What kind of lights do you all use?

[TippyToeX]

Just wondering what kind of of lights everyone is using. :) MH, VHO, T5's, PC. As well as what ballast and bulb Kelvin.

For my it's 250 watt mostly. They are over my two 40g breeders (that sadly will be coming down soon I think) I do have 175's over my new 29g. I am pretty much in love with the color 14k gives. Just enough blue where I don't need extra actinic and don't have to deal with the 20k. That (the 20k) is just to much for my taste.

All of my ballasts are PFO. I really trust them and they have been working for me for years and years now. That and their service has been excellent.

[Nanighan]

Amy I think I already mentioned it to you, but here it is for the others...
250w AB 10k DE on a PFO mini pendant, running on PFO ballast. I also use actinic as 10 k is to white and kinda washes out the color a notch. I am planning to get 1 more for the new tank and definately the 14k bulbs. cheers

[Nanighan]

Amy I think I already mentioned it to you, but here it is for the others...
250w AB 10k DE on a PFO mini pendant, running on PFO ballast. I also use actinic as 10 k is to white and kinda washes out the color a notch. I am planning to get 1 more for the new tank and definately the 14k bulbs. cheers

[Shak]

250 DE 10k with 48" T5 actinics to suppliment. When bulbs are due to be replaced i will probably go with 14k as well as the T5's.

Bluewave ballasts

[dallast]

i am only running PCs on my 60 gal and 6 gal tanks. the 60 gal has 220 watts of both 10K and actinic. the eclipse six has a retrofit 32 watt 10K/actinic 50/50.

i plan to very shortly add a couple 96 watt VHOs to the 60 gal. --that should do the trick!

although most people find the PCs to be wimpy, they have been alright for me. due to space limitations, the only lights i could get to work on this tank 4 years ago were the PCs. the VHOs should really make a difference.

the 60 gal. light is from hamilton technology and the eclipse retrofit is a custom sea life.

i would probably have MH if possible!

dallas

[jdieck]

Tank is a 225. 72" long by 24 wide and 30" deep, I use 3 400 Watt 10K MH Ushios suplemented with 4 96 Watt PC actinics.
Total 1584 watts.
For the MH bubls I use electronic IceCap ballasts on 220 Volts and for the PCs I use Hamilton (Advance) electronic ballasts on 110 Volts. In adition I have 4 15 watt blue incandecents for moon phase simulation via and autho dimmer and four blue high intensity LEDs for night viewing.

[the Undone guy]

my tank is too akward to put any crazy lighting in it. So i settled for 4x55w PC's, 2x10k + 2x03 Antic lights from hellolights.com . pictures to come soon i promise~

[VegasMike]

I have eight 250 watt DE in RO III pendants run by Icecap e-ballasts. I alternate AB 10000k and AB 20000k.

[opihi]

250 DEs seem to be very popular here in Vegas. I'm currently running 1 250 DE 20k XM on my 50.

[EvilInSin]

we got 2x65w PC one daylight other actinic. Its a unit by coralife. works good for us I think because we our tank is only 26g and a show.

[sealife]

2x400mh 540 of vho on 100 gal 60x20x20 tank

[irvin3]

2-250-12000k 1-250-10000k 4-54watt-t-5s.2-250pfo ballasts-1-250 arno ballast 1-icecap460 ballast. on 120 g.4- 4inch fans on.

[Nanighan]

Jeff how is the intensity of the 250 xm de bulb? do you have any experiences with other bulbs? Too blue?

[opihi]

ron: they're very blue, but i like them. i do not need to run actinics at all. i think my next bulb will be either the 10k BLV or 14k Hamilton as i've read good things about both of them.

i can't comment much on the intensity because there's so much to lighting that i just can't measure. they don't appear to be as bright as the Ushio 10k, but it could be because the color spectrum is more on the blue side and our eyes just can't pick up on that light. i don't have a meter to test PAR.

fwiw, i did get better coloration from my SPS under these XMs than i did with the single 400w bulbs. i do suspect though that the differences in tank setups were also a factor, not just the light. (the lights were used on different tanks)

i've also used the 250w DE 10k AB, 10k ushio and 400w mogul 10k (CSL i think) and 14k hamilton.

btw, i do have an extra bulb with only about 2 months of use if you wanna work something out.

j

[TippyToeX]

Jeff if you are ever interested in measuring your lights my Par meter will do the trick. Comes in real handy for coral placement. :)

[dallast]

where did you happen to come by a PAR meter, amy?

would be interesting to know somewhat quantitatively what our lights put out.

[Nanighan]

Jeff is that an extra 250w DE 20k xm bulb?
Also (stupid question!) does the par meter read from inside the tank(submerged) Amy?

[opihi]

Amy:
that'd be awesome.

ron:
yes, it's an extra.

[TippyToeX]

Dallas, I got the Quantum Meter ( Model QMSW-SS ) form Apogee (http://www.apogee-inst.com/bqm_spec.htm). :)

Ron, the sensor on this model is made to go under water.

[opihi]

Amy, that's a very cool, but pricey, toy. would you say that it's worth the cost? how often do you use it?

[TippyToeX]

Yeah it is a pricey toy. :) I don't think it is worth it for the average reefer. For me I use it often.

For coral placement, testing bulbs, and photography. As well as my main reasoning, to see if my yard would support a small scale coral greenhouse. Muuhhahahahaaa http://www.computerpannen.com/cwm/contrib/ed/devil.gif

[Nanighan]

Jeff PM me the price if you want to sell the bulb.

[LVfishguy]

That would be a neat toy to have. I could save SO MANY animals by showing people that they really DON'T have enough light!

[opihi]

Originally posted by TippyToex
Yeah it is a pricey toy. :) I don't think it is worth it for the average reefer. For me I use it often.

For coral placement, testing bulbs, and photography. As well as my main reasoning, to see if my yard would support a small scale coral greenhouse. Muuhhahahahaaa http://www.computerpannen.com/cwm/contrib/ed/devil.gif

oooh! what did you find? i'd think the only limitation is cooling the greenhouse in the summer. i think you should do it. i'd even come over and help you maintain it once a week while i'm "shopping". :)

[TippyToeX]

Originally posted by LVfishguy
That would be a neat toy to have. I could save SO MANY animals by showing people that they really DON'T have enough light!

That would be a great idea really. :) Also it might come in handy for your prop tanks. To see where coral is best placed.

Jeff- I have yet to test the yard. Geerrr!! I will report here with the results when I get them. I might just wait for when Anthony Calfo makes the trip to have his expert advice. I think cooling would not be to bad of an issue. My concern is making sure the temp is stable. We can have some big swings in a day.

No you can not come over and help, you have to set one up yourself. :p j/k of not coming over, not so much for getting your own. Honestly man think about that for your new home.

[Nanighan]

Aim your actually serious!
Now that would be interesting if you went ahead with it.

BTW 1000th post in the LVVR forum, now give me my prize!:D

[opihi]

Originally posted by TippyToex
No you can not come over and help, you have to set one up yourself. :p j/k of not coming over, not so much for getting your own. Honestly man think about that for your new home.

oh, i have. it's a matter of making it pretty and keeping the elec costs down. wifey's not as fanatic about the hobby as we are.

[TippyToeX]

Yep I'm serious. :D It would have to be later down the line of course (need to be feeling better then I am now) but if the light is right in the yard and it would not cost me an arm and a leg to maintain, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Jeff, the way I figure it is all of the LVVR football fans will make a killing and win HUGE this season when we place our bets. Then you will be rich and you can buy your wife anything she wants that makes her most happy. After that how can she say no to a 50'x30' greenhouse?? :confused:

[TippyToeX]

Damn you double post!! /shaking fist in the air