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#1
05/17/2007, 01:35 PM
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Ask for Advice on Lighting Upgrade
I am now running a SPS tank with dimension 24"L x 18"W x 22"H. I am now using a 250W Giesemann Nova II with AquaConnect 14K bulb + 4x 24W T5HO (2x 10000K and 2x Giesemann Actinic+).
Now I have a chance to upgrade my lighting to Icecap ballast + Luminarc reflector. The Luminarc reflector is so large that it will cover the whole tank and so there will be no T5HO anymore. Should I use 250W or 400W? What brand of bulb should I use? PS: I am not living in US. In my country I can buy XM10K and XM20K pretty easily. For the other bulbs I might need to purchase from oversea. Thanks in advance!
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Explore the cheapest method to maintain SPS! Last edited by ahchung; 05/17/2007 at 02:18 PM. |
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#3
05/18/2007, 04:20 AM
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22" is a fairly shallow tank. IMO 250 watt MH should be enough for most sps. Best of luck.
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tank 125, 29 gal sump, 2 250w mh, 1 175w mh, 2 110w actinics, ev-180 skimmer, Dolphin 1200, Sequence Dart closed loop |
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#4
05/18/2007, 07:59 AM
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Quote:
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Explore the cheapest method to maintain SPS! |
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#5
05/18/2007, 09:19 AM
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JMO but yes. Many people on RC maintain excellant sps tanks with 250 watt mh. I believe xm's are pretty bright.
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tank 125, 29 gal sump, 2 250w mh, 1 175w mh, 2 110w actinics, ev-180 skimmer, Dolphin 1200, Sequence Dart closed loop |
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#6
05/18/2007, 12:31 PM
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remember though.. he is not going to have actinics, and is running off of an E-ballast, so the XMs are not as bright as if using HQIs and 10ks. But that being said, I still think that the XM10k bulb on an e-ballast would be more than enough to light your 22" tank. If you want/need a more blue bulb then I am not sure that the 20ks on an e-ballast would be enough PAR. If you can get them easily (and cheaply) enough, I would try the 10k onthe e-ballast and see if you like the color or not. I think the CCT comes out around 11k for that combination, IIRC.
Either way I would spend some time on Sanhay's lighting site and compare bulb/ballast combinations, watching the CCT and PPFD to find the balance that works for you  Best of luck to ya
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- Tom |
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#7
05/18/2007, 08:42 PM
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I would check out the CoralVue Reeflux 10k on Eballast as you would get these results. Perfect color IMO..
  I hope the owners of these tanks don't mind me posting there beautiful aquariums. If you can't get them where you live I'm sure you could order them from the US or someone here could send you some. PM me if you need help finding them or help shipping them to you.
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())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> |
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#8
05/18/2007, 10:00 PM
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I run the XM 10 K 400 watt bulbs. they are to powerful for alot of Corals in my 24" tank. I would run the 250 K and add back the actinics you were giving up. this light needs actinic supplimentation anyway.
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#9
05/19/2007, 10:59 AM
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Seems that I will choose from either 250W CoralVue Reeflux 10k or 400W XM20K. From the power consumption point of view it seems that 250W CoralVue Reeflux 10k is a good choice.
Need to check where I can get CoralVue bulb. Do you know where can I get cheap CoralVue bulb in web? Thanks all for the useful opinions.
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Explore the cheapest method to maintain SPS! |
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#10
05/19/2007, 01:48 PM
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Double post
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())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> |
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#11
05/19/2007, 01:48 PM
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Here are some more pics of corals under these bulbs. Also you are going to get more light out of the 250 10k then the 400 20k anyway and use less electricity.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1004542 Link to the only place I would buy the bulbs from. Great guy to deal with! http://jandls.com/
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())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> ())CRAYON)))> |
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#12
05/19/2007, 01:50 PM
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www.reefexotics.com they are also a sponser here.
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