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lighting opinions
- Thread starter ger
- Start date
definately at least 250w, i wouldn't do less on the halides regardless of the number of them.
i would do the 10k bulbs with VHO supplementation. i have tried bluer halides with additional NO flourescent actinic and didn't have very good color in my sps corals. once i put in VHO actinics the whole tank looked better and the sps looked much happier and more colorful.
i haven't ever used 400w 20k though.
if i were to have the money i would throw eight 400w halides in there and have at least 20 ft of VHO bulb.
spendy, spendy, spendy....
i would do the 10k bulbs with VHO supplementation. i have tried bluer halides with additional NO flourescent actinic and didn't have very good color in my sps corals. once i put in VHO actinics the whole tank looked better and the sps looked much happier and more colorful.
i haven't ever used 400w 20k though.
if i were to have the money i would throw eight 400w halides in there and have at least 20 ft of VHO bulb.
spendy, spendy, spendy....
you could do the 20ks if you prefer the light and i would suppose that less supplementaion would be needed doing so. i would have at least a 10 ft of flourescent though, for cycle start up and and stop.
for the VHO bulbs i hear the URI is the way to go, that's what i use.
the type of ballast is somewhat dependant upon your desires. an icecap will use less energy and stay cooler, a PFO will be a cheaper buy and you can get them in dual setups. i did the PFO because they are made locally here, the end caps were of a higher quality than what i found on the open market, and the warranty i got was a lifetime deal through a local dealer. also the cash savings in electricity as per using an electronic ballast will take years to counter the additional cost of the icecap ballast.
you will be dealing with a lot of heat and the electronic may be a better route.
icecap is selling it's ballasts to another maker that is placing their name on them and can't remember the name right now but the cost was quite a bit lower for the same ballast, just a different sticker. i will try to remember the name and get back to you.
for the MH 10k, if that's the bulb you decide on, i would go with ushio. i buy these in the 175w version and really like them. someone should tell you if i am wrong but i believe the hamilton 10k is the same bulb.
for the VHO bulbs i hear the URI is the way to go, that's what i use.
the type of ballast is somewhat dependant upon your desires. an icecap will use less energy and stay cooler, a PFO will be a cheaper buy and you can get them in dual setups. i did the PFO because they are made locally here, the end caps were of a higher quality than what i found on the open market, and the warranty i got was a lifetime deal through a local dealer. also the cash savings in electricity as per using an electronic ballast will take years to counter the additional cost of the icecap ballast.
you will be dealing with a lot of heat and the electronic may be a better route.
icecap is selling it's ballasts to another maker that is placing their name on them and can't remember the name right now but the cost was quite a bit lower for the same ballast, just a different sticker. i will try to remember the name and get back to you.
for the MH 10k, if that's the bulb you decide on, i would go with ushio. i buy these in the 175w version and really like them. someone should tell you if i am wrong but i believe the hamilton 10k is the same bulb.
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