175 SE vs 150 DE vs 250 DE

misfitkris · 02/04/2008, 02:31 PM

I am building a canopy for my 75g AGA reef ready tank.

I would like to keep any type of coral I come across.

I have my choice of the three:

2x Icecap 175W MH Retro kit, Spider reflector, 14k bulb (Undecided brand) $149.95 + bulb cost.

2x Icecap 150W MH HQI Retro kit, HQI Reflector, 14k bulb (Undecided brand) $169.95 + bulb cost

2x Icecap 250W MH HQI Retro kit, HQI Reflector, 14k bulb(Undecided brand) $169.95 + bulb cost

If you had to choose based on electric cost, retro cost, visual appeal and need for species kept purposes, what would you chose?

Those with 75 gallons, what wattage MH are you using? Do you wish you had more? Anyone running just MH without supplementing?

Any and all opinions welcome.

Thanks,

Kris

kgross · 02/04/2008, 09:11 PM

Since you say you want to be able to keep any type of coral I come across, the dual 250 hqi

Kim

shelburn61 · 02/04/2008, 11:31 PM

the 175w iwasaki 15k is a nice white w/ slight blue and will give you the same PAR as a 250hqi

JCTewks · 02/04/2008, 11:58 PM

^^^^^^^^
agreead with shelburn.

The Iwasaki 175w 15K will out out more PAR than a LOT of 250w MH,s.

btw, a magnetic ballast will USUALLY put out more PAR than an electronic.

I run Hamilton 14K on my tank with no supplement and the look is great

TheFishGuy,LLC · 02/05/2008, 12:10 AM

I've got a 175w Iwasaki 15K in a bell pendant on my corner tank and I'm pretty happy with it but.... I got to play with a coralvue 14K 250w DE in a nice reflector for a day. It made the 175w iwasaki look like 40watt incandescent. I replaced a SE 250W XM 15K with a hammer tone reflector and mag ballast with the Coralvue HQI and it was the same story. I then took the SE 250w XM and put it on the tank that normaly has the the 175w Iwasaki and they were visually about the same in brightness with the XM being maybe a little dimmer. Go with the 250 HQI and good reflectors and I doubt you'll see another tank with lighting that you like better.

kilmca · 02/05/2008, 01:03 AM

I use 250 watt HQI's over my tank and I'm very happy. I run 14,000k Hamilton and 14,000k Ushio bulbs in PFO pendants with Icepcap ballasts. The Hamilton bulbs are more of a blue light than the Ushio bulbs. I also have 440 watts of VHO's but they are only on before the MH come on and after they go off. Following pictures are taken with MH lights only.

Left Side

Right Side

misfitkris · 02/05/2008, 08:44 AM

Any opinions on this set-up with 2 TRU Actinics and 14000k phoenix bulbs?

Hello Lights

Monti · 02/05/2008, 08:57 AM

The phoenix 14k is a great 250watt bulb, you'll probably want to run it on a magnetic ballast if you are going to supplement it with acticnic bulbs though, since it tends to be pretty blue (more like 20k) on an electronic ballast. The Iwasaki 175s would still be a good choice if you got a better reflector than the spider, preferably some mini-lumenarcs or something along those lines.

misfitkris · 02/05/2008, 09:01 AM

So then maybe go with a 10k bulb with the supplemental actinics?

Are ARO ballasts any good? I read a post a while back and it seemed to perform similar to Icecap. I don't remember what post but the guy was comparing all kinds of ballasts and bulbs.

JCTewks · 02/05/2008, 02:41 PM

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php

This will show you PPFD values for almost all bulb and ballast combo's as well as spectral plots.

02/04/2008, 02:31 PM	#1
misfitkris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 229	175 SE vs 150 DE vs 250 DE I am building a canopy for my 75g AGA reef ready tank. I would like to keep any type of coral I come across. I have my choice of the three: 2x Icecap 175W MH Retro kit, Spider reflector, 14k bulb (Undecided brand) $149.95 + bulb cost. 2x Icecap 150W MH HQI Retro kit, HQI Reflector, 14k bulb (Undecided brand) $169.95 + bulb cost 2x Icecap 250W MH HQI Retro kit, HQI Reflector, 14k bulb(Undecided brand) $169.95 + bulb cost If you had to choose based on electric cost, retro cost, visual appeal and need for species kept purposes, what would you chose? Those with 75 gallons, what wattage MH are you using? Do you wish you had more? Anyone running just MH without supplementing? Any and all opinions welcome. Thanks, Kris

02/04/2008, 09:11 PM	#2
kgross Premium Member Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 5,870	Since you say you want to be able to keep any type of coral I come across, the dual 250 hqi Kim __________________ Proud Member of the Idaho Marine Aquarium Society America will only be the Land of the Free as long as it is the Home of the Brave. Current Tank Info: AGA 180gallon tank, VHO/MH lighting, DSB, calcium reactor, Also a 7 Gallon Nano softy tank, and a 32 gallon cube

02/04/2008, 11:31 PM	#3
shelburn61 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Charlotte Posts: 2,094	the 175w iwasaki 15k is a nice white w/ slight blue and will give you the same PAR as a 250hqi

02/04/2008, 11:58 PM	#4
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	^^^^^^^^ agreead with shelburn. The Iwasaki 175w 15K will out out more PAR than a LOT of 250w MH,s. btw, a magnetic ballast will USUALLY put out more PAR than an electronic. I run Hamilton 14K on my tank with no supplement and the look is great

02/05/2008, 12:10 AM	#5
TheFishGuy,LLC Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 109	I've got a 175w Iwasaki 15K in a bell pendant on my corner tank and I'm pretty happy with it but.... I got to play with a coralvue 14K 250w DE in a nice reflector for a day. It made the 175w iwasaki look like 40watt incandescent. I replaced a SE 250W XM 15K with a hammer tone reflector and mag ballast with the Coralvue HQI and it was the same story. I then took the SE 250w XM and put it on the tank that normaly has the the 175w Iwasaki and they were visually about the same in brightness with the XM being maybe a little dimmer. Go with the 250 HQI and good reflectors and I doubt you'll see another tank with lighting that you like better.

02/05/2008, 01:03 AM	#6
kilmca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: OR City, OR Posts: 203	I use 250 watt HQI's over my tank and I'm very happy. I run 14,000k Hamilton and 14,000k Ushio bulbs in PFO pendants with Icepcap ballasts. The Hamilton bulbs are more of a blue light than the Ushio bulbs. I also have 440 watts of VHO's but they are only on before the MH come on and after they go off. Following pictures are taken with MH lights only. Left Side Right Side

02/05/2008, 08:44 AM	#7
misfitkris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 229	Any opinions on this set-up with 2 TRU Actinics and 14000k phoenix bulbs? Hello Lights

02/05/2008, 08:57 AM	#8
Monti Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 173	The phoenix 14k is a great 250watt bulb, you'll probably want to run it on a magnetic ballast if you are going to supplement it with acticnic bulbs though, since it tends to be pretty blue (more like 20k) on an electronic ballast. The Iwasaki 175s would still be a good choice if you got a better reflector than the spider, preferably some mini-lumenarcs or something along those lines.

02/05/2008, 09:01 AM	#9
misfitkris Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 229	So then maybe go with a 10k bulb with the supplemental actinics? Are ARO ballasts any good? I read a post a while back and it seemed to perform similar to Icecap. I don't remember what post but the guy was comparing all kinds of ballasts and bulbs.

02/05/2008, 02:41 PM	#10
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php This will show you PPFD values for almost all bulb and ballast combo's as well as spectral plots.