Help with selecting metal halide lighting

[jjvanb]

I have a 50 gallon flat back hex that has been running for about a year. I have 220w of PC lighting that is overdue for a bulb change have decided its time to upgrade the lighting.
I don't have a canopy and have been looking at complete lighting systems that i can suspend above the tank. I plan to buy a 2 x 250w metal halide system, and would like some actinic lighting as part of it also.
I guess my question is there much difference between the major light manufacturers? Coralife, Current USA, Aquamedic, Maristar, PFO, Aquatinics, and a few others I dont remember right now.... I have spent many hours trying to read up on the build quality, color of light ect..
Some of these units come with a number of lunar lights also, are these important or helpful? I know I'm a sucker for gadgets and toys.
I currently only have a few pieces of LPS and zoos, but would like to be able to keep a few basic SPS in the future.
thanks for your advice and opinions........

 

[Len]

:welcome:

There is a big difference between quality of light depending on the reflector, ballast, and bulb choice (and the interaction between the three). However, over a 50 gallon tank, any 2 x 250W will provide more then plenty of light for any coral you want to keep. You can get reflectors or ballast+bulb combinations that yield as much as twice as much light over a poor design, but any average design will work great over your tank (and it's possible the really high output designs may be too much light for some corals).

Of the manufacturers you listed (those that have complete MH pendants with actinics), Aquamedic might yield the best performance (I've owned and liked my Aquaspacelight). From experience, the PFO is also a nice pendant, as are offerings from Sunlight Supply (Maristar).

 

[Anonymous]

how wide is that hex tank? if it's a typical "tall" hex tank, you probably can get away with a single bulb.

 

[jjvanb]

The tank is 10" at the ends, and 15" in the center. 48" long. I think its called a flat back hex. It's like a 55 with the front corners shaved off.
I am also planning on a larger tank down the line some time and would like the lighting to be adequate for that as well.
Sounds like I cant go too wrong with most of those, thanks guys.

 

[shavo]

just a heads up! all the lights you mentioned are good, however i think (not 100%), but they all have external balasts except current. I just bought the outer orbit extreme and I chose it because it had internal ballasts as opposed to external ballasts. it's up to you though what you want
the lunar light question? there not that important, i like them because I can watch things creep out from the rocks, (The Freaks come out at night) everything nocturnal, and you can view them, I like them but they are not necessary.

 

[Joew]

I have in storage coming out soon a 90g that i use with 2x250 MH's and get loads of light. I might consider that alittle much for you. Might consider alittle less wattage, in the end you would prolly have to set them suckas pretty high. Were you considering DE or mogul? Just some 2cents


Joe W
_________________
American Dad! Forum

 

[jjvanb]

well, most of the sytems I have seen were double ended, and I thought i would go with one of those. I dont really mind if the ballast is external or internal really, does it make a big difference?? Hey if it turns out to be really too much light then maybe it's the perfect reason to get that bigger tank

I'm hoping 14" or so above the tank will look nice and give fairly even illumination.

I dont mind if the corals are slow growing, but I would like to see nice colors from them. I dont know if coloration and speed of growth are interelated?? Should I be looking for a bulb of any particular kelvin rating? I do like the look of a bright white light, but if a bluer or more yellow color gives better results I will go with that.