Lighting

[ARLO]

I didn't want to Hijack anyones thread so here goes the question, my 250 Watt (ARO) Metal Halide Retros & 440 Watt (ARO) VHO Retros are on the way from Cali. what type (Maker & Par) of bulbs should I run 10K/20K, and should I use the VHO retros with T-5's? I need help on this one folks, I am also going to build my own Canopy what height should the bulbs be from the water? I want to have SPS, Clams, and what ever else I can.

Thanks

[ramtheory]

VHO retro I would assume this is for T12 bulbs not T5. The T# represents bulb size.

Metal Halide bulbs really are personal preference I enjoy Hamilton 14k bulbs others have theirs. Thinking of trying reflux 12k. I assume retro we are looking at SE (single end) bulbs?

canopy height I would go with 8 to 12 inches bulbs from water there again my personal preference.

[ARLO]

Yes, single ended bulb and I thought I could run T-5's on these endcaps, I may be wrong..

Arlo

[ramtheory]

did you order T5 or T12 endcaps? I haven't checked but can you order T5 VHO bulbs. Arlo VHO stands for Very High Output bulbs that basically can be over driven with out falling out of spec. I believe currently you can only order HO t5 bulbs. Helios has T5 VHO in an all in one reflector bulb ballast combo. Will have to look into T5 VHO availability.

[ARLO]

Just looked at the Helios site and it says I "can" run T-5's with that ballast, but does not recommend it because of the firing and other issue that I do not understand on the bulb... The endcaps I believe are T-12 so I will run VHO bulbs, so now my new question will be do I run Actinic, daylight, 50/50? And what (Wattage) type do I run? I think after listing to my "Mentors" Fade and Chad I will run 20K MH.

Thanks

[ramtheory]

this for your 90? 4 ft length? whats with the 440 watts of VHO then are you going to run all actinics. Mark did that on his 120 and it was neat. A lot of light.

[DrBDC]

If you want heavy growth, go with XM10,000K's. You would probably want a really strong actinic like a URI super actinic. I'm pretty happy with 4X65 pc actinics with mine but I'm eyeballing this:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PFO-PR362SA8MO&Category_Code=Sockets

And then using 2 of the URI super actinics VHO instead of the pc's. Mark carries these reflectors although he only has one listed on his website I'm sure his supplier has the others as well.

[ARLO]

These are the lights that I got.. The guy is selling them on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7752246884&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Arlo

[ramtheory]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7009349#post7009349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ARLO
I think after listing to my "Mentors" Fade and Chad I will run 20K MH.

What did they say to convince you of this. Doesn't sound like them you should know more about what you bought and John would have you going 400 watts :cool: when you going Euroreef?

[ARLO]

Yeah, I have figured out that they like to see me squirm when they start talking equipment. I guess I hooked up with the "BIG" spenders. Believe me I am sure when I told him I got 2 - 250's he said ahh rookie.. That was after he told me "Dude why don't you get this nice 120 instead of that little 90"