Dual JBJ K-2 Viper 70W MH's?

m2434 · #1 12/22/2007, 02:24 PM

I am running 4x65W PC's on my LPS dominated 20G. So far everything is going great, but I'm thinking of adding some clams and more demanding SPS corals. My thought was to either replace 2 of the PC's with a 70W MH or replacing all of them with 2 70W MH's.

I had a 55g with 2x250W MH's and later just 1, either way, it was too much light for the tank, so no, I'm not putting 250W's on my 20g... I also noticed that the corals in my 55g seemed to be "shocked" by the sudden burst of light and seem to prefer a gradual increase. So, I'd like multiple sets of lights versus a single big light. Therefore, my idea was either 2x70W MH's or 2x65W PC's and a single 70W. I can't find any 24" canopies with multiple 70W and if I added a 70W, it would have to be a retrofit canopy.

So, I'm looking for Ideas, one was to use 2 JBJ K-2 Viper 70W's. I think this would provide tons of flexibility, but I've heard mixed reviews of the lights. Other thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

zma21 · #2 12/22/2007, 04:06 PM

I owned the viper 70 watt and won't buy another.

Save yourself some trouble and get a better quality light.

m1enbo1 · #3 12/22/2007, 04:38 PM

why wont just get a 150W mh instead of 2 70W's?

racksteris · #4 12/22/2007, 04:58 PM

You are right zma21 for once. Its made by JBJ that says ALL.

zma21 · #5 12/22/2007, 05:33 PM

Seriously?

Why would you post in this thread? You have nothing to contribute, so please, go mind your own business and crap in your own threads.

My apologies to the OP.

m2434 · #6 12/22/2007, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by m1enbo1
why wont just get a 150W mh instead of 2 70W's?

I spent years fighting bleached corals on my 55g due to intense lighting... not making that mistake again. I'd like to have the flexibility to control the actual light output - can't do that with a single light. Also, it's been my observation that corals do better with a gradual increase/decrease in lighting intesity, over the course of the day, versus a sudden on/off, as would be the case with a single 150W.

m2434 · #7 12/22/2007, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the comments on JBJ. Any good 70W suggestions?

Lance M. · #8 12/22/2007, 10:28 PM

It would be fine as long as you started off with the MH on for about 2-3 hours for the first week then adding an hour each week until you get up to 8-10hours a day (or how ever long you want them on).

I think it will be hard to find a 70 watt MH, well not hard to find just not that many choices. You would be better off going with the 150 watt and besides it would be about the same price.

Edit: Oh I just re-read your last post. For the on/off it's really the hobbyist's preference but If you decided to go with the 150 watt MH you could go with a 10,000k bulb and keep 2x 65 pc both actinics. Then you could set them on timers where the pc actinics come on 30-60 minutes before the MH and then shut off 30-60 minutes after the MH turns off for a dawn/dusk effect. HTH.

racksteris · #9 12/23/2007, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zma21
Seriously?

Why would you post in this thread? You have nothing to contribute, so please, go mind your own business and crap in your own threads.

My apologies to the OP.

All I want to do is crap on you....

InLimbo87 · #10 12/23/2007, 07:42 AM

I doubt you'll see much bleaching with only 150w of metal halides. I seriously wouldn't waste my time with the Viper lights.

Look into a Sunpod fixture. I have the 16.5" 70w over my 12 gallon and love it

m1enbo1 · #11 12/23/2007, 09:25 AM

i find it hard to find different kelvins for 70w MH's. mostly find 14k's

zma21 · #12 12/23/2007, 11:59 AM

If you're looking to save some money by getting the viper, you'll just about break even.

My bulb burnt out two weeks after I purchased it. So that was another $60 on top if $180 after shipping.

For $240 you can get a pretty decent light.

m2434 · #13 12/23/2007, 12:39 PM

Anyone know anything about the Octopus MH's?

racksteris · #14 12/23/2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zma21
If you're looking to save some money by getting the viper, you'll just about break even.

My bulb burnt out two weeks after I purchased it. So that was another $60 on top if $180 after shipping.

For $240 you can get a pretty decent light.

Like he is trying to say, STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING JBJ MAKES....

zma21 · #15 12/24/2007, 12:09 AM

^

Absolutely not. JBJ makes great things in my experience.

The light though, is great for the budget build which is why they made the viper.

In comparison to other lights that cost nearly double, of course it doesn't stand up against it.

Does a $30k subaru stand up to a $60k BMW?

racksteris · #16 12/24/2007, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zma21
^

Absolutely not. JBJ makes great things in my experience.

The light though, is great for the budget build which is why they made the viper.

In comparison to other lights that cost nearly double, of course it doesn't stand up against it.

Does a $30k subaru stand up to a $60k BMW?

Ya, your right JBJ makes cheap low quality equipment for this hobby.

Blitz99 · #17 12/24/2007, 02:41 AM

i've used oddysea products and think they're great, JBJ too... the bad reps come from mis-use like unlevel tanks, leaving the plastic film on a light, etc...

Michael L. · #18 12/24/2007, 12:54 PM

Don't feed the troll.

I would personally go DIY and make a canopy with retrofit if I were you. You'd save money and have exactly what you want.

I think 2X70W Halides with a 65W Actinic PC would be a great setup.

beeker · #19 12/26/2007, 12:42 PM

Personally, i would go with a 20" 150w halide sunpod fixture

Or i would retro fit a 175w MH and then buy a 2 24w T5's retro and make a custom hood/top

i have the 20" 150w hqi sunpod fixture over my 5.5 gallon

so i don't see how you had too much trouble with 250w lights on a 55 gallon

i personally ran a 175w metal halide retro on my 20 gallon high tank and it wasn't too much light, i never had any issues with things bleaching

and even on my 5.5 with that much light i don't have any issues

m2434 · #20 12/26/2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beeker
Personally, i would go with a 20" 150w halide sunpod fixture

Or i would retro fit a 175w MH and then buy a 2 24w T5's retro and make a custom hood/top

i have the 20" 150w hqi sunpod fixture over my 5.5 gallon

so i don't see how you had too much trouble with 250w lights on a 55 gallon

i personally ran a 175w metal halide retro on my 20 gallon high tank and it wasn't too much light, i never had any issues with things bleaching

and even on my 5.5 with that much light i don't have any issues

On my 75g everything survived with 250W MH's on my tank, they are thriving with 4x65W PC's.... It took over a year to notice the effects of photoinhibition in my tank. Granted some corals may do better with huge light, but they are not the majority of corals in my tank and I'd like balance. In other words I don't want to cater to the minority.

Good read - highlights some issues with mixed corals:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marlgtganthony.htm

cwilson · #21 12/26/2007, 05:19 PM

i would sya for a 20gal just get one MH (70w or 150w), and then just add actinics as well. you could do a 70W and then two T5 bulbs.

and i agree with our buddy micheal. retro-fit all the way. if i could take it all back, i would buy retrofit. without a doubt.

(zma21- power to the bimmers! M3 all the way!

)

m2434 · #22 12/26/2007, 09:15 PM

My current hood is DIY. I was lazy however, and never really finished it. Need to make it look nicer, but what can I say, I'm a functionalist

Maybe I'll remove 2 of the lights, and put a MH in the middle.

cwilson · #23 12/27/2007, 09:09 AM

that would actually be the perfect thing for you. well, i dont want to say 'prefect', but it will give you more lighting, it will be cheap, and if you dont like it, its not like you spent a fortune.

you can teally see from the pictures (it just looks bright), but what kind of bulbs are those? if you get the HM to replace two of your bulbs, youll 'probably' want to have the PC become deep actinics, and your mh A 10k. i know i like blue-heavy lights though, so i use actinics with a 14K, but thats just me.

so, enough of me droning on and getting side-tracked

what sort of bulbs were you thinking about, or dont you know?

Rosseau · #24 12/27/2007, 11:13 AM

My lighting might be of interest to you. Red house.

I don't have a good pic of the final product but it is basically like this...

-------24W T5-------
--70W-------70W--
-------24W T5-------

24" wide and less than 12" deep

m2434 · #25 12/27/2007, 12:13 PM

cwilson currently I'm running 2x10000K, 1 6500K and 1 Actinic 03.

Rosseau the tank looks great! The corals and clams certainly seem to like your lighting.

The reason I asked about the Octopus is that a friend of mine got a bigger tank for X-mass and is getting rid of his 150W Coral Vue Octopus MH with a 12000K reeflux bulb (~1 month old). He keeps bringing the price down and it would be much cheaper than even the DIY kits, so I'm tempted... I might do that and just retro fit a 2 bulb actinic strip, but I'm still thinking. The 2X 75W still sounds tempting, flexibility is nice.