Suggestions for 20K lighting setup

[slojmn1]

All my bulbs on my 120g reef are ready to be changed in the next few months. I have a new plan. I want to replace the 6500K Iwasaki bulbs with new 6500K Iwasaki bulbs but swap out my 4x110 VHO system for a 2x250w 20K light system. I plan to move the VHO lights and ballast to my 40g reef tank(no waste). I would like some suggestions for 20K bulbs and ballasts. I have read a bit about the Osram bulbs. They seem good. What about ballasts or other bulbs? Any help would be appreciated as this is going to cost a bit and I would like to hear what others are using. The point of all this swapping and such is that my sps corals could use a bit of a boost in the color department. I am thinking the 20K bubls along with the Iwasakis will give me the best of both worlds. Also, what is the best way to lay out the bulbs in the canopy so they blend together well? Thanks for your input

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[JG]

slojmn1,

I'm running two 400w 20k Radiums on PFO HQI ballasts, and two 110w VHO actinics over my new 120 Oceanic. I really love the color of this setup, and like the way the corals are coloring up under this light.

Are you running a chiller? An extra 500w MH is going to ad a good amount of heat to your system.

 

[slojmn1]

JG, That is a good point about the chiller and heat. No I do not run a chiller and have no heat issues with the 2x400w MH and the 4x110w VHO during the winter months. In the summer I do struggle on certain very hot days to keep the tank below 84 degrees. I had not really thought about the change from VHO to MH adding extra heat. I was mostly thinking the wattage was close and the 20K would help color up my sps corals. That is what these boards are for, getting other perspectives and having others think about things you forget to think about. So are the 20K as hot as the 6500K Iwasakis? Back to the drawing board on this one if they are as hot.