Looking for advice - upgrading to 400w MH's...

[PITSTOP]

I am in the process of upgrading my lighting from 2x250 MH's to 2x400 MH's.


> Current lighting is 2x250 Ushio 10K HQI + 2x110 VHO URI Super Actinic

> Reef - SPS barebottom, 120 display, 40 sump, ER RC250 skimmer, GEO Calcium reactor, Artica chiller 1/5 HP, TUNZE Stream 2x6100 w/multicontroller, etc.

My first thought was to go with 2x400 PFO HQI ballasts, 2xLuminarc III, Radium 20K's - no supplemental lighting.

Another reflector option would be 2xPFO 24" reflectors - and then keep the 2x110 VHO's and maybe go with Ushio 14k's for the combo.

Question > If I get the HQI ballasts, which would allow me to run Radium 20K's, can I run other 400w SE bulbs if I decide to switch to Ushios or XM's?

I am looking for great color first and then growth - without being overly washed out in blue...

[drtango]

I've run the XM 10k and Hamilton 14k on the PFO 400 HQI with great results. The XM comes in at 13k, and looks best IMO with actininc VHO. The PAR is outrageous--two of those on a 120 may require sunglasses for viewing. The Hamilton is Blue-white, and looks pretty decent alone. I've gotten a year out of both.

Can't argue with the Radiums if cost and replacement interval are not an issue....

John

[jackson6745]

I just changed from 2x250's and VHO's on my 120 to 400w's. I am using 10k reeflux on coralvue ballasts with no actinics. The color is perfect by itself. It's hard for me to get the true color in pics but here is an example of the color. Blues really pop under this bulb.

[jackson6745]

Purples look a lot different under this lighting than the 250w 10's+VHO's

Nana under 400w Reeflux 10k


Nana under 2x250w 10k BLV's + 3VHO's

[jbanks]

Rich,

As usual, your tank is fantastic... I had to step out of the hobby for a minute, but I am almost ready to jump back in... I see you made a jump to reeflux 10K 400s... Nice choice.. Question, I remember you went bare bottom some time ago... what is your lighting and feeding regiment these days... I remember you discussing short lighting intervals and heavier feeding with bare bottom (or at least I think I remember).. Just trying to line my ducks up before I jump back in. Aslo, do u still rec. glasscages.com for the tank? Oh, please tell MSHUR I said hey!

[jackson6745]

Hey Jonathan! Glad to see you back. Besides changing my lighting I also got rid of my beckett (BIG MISTAKE) and played around with a few needlewheel skimmers which suck for a heavy bioload unless you plan on dropping $1500 or more. As a result, my nutrients are up too high at the moment so I am feeding very little at the moment and doing lots of water changes. I am going to try the ATI bubble master next to see it that is any good. If that doesn't work, I'm going back to a beckett and I can feed more
My photoperiod is 4 hrs for halides and my VHOs come on 3 hrs before and after. I don't run the VHO's while the halides are on.

[PITSTOP]

I've been running my new 400's (2xUshio 14K's) for 8 hours over my 120 bb!

Too much light, will cut back to 6 hours and check impact on corals...