MH lighting help

[timone321]

would Dual 70 watt metal halide retro running off of two NAIS ballasts be enough lighting for my 30gal cube tank? i want to be able to put anything in it, sps/lps/clam/nems.

thanks

[timone321]

bump

[acrohead500ppm]

a 2x70w HQI of the right spectrum 6500k-20000k depends on how blue your pref. is. but you should be able to keep sps/clams/lps as long as correct flow is in order.. remember watch the temps

[timone321]

ive never used MH and i really dont want too. however, with my new 30g cube, i have no other choices in order to fit the lights in a canopy. the tank is only 20" wide.

i dont like them b/c of the heat/electric bill/color compared to VHO/etc.

if y'all have any pointers on MH before i purchase them i would LOVE to hear them. pros/cons type stuff.

is it possible to get the colors out of MH like you can out of VHO's?

[timone321]

some other questions.

what is HQI?

what is the best brand ballast/bulb?

if i use one bulb, what is the best bulb for the best color in corals?

if i use two bulbs, what is the best combo for the best color in corals?

[timone321]

bump

[xtm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400817#post10400817 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timone321
some other questions.

what is HQI?

what is the best brand ballast/bulb?

if i use one bulb, what is the best bulb for the best color in corals?

if i use two bulbs, what is the best combo for the best color in corals?

Generally, when people say "HQI", it's a DE (double-ended) bulb. As for the acronym itself, it's still quite unclear. I've seen "Hydrogen Quartz Iodide", Mercury Quartz Iodide, Halogen Quartz Iodide, and Hydrargyrum quartz iodide.

Best brand of bulb/ballast? That is like asking what is the best brand of car. It all depends on your application, personal preference, and brand recognition.

If you use ONE bulb, you need to decide between excellent growth and nice coloration. Most 10K bulbs are good for growth.. however, many people consider them "yellowish". the bluer (higher Kelvin) bulbs like 14K and 20K are nice to look at, but promotes slow coral growth.

If you're going with two bulbs, IMO I would go with a 10K halide supplemented by actinics. This way you have good growth and nice flourescence with a bluish tinge. The actinics will "mask" the yellow tinge of the 10K.

[xtm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400806#post10400806 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timone321
i dont like them b/c of the heat/electric bill/color compared to VHO/etc.

if y'all have any pointers on MH before i purchase them i would LOVE to hear them. pros/cons type stuff.

is it possible to get the colors out of MH like you can out of VHO's?

A 150 watt Halide has the same power consumption as a 150-watt VHO. 150 watt is 150 watt. halides are "hotter" because the heat is concentrated in one spot unlike VHOs which is spread apart. Not to sound like a MH homer, but only MH can give you shimmer lines.

have you seen the JBJ viper clamp on HQI? That would look sweet on your 30G cube...

[timone321]

i like the idea of 1 10K and actinic fluorescents, but once again, how do i fit fluorescents in a tank only 20" wide?

[HecticDialectic]

URI (UVL) makes an 18" VHO super-actinic...


imo on a 20" cube (must be something like 12" deep to be 30G), you'd be set to go with a good 14k 150W MH in a good reflector like a lumenarc mini or lumenmax 3.

[timone321]

id love to see where you found that info! ive been looking constantly for the last week online and cant find any VHO or T5 HO that are made to 18". please do tell me where you saw them!

the dimensions of the tank are roughly: 21"H x 18"D x 19"W ~ 32gallons

[timone321]

bump

[xtm]

Are you really set on VHO's? If you're willing to consider PC, you can get the 24-watters which is about 15" long I think.

This store carries VHO's that will fit your tank
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/ultra-fluor-lamps.html

[HecticDialectic]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10407883#post10407883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timone321
id love to see where you found that info! ive been looking constantly for the last week online and cant find any VHO or T5 HO that are made to 18". please do tell me where you saw them!

the dimensions of the tank are roughly: 21"H x 18"D x 19"W ~ 32gallons


you got a PM

[timone321]

im not 100% set on VHO's. i just really like the colors of my 75g tank with the VHO's.

i think what i will do is put a 150 MH in the center of the canopy and add a 2 bulb VHO set up to run the 18" vho's with.

what do you think, one super actinic R and one URI actinic white lamp?

then what bulb for the MH?

[timone321]

bump

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10400806#post10400806 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by timone321
ive never used MH and i really dont want too. however, with my new 30g cube, i have no other choices in order to fit the lights in a canopy. the tank is only 20" wide.

i dont like them b/c of the heat/electric bill/color compared to VHO/etc.

if y'all have any pointers on MH before i purchase them i would LOVE to hear them. pros/cons type stuff.

is it possible to get the colors out of MH like you can out of VHO's?

You dont like them because you dont know anything about them.


MHs put out more than twice the light per watt than VHO, and the same amount of heat. IE, a 70w MH bulb puts out as muhc light as almost 200w of VHO, while only producing roughly 1/3 of the heat.

[timone321]

i know i know nothing about them, just what ive heard people complain about.

what kind of MH set-up would you recommend if you know a lot about them? ballast brand? bulb brand? bulb kind (10k, etc.)? can i get a whole "kit" to plug in and go like i can a VHO?