Want to go with Metal Halides

[netjackson]

About 6 months ago I set up a 15 gallon 24x12x12 nano tank. I am running a Custom Sea Life 130 WATT PC, (1 Daylight, 1 Actinic). I am looking to upgrade to Metal Halide's. I have been holding off because I have a few concerns:

Heat, the temp with lights on right now is 79 - 81.

Type of wattage, I would like to go with a 13k 175 bulb.

What is better internal or external ballast?

Double ended or Mogul Base?

Any comments greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Robert

[Entropy]

I think I would go with a 150w DE pendant with a remote ballast. You will get better light out of less wattage. The pendant should also keep a lot of the heat from being transfered into the tank and with the ballast being remote, you can put it somewhere so it will not effect the tank. You could even build a skirt around the top to hold the light in and add a couple of small fans.

[netjackson]

Thanks!

Do they make a 150w DE 13k?

[Entropy]

I don't know to be honest. I know they make several 10k versions, a 20k Radium, and a 50k Iwasaki (that is supposed to be equal to 15k in theory).

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/category_indexes/1-15_lighting_bulbs_-_metal_halide.html