icecap,pfo,coralvue e-ballast?

[autoponicz]

i like the crisp blue look....the fixture will have 2x96w super actinics
but i need a MH ballast and bulb combo...
looking to purchase ..
2 ballasts for 2 175w mh
which bulbs and ballast combo is best
i seen the coralvue e-ballast on reefexotics that can fire a 150w de and a 175 se bulbs...anyone uses them or would reccomend them.....

or should i go with 2 175w icecap ballasts....
i also would like a MH bulb that produces insane brightness for a 175watter

the tank is a 50 breeder 36"x18"x19"
mixed reef...

 

[masterswimmer]

The Iwasaki 175w SE 14K bulb is sweet. Drive those babies on an IceCap 175w mh ballast with either the IceCap pendant, PFO pendant, Lumenarc pendant or Reef Optix pendant and you can't go wrong.

swimmer

 

[autoponicz]

thanks master......how about bulb and ballast on a 36" pfo fixture....guessing will be same results as the pendants?

 

[masterswimmer]

I think the results would be similar. No reason the PFO fixture couldn't handle that combination.

Russ

 

[autoponicz]

will the 15k bulbs and the 2 96w acticnics be too blue?

 

[masterswimmer]

The Iwasaki's are 14K. They are touted to be one of the best 175w SE bulbs on the market.

 

[autoponicz]

how about the ballastwise HID ballasts.....anyone use them with good results?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

too blue is a personal decision. I personally don't like tanks that are too blue, I think it makes the corals look fake. We are using lumenarcs in the store right now and the 12k reeflux bulbs ( I feel) at 250 watts is a great mellow blue. It's not overbearing at all but it's definitely blue. The phoenix 14ks are significantly bluer while being crisp. I'm not sure if the phoenix are available in 175w. Also, you don't really need to run too much PC lighting if you are going to use the 14k or bluer lights. A single 96w PC will be more than enough for just an hour or two on each end of the halides since the 14ks don't really need supplementation. It's a small tank and all that light is going to create unnecessary heat issues, plus you can save on electric.

 

[autoponicz]

probrably going with 2 icecap 175w e-ballast..
but im wondering...how come the SE bulbs look so dim compared to DE bulbs...
there was a store i visited and saw thier 210 display tank.....i thought they had 4 175w se pendants....because it wasnt looking all that bright.....then the guy told me it was 250w bulbs!?...

 

[Prefect]

Where can i get the Iwasaki 175W 14000K? I can only find at MarineDepot they're quite expensive...

 

[Bob 1000]

I like the Reeflux 12k with Coralvue ballast together nice ice white Bluish color...That's what I use...

 

[Pseudo]

Reeflux sucks. The intensity and spectral shift occurs to rapidly in those bulbs. It takes 2 weeks to brake in and then they shift in 6 months. Crap for the money.

House of fish have the 175w 14K Iwasaki if you need them. Very good PAR level. Last long and good growth from them. They are actually brighter than most 250w bulbs.

Kasei

 

[Bob 1000]

I still like Reeflux:tongue::tongue::tongue::tongue:lol...and the little tiny creatures that made my sps brighter than when I got then from other members do too...But it's only been 2 month's, so we'll see what happens...Hopefully my corals don't keel over and turn darker....lmao..

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanks Kasei, you're right, we do carry the Iwasaki 175w 14K.

Prefect, if you're interested, shoot me a PM.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[cali_reef]

CoralVue bulb sucks, their ballast sucks even more!!

Go with Icecap for electronic ballast and Iwasaki bulbs. I would ditch the PFO fixture and go with a single mini luminarc with some 24" VHO for actinic. PC bulbs sucks for actinic supplement.

 

[Pseudo]

I have to agree with the Mastermind Cali...

Kasei