Lighting advice~

[DevIouS]

Thinking of changing my (1) 250w 14k bulb set-up to a (2) 175w 10k ushio bulbs set-up with (2) VHO URI actinic's.
As of now I have the one bulb mounted in the center, going from back to front.....but the center brace is killing me (although some holes were drilled).

The tank is mostly softies.
My question:
Are the 2 x 175 watt ushios bulbs good...or would the 1 250 with a longer reflector (going from side to side) be better?
The VHO actinic's will be install regardless.
My current ballast is an IceCap & the 175's I plan to get are also IceCaps.

Thanks in advance?

 

[Pseudo]

For softies 175w Ushios are good. What size tank do you have ? The depth also determines what lighting scheme you go with. Are you upgrading in the future ? Why spend money twice for something you can do once.

 

[DevIouS]

Thanks K...
My tank is a 46 BF. Depth is 18"

Not upgrading anytime soon

Package deal come with the Ushios. Should I run with a better bulb?

Just thinking I would get better coverage with the 2, instead of my 1 bulb set-up.
Or maybe position my current set-up differently........with a different reflector (currently a spider).

 

[Pseudo]

2 is better for coverage since you have the brace in your way. The Ushios are great for par. I never had the 175w 10K Ushios so dont know what they look like though.

Kasei

 

[Vic8361]

Hey Phil,

The 175 ushios with the atinics should work out fine for softies and even some sps. Thats what i have been running for years I now plan to run t5's in the future.
Here's a pic of my tank when every thing was doing good.

Vic

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I'm not sure of the demensions of a 46 Bow front, I had one 175W 10K ushio over my 65 gal reef for years (36X24X16) If I were to do it again I would use the same bulb only I would use the lumenarc reflector they also come in a mini size.
I did toy with the idea of supplementing VHO Uri actinics.
my brother now has the tank and I'm building a new hood for him
lumenarc 175W ushio 10K and 2 24" VHO actinics

JMHO

 

[DevIouS]

Thanks guys...

Glad to hear good things about the 175's (although I know it's not all about lighting).
I've seen 55, 75 & 90 gallon set-ups with 175's, which were all doing great.

I think I'm going to go for it.

Thanks for the help.


NYPD:
how did you have the 1 bulb mounted (front to back or side ways)?