd like to go with the 250watt MH's.
6. Is it posisble to get "plug-n-play" MH fixtures where all I have to do is hang, screw in the bulb, and turn them on?

Thanks in advance for any answers...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Chip-

I have had both pendant and in the hood style MH lights. My preference is the pendant. I really enjoyed the ability to look down into the reef and seeing things from that perspective. It's like having a tidepool in your house. And yes they are plug 'n play. You can also get the horizontal type with or without the reflector and they just screw onto the hood and plug in unless you want to DIY the assembly.

Just my experience....Others will need to address the remaining questions.

-Greg

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: GDawson ]

 

[bashcraft]

Personally, I have, and prefer the pendants for the same reasons as Greg. The only draw back to them is a lack of quality bulbs of the right color temperature, since you won't be able to supplement with actinic.

I hear that the Blueline's have serious quality issues, though I haven't tried them.

I've been using the 12000k Sunbursts and IMO, they are a waste of money. I had one refuse to light after a few months, but mostly they shift colors so badly that they just look terrible. No 2 of them will ever be the same color after they burn in. I've gone through 5 bulbs in 1 year and the ones I'm using now have lost most of their intensity. They're only 4 months old.

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

Why won't I be able to supplement with actinic lighting? Just curious as to why that statement was made. Thanks!

Peace,

Chip

 

[bashcraft]

Where would you mount the actinic tubes when you have bell pendants? Or were you thinking of suspending a canopy from the cieling?

Bob

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen a lot of bad press about the Bluelines here. It may be on a bulb by bulb basis or maybe a bad lot got out as I have 2 175wt 10,000k Bluelines since June and really like them. Nice colour, no burn marks, maybe I got lucky?

-Greg

 

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of taking the top off the hood, so I'd still have the sides. The VHO's could be mounted on both the front and back sides of the hood, and the metal halides could be suspended over the middle portion of the tank. I would just bend the reflectors so they point toward the middle. Sort of like this :

<back of tank>
-----VHO-----
((MH)) ((MH))
-----VHO-----
<front of tank>

Is this interpretable?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Your diagram looks good to me. My only comment is for the VHO- make sure that they come with an internal reflector so you don't lose light to the sides and up. They may all come with an internal reflectors now. In the old days when I was a young reefer(rocking in my chair)you had to ask for it. I also had to walk 30 miles to school in the snow with no shoes. Up hill BOTH ways!

-Greg

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, Greg, you just cleared up a mystery for me that I've thought about since I got the VHO's...I was wondering why the actinics never looked like they were 'on' and looked a lot dimmer than they should. This was, of course, due to the inner reflector and me looking at the bulb from the side/back.

So, mine definitely have the inner reflector, and I'll try and work out that scenario I diagrammed. It shouldn't be too difficult, and with the sides of the hood intact, I'll still be able to have fans going without them being noticed.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Okay, now I need prices. Looking for two MH pendants with bulbs. Recommendations on sites with the lowest prices and what bulbs to get would also be very very helpful.

Thanks!

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

I can't comment on their prices compared to others, however, when it comes to service Champion Lighting is excellent. I started using them about 7 or 8 years ago and never switched because of the great service.

-Greg

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: GDawson ]

 

[Anonymous]

Chip-

I just hung mine from a hook screwed into a stud in the ceiling. The light itself hangs by the electrical cord which is heavy duty. If this worries you the top of the fixture has vents that you could probably secure a small chain to, but once you see how thick the cord is you might change your mind. If you do the chain thing make sure not to block the vents as they do get really hot.

So to point two- yes they get really hot. I burnt myself a couple times working in the tank and brushing against them.

I don't raise SPS so others will need to address lighting requirments.

Good Luck

-Greg

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: GDawson ]

 

[Anonymous]

How secure are these when you hang them? Is there some kind of backup chain in case it breaks free from the ceiling? Sorry, I'm just not experienced in hanging lights.

How hot do they get? Is it like the heat lamp at McDonalds?

Also, what's the difference in the K readings on the lamps? Is 5500K good enough for most SPS given two 250watt lamps?

So many questions, so little time, so little money...

Peace,

Chip

[ October 04, 2001: Message edited by: marillion ]