Thinking of switching from VHO to MH+ VHO

[jeddy]

I have a 90 gallon tank lit by 4 VHO. Thinking of switching to MH (2 x 250w + 2 VHO). I've never dealt with MH before but I'd like to feel better about keeping sps. I have a couple in the higher areas of my tank but they seem to be surviving instead of flourishing as many of soft and lps corals are. I like the appearance of MH lighting better too.

Here's your chance to talk me into or out of it.

Questions:

I have an All Glass cherry canopy. It's only about 8" over the water. Any suggestions for adding the MH while still using my cherry wood canopy?

does two 250's and two VHO's seem like too much! Will it bother my soft corals that have been doing great under VHO only?

Anybody have bulb combo's that they like best?

Can you tell I don't have room for another tank and need to do something new?

Appreciate any comments.
Jim

 

[Anonymous]

i don't think you could regret it.

never too much light for your corals (unless you got 400w and keep something right at the surface).

i like the ushios heard good about the iwasakis, don't hear good about the blueline bulbs.

 

[dattack]

I think if I were to redo my lighting again, I would skip the VHO and just get 2x400W PFO HQI with 20K radium bulbs. The perfect color without need for VHO supplementation IMO.

 

[jeddy]

Thanks for the replys

dattack

My current VHO set up gives me purple light. I understand that 20K bulbs give blue light. Is this your experience? My preference is to get as much color as possible while still getting the correct wavelength to the corals.

Jim

 

[wingd]

I currently have a 75 gallow with two 400's 20K radiums and two 48" vho's. I had two 175's with the VHO's, but decided to upgrade about six months ago. I have been very please with the results. I did loose two green acros that were close to the top of the water when I switched the lighting. I reduced the number of hours that the lights were on when switching and then gradually increased the time by an hour a day once every other week. I had a wood canopy and to accomodate the spider reflectors i lowered the rail that the canopy set on to raise the hight. As a result of lowering the railing the canopy does not cover all of the plastic molding that goes around the top of the tank, but it is not a major concern to me. As you might guess, I do have issues with heat. The back of my hood is open with fans blowing. I live by myself and during the summer I left the front of the canopy open. I did have a couple of soft corals that I placed under overhangs in the rock so they did not receive direct light. If I were you, I would definitely consider the 400's especially if you are thinking about focusing on SPS. good luck