Aqua Medic, Geisman, Maristar? In extreme need of advice

tabouli4me · 07/14/2007, 08:52 AM

I now have 2x400 and 2 vho on a heavily stocked 90.
I have researched and researched and finally decided you guys would know better than anyone and could help me put an end to all of this.
I am between Aqua Medic 2 54 t5 2x250hqi fixture
Geisman 230 t5 2x250 2x54 not the $1500 one
Maristar ( same)
So far like aqua medic it seems reasonably priced and comes with eevrything.

If there is another fixture you guys reccomend please inform.
Also a good source for purchasing would be greatly appreciated.
thank you much!

bureau13 · 07/14/2007, 09:19 AM

I have the six foot version of the Aqua Medic with 4x250, and I'm happy with it. The biggest reason I went that route was the 4x250 configuration, which I've never seen anywhere else, and which suits the top of my tank better than 3x250. That said, 2x250 in the shorter fixture is more common, and I THINK the Maristar probably has better reflectors, possibly for both HQI and T5. Not sure about the Giesemann. They all have a pretty good reputation, but do check out the reflectors. Oh, also, my AM has external magnetic ballasts. I prefer that because I get more output out of the HQI that way. I don't know what the others have, or if in your situation you need the extra output, etc.

jds

Cultivatedcoral · 07/14/2007, 10:44 AM

I've got the 4 foot Maristar with 2x 250w MH's and 2x 54w T-5's. It's awesome. Never had a problem and looks great. I use the mounting legs which they sell for it.

pscheel · 07/14/2007, 10:49 AM

Ditto on the Maristar. You might be able to order them with the magnetic ballast.

tabouli4me · 07/15/2007, 08:18 PM

thanks again, If i go with the 2x250 and t5 manistar, which color bulbs do you reccomend, my 2 400 are 12k so i do like the blue just not a reall heavy blue like a 20k.
being that I have vhos now im not familiar with the color t5 gives off. if i go with 10k and 2x54 t5 will that give me that splash of blue im looking for?

you guys have been great, any particular company you recomend buying from, thanks ,,,,George

tabouli4me · 07/15/2007, 08:19 PM

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bureau13 · 07/15/2007, 09:58 PM

Maybe I missed it, but did you say what T5 bulbs you're using? Just like your VHOs, there are a bunch of different bulbs you can choose from, depending on the color and PAR you are trying to use. If you use 10K HQI and something like Blue+ T5 bulbs, I would think that would probably be a nice white color with a hint of blue, depending on which 10K bulbs you use (to me the ABs are a bit yellowish...the claimed 13.5K color temp is a crock).

jds

Quote:

Originally posted by tabouli4me
thanks again, If i go with the 2x250 and t5 manistar, which color bulbs do you reccomend, my 2 400 are 12k so i do like the blue just not a reall heavy blue like a 20k.
being that I have vhos now im not familiar with the color t5 gives off. if i go with 10k and 2x54 t5 will that give me that splash of blue im looking for?

you guys have been great, any particular company you recomend buying from, thanks ,,,,George

hahnmeister · 07/16/2007, 01:49 AM

The maristar has the best reflectors and configuration of them all.

DrDNA · 07/16/2007, 07:51 AM

I have two 4' maristars on my tank, but I did replace the standard ballasts with Icecap hqi ballasts.
As for bulb temps, I have tried some different configs. One of the fixtures has XM10K halides with blue plus T5s and is a nice crisp white. The other has phoenix 14K halides and giesemann actinic T5s, which really shows up the blues and greens nice, but the yellows appear brownish. The 10K arrangement shows up the yellows etc better but you don't as much green fluorescence.

jc9394 · 07/16/2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tabouli4me
thanks again, If i go with the 2x250 and t5 manistar, which color bulbs do you reccomend, my 2 400 are 12k so i do like the blue just not a reall heavy blue like a 20k.
being that I have vhos now im not familiar with the color t5 gives off. if i go with 10k and 2x54 t5 will that give me that splash of blue im looking for?

you guys have been great, any particular company you recomend buying from, thanks ,,,,George

I have Phoenix 14 with Giesemann true actinic T5. I have the Bluewave ballast, the new Galaxy ballast have really good review and cost a lot less than the Bluewave.

I got my from PA and the service is great.

tacocat · 07/16/2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DrDNA
I have two 4' maristars on my tank,

Yeah me too. I thought I was unique.

hahnmeister · 07/16/2007, 12:14 PM

If you like the 'deep blue' look, then the pheonix 14,000K halide and T5 actinic is the way to go... it makes for a 20,000K look.

My favorite combo though is to use the ushio 14,000K or G-man 14,500K bulbs for the halide with blue+ style T5s. Wow... wow... wow. Its like a crisp, icey, day-blue. Corals just love it better than anything else I have seen. The extra daylight (yet not so much that the blue doesnt work) helps corals pigment up more... but the T5s just make so much blue that it still looks soooo cool. FWIW, ushio 14,000K and G-man 14,500K bulbs already have loads of actinic in them, so no need for extra rows of actinic.

Here's an example of the combo:

DrDNA · 07/16/2007, 12:34 PM

hahnmeister-

nice colors! while I do like the phoenix 14K, I might try the ushio 14k when I have to order new bulbs over the winter.

I also have both of my fixtures mounted over the tank with the legs like you did.

Reef Sponger · 07/16/2007, 03:15 PM

My vote is Maristar.

pscheel · 07/16/2007, 03:58 PM

I have the same setup as Hahnmeister. I really like the Ushio 14k with T5's supplementing them. I got my fixture from reefgeeks.

07/14/2007, 08:52 AM	#1
tabouli4me Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14	Aqua Medic, Geisman, Maristar? In extreme need of advice I now have 2x400 and 2 vho on a heavily stocked 90. I have researched and researched and finally decided you guys would know better than anyone and could help me put an end to all of this. I am between Aqua Medic 2 54 t5 2x250hqi fixture Geisman 230 t5 2x250 2x54 not the $1500 one Maristar ( same) So far like aqua medic it seems reasonably priced and comes with eevrything. If there is another fixture you guys reccomend please inform. Also a good source for purchasing would be greatly appreciated. thank you much! __________________ :wavehand:

07/14/2007, 10:49 AM	#4
pscheel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 889	Ditto on the Maristar. You might be able to order them with the magnetic ballast. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon

07/15/2007, 08:18 PM	#5
tabouli4me Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14	that helped me tremendisouilsy, just one last thing... thanks again, If i go with the 2x250 and t5 manistar, which color bulbs do you reccomend, my 2 400 are 12k so i do like the blue just not a reall heavy blue like a 20k. being that I have vhos now im not familiar with the color t5 gives off. if i go with 10k and 2x54 t5 will that give me that splash of blue im looking for? you guys have been great, any particular company you recomend buying from, thanks ,,,,George __________________ :wavehand:

07/15/2007, 08:19 PM	#6
tabouli4me Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14	excuse me , spelling error,Maristar e __________________ :wavehand:

07/16/2007, 07:51 AM	#9
DrDNA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Loomis, CA Posts: 1,152	I have two 4' maristars on my tank, but I did replace the standard ballasts with Icecap hqi ballasts. As for bulb temps, I have tried some different configs. One of the fixtures has XM10K halides with blue plus T5s and is a nice crisp white. The other has phoenix 14K halides and giesemann actinic T5s, which really shows up the blues and greens nice, but the yellows appear brownish. The 10K arrangement shows up the yellows etc better but you don't as much green fluorescence. __________________ O O o o O O o o o o o o O <º)))>< <º)))>< <º)))>< <º)))>< Jeff Current Tank Info: 300g and 540g on one system, 165g sump, lifereef VS3-72 skimmer, LED lighting

07/14/2007, 09:19 AM	#2
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	I have the six foot version of the Aqua Medic with 4x250, and I'm happy with it. The biggest reason I went that route was the 4x250 configuration, which I've never seen anywhere else, and which suits the top of my tank better than 3x250. That said, 2x250 in the shorter fixture is more common, and I THINK the Maristar probably has better reflectors, possibly for both HQI and T5. Not sure about the Giesemann. They all have a pretty good reputation, but do check out the reflectors. Oh, also, my AM has external magnetic ballasts. I prefer that because I get more output out of the HQI that way. I don't know what the others have, or if in your situation you need the extra output, etc. jds

07/14/2007, 10:44 AM	#3
Cultivatedcoral Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 394	I've got the 4 foot Maristar with 2x 250w MH's and 2x 54w T-5's. It's awesome. Never had a problem and looks great. I use the mounting legs which they sell for it.

07/16/2007, 01:49 AM	#8
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	The maristar has the best reflectors and configuration of them all.

07/16/2007, 12:14 PM	#12
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	If you like the 'deep blue' look, then the pheonix 14,000K halide and T5 actinic is the way to go... it makes for a 20,000K look. My favorite combo though is to use the ushio 14,000K or G-man 14,500K bulbs for the halide with blue+ style T5s. Wow... wow... wow. Its like a crisp, icey, day-blue. Corals just love it better than anything else I have seen. The extra daylight (yet not so much that the blue doesnt work) helps corals pigment up more... but the T5s just make so much blue that it still looks soooo cool. FWIW, ushio 14,000K and G-man 14,500K bulbs already have loads of actinic in them, so no need for extra rows of actinic. Here's an example of the combo:

07/16/2007, 12:34 PM	#13
DrDNA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Loomis, CA Posts: 1,152	hahnmeister- nice colors! while I do like the phoenix 14K, I might try the ushio 14k when I have to order new bulbs over the winter. I also have both of my fixtures mounted over the tank with the legs like you did. __________________ O O o o O O o o o o o o O <º)))>< <º)))>< <º)))>< <º)))>< Jeff Current Tank Info: 300g and 540g on one system, 165g sump, lifereef VS3-72 skimmer, LED lighting

07/16/2007, 03:15 PM	#14
Reef Sponger Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: TX/USA Posts: 696	My vote is Maristar.

07/16/2007, 03:58 PM	#15
pscheel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 889	I have the same setup as Hahnmeister. I really like the Ushio 14k with T5's supplementing them. I got my fixture from reefgeeks. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon