Coralife HQI Fixture Buy it?

[SnowManSnow]

I'm to the point where I want to simplify my lighting. I am really lusting for good HQI fixture that is all inclusive that will just simply sit on my tank.

I'm getting tired of the pendant hanging in my living room. the actinics that are mounted inside a 3 sided hood, and the fan that is propped up against it blowing air into the hood. Any time i have to get in there I have to mess with the actinic wires to get them around the side of the tank... remove the fan... move the hood, being careful not to bump the pendant hanging down in there, and carefully remove the hood with the actinic lights suspended halfway down the length trying not to hit them on the side of the tank.

The only light that i could find to include all this was the coralife fixture ... 1x250 hqi... and 2x65w Actinic with lil moonlights , that i could care less for but ok..

Any experience with these fixtures? do they run REASONABLY cool with the fan built in, or will I still have a heating problem?

KNow of any other 24" fixtures that would be good for a 24"deep tank? I have a full gamut of corals from sps to ... well... most everything in there somewhere.

Advice? Experience?

Thanks,

b

 

[trido]

You could custom build one with PFO. LALawman has one he's real happy with. you can start here http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumP ... xture.html if your interested

 

[SnowManSnow]

thanks man..but some of the idea behind possibly getting this is that I wouldn't have to fool with doing it myself.

I guess my question is....

are coralife fixtures quality made.. and to they have a good track record.

Also, i can get XM bulbs... any feelings about 10, 15, or 20k XMs?

b

 

[mr_X]

i've tried the 10k and 15k XM lamps for that 250 watt hqi fixture i have and the 10k was very yellow, and the 15k was way too blue.

 

[SnowManSnow]

so im still not getting any opinions concerning the quality and so forth of the fixture....

anyone?

and as far as the bulb goes should I invest in another bulb, as opposed to the XM brand? Keep in mind I will have PC suplimentation too.

Thanks,

b

 

[mr_X]

the quality of the blemish model i have is excellent. i just think the ballast is scond rate. now, i don't know if coralife sells their blemish cases and someone else fills them with stuff, or they sell the whole thing.

 

[SnowManSnow]

what dictates a bad ballast? Does it just not drive the bulb correctly or is it loud or somthing?

Thanks.

b

 

[mr_X]

it doesn't produce enough quality light. the zoos grew to be over an inch tall, and the ricordia were the size of apples, all curled up towards the light. since i placed them under my 400 watt halides, they are shrinking back to normal height and the ricordia don't have to be stretched out to get light.
it's got to be the ballast. as i stated above, i tried those XM bulbs in the fixture, and it was the same thing. it was on the 30 cube....a 250 watt halide with CF actinics.

 

[SnowManSnow]

hmmm.... its like we swapped places... I feel like my 400w HQI is just too much for a 24" tank.

Odd.

b

 

[S!mon]

I've had a coralife fixture 150HQI 65w atinic for almost 4 years now with no problems.