MH or no MH....that is the question

[Corndork2]

I noticed today on Reefgeek that they are selling 175w MH retrofit kits for 179.99! it consists of a Reef Optix 2 reflector a Blue wave balast, and a 20000k Ushio bulb. Would this be a god deal to light my 55g? Like two of them maybe? or one of the MH retrofits combined with a 2x 54w Icecap SLR retrofit? would that work aswell? Id like to do the MH and T5 combo, just so I can have both technologies and so dusk/dawn timings.

[Corndork2]

Oh I forgot to say one big key thing...I want to keep clams

[Blown 346]

Mh are great lights, The way I look at it, is if you dont get them you will end buying them as most of us do. It would be better to spend money on one lighting setup instead of buying 2 before you have the lighting you really want. Clams do like high light, depending on the clams you want to keep as they all require diffent lighting levels. Either light setup will work, what do you really want? Will you want to go over to MH at one point? if so get the halides and be done with it.

[Corndork2]

Would 1x175w MH and 2x 54w 48" T5 give me the light coverage I need?

[BangkokMatt]

Sounds good for a 29g

[BangkokMatt]

How deep is your tank

[MrSquid]

I was looking at those same lights at ReefGeek for my 125. Wish it was an electronic ballast though...

And what does this mean? "Although other types of ballasts can and will fire this bulb doing so will have a negative impact on the coloration and output of the bulb and consequently we do not recommend it." OK - so the bulb is matched to the ballast. But what about using OTHER bulbs with this ballast in the future?

[dwl]

MrSquid,
I was wondering the same thing about the bulb and ballast disclaimer. They have some retro-kits that have a non-HQI ballast with a Radium bulb. I admit I am a newbie, but I sure thought that the Radiums were HQI bulbs.

[Carnavor180]

well said blown,

[Corndork2]

The lighting is for a 55g