Metal Halides Or Power Compacts
 

I CURRENTLY HAVE 240G. I AM RUNNING 3 X 400 10K MH WITH 2X96 PC ACTINICS. 1 OF THE ACTINICS KEEPS POPPING. IS THE BALLAST BAD OR THE CAPACITOR. THE 10K MH ARE VERY BRIGHT OBVIOUSLY. IT SEEMS TO WASH OUT THE ACTINCS. I HAVE CURRENTLY 2 175 WATT BALLASTS. WHAT IS THE THOUGHT ON TAKING OUT THE PC AND PUTTING IN 2 175 WATT 20K LIGHTS. IS THE TANK GOING TO BE BLUER W/ HALIDES THAN ACTINICS AND WILL THERE BE A CONSEQUENCE ON MY ACROS.

ANY ONE? ANY ONE?

Is the PC bulb itself popping or is that ballast? You say the MH's flush out your actinic, I would think you don't have much actinic on that tank. You may want to add 2 more 96 watt PC actinic and make sure your bulbs aren't older then a year and a half even though the PC bulbs tend to have a long life span.

You can look into VHO bulbs. They tend to be much cheaper if you're running a larger system.

Rock Anemone:D

The bulb is actually popping. it was an expensive endevour. I was actually thinking that since I have the ballasts already I would do the mh. I used to have 12k bulbs in the tank those worked well(color). Would you rather go vho or pc?

The vho why are they cheaper? Long term? Replacement? Life?

Replacement. I would actually keep your MH's and switch over from PC's to VHO's. It all depends on what [b]YOU[/b] want to do and what looks best to you.

Rock Anemone:D

I'm really happy with the effect I get from VHO lights from URI. The actinics are plenty strong to offset 400 watt Iwasakis. One interesting effect is to throw in a Aquasun with your actinics. You get some spectacular red highlites on your stylophora or any other red/pink corals.

Popping ? Does it break at the little glass that connects the two bulbs on the end.

Sometimes, this is caused by stress from the mounting clips or whatever it is mounted to expands or contracts enough to break it.

What type of surface is it mounted to ?

Not only do I prefer VHOs for looks but this is also a reason why I will not run PCs anymore.....

MH or PC
 

I currently finnished a DIY canopy that is 6'. It has 2 , 3' spiderlight reflectors. Mounted are 3 , 250w Iwasaki 65k and 4, 96w PC...all 4 will eventually be the "true actinic03s". I use a 4" fan to keep them all cool.

Nomadic

nomadic

Good choice on lighting- I have the same- except 2 250w's and 4 160w URI actinics. Good coral growth and combo of light is great. just my .02 :D

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Rock Anemone [/i]
[B]Replacement. I would actually keep your MH's and switch over from PC's to VHO's. Rock Anemone:D [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree.