Opinions on a light package please

Tron87 · 08/20/2007, 05:35 PM

I've got a 60 gallon cube. I only need to light up a 24" square area. I'm considering a Bubble Tip Nem tank or one BTA and some LPS.

I would really appreciate some opinions on this package from Champion Lighting250W pendant

Tron87 · 08/20/2007, 08:11 PM

What I'm really concerned about is the HQI pendant and the ballast. somehwere I heard (I think it was Hahn) that having the HQI on a e-ballast was a mismatched setup that throws out the extra output and basically just kills my bulb choices.

???

Entropy · 08/20/2007, 09:07 PM

I would just go with a 250w SE in a Lumenarc. You could probably even get away with a 175w SE in a Lumenarc and us the Iwasaki 15k bulb. I am using a 250w 20k Coralvue on an IceCap ballast over my 70g (36x18x24) and it is plenty IMO, and my reflector sucks.

Tron87 · 08/20/2007, 10:07 PM

You figure a good 250W 20k bulb would make actinic sups a waste of time?
Putting my old pc's or even T-5's would take up a lot of space. If I get a nice pendant I could go hoodless.

Tron87 · 08/21/2007, 03:59 PM

??

DarG · 08/21/2007, 04:12 PM

Double ended bulb on an e-ballast is run under spec.
It still works, lots and lost of people doing it. But the ballast spec'd for the DE bulb is the magnetic HQI ballast, M80 for 250 watt. Electronic ballast is fine on single ended bulbs. Again, will work on DE, it just runs the majority of the DE bulbs below spec and with less par than the magnetic HQI ballast. Sometimes only a little bit less, sometimes a signifigant amount.

Reef Exotics has good package deals on Lumenarc reflectors and ballasts. Since you are considering only using a single halide, go with a Lumenarc or Lumenmax (Lumenmax 3 for DE) reflector.
The Lumenarcs are cheaper and you have the space so ...
The Reflector is really important, especially in a single bulb set-up.

reefexotics.com
reefgeek.com
diyreef.com

08/20/2007, 05:35 PM	#1
Tron87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 595	Opinions on a light package please I've got a 60 gallon cube. I only need to light up a 24" square area. I'm considering a Bubble Tip Nem tank or one BTA and some LPS. I would really appreciate some opinions on this package from Champion Lighting250W pendant

08/20/2007, 09:07 PM	#3
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I would just go with a 250w SE in a Lumenarc. You could probably even get away with a 175w SE in a Lumenarc and us the Iwasaki 15k bulb. I am using a 250w 20k Coralvue on an IceCap ballast over my 70g (36x18x24) and it is plenty IMO, and my reflector sucks. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

08/20/2007, 08:11 PM	#2
Tron87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 595	What I'm really concerned about is the HQI pendant and the ballast. somehwere I heard (I think it was Hahn) that having the HQI on a e-ballast was a mismatched setup that throws out the extra output and basically just kills my bulb choices. ???

08/20/2007, 10:07 PM	#4
Tron87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 595	You figure a good 250W 20k bulb would make actinic sups a waste of time? Putting my old pc's or even T-5's would take up a lot of space. If I get a nice pendant I could go hoodless.

08/21/2007, 03:59 PM	#5
Tron87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Long Beach, California Posts: 595	??

08/21/2007, 04:12 PM	#6
DarG Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,515	Double ended bulb on an e-ballast is run under spec. It still works, lots and lost of people doing it. But the ballast spec'd for the DE bulb is the magnetic HQI ballast, M80 for 250 watt. Electronic ballast is fine on single ended bulbs. Again, will work on DE, it just runs the majority of the DE bulbs below spec and with less par than the magnetic HQI ballast. Sometimes only a little bit less, sometimes a signifigant amount. Reef Exotics has good package deals on Lumenarc reflectors and ballasts. Since you are considering only using a single halide, go with a Lumenarc or Lumenmax (Lumenmax 3 for DE) reflector. The Lumenarcs are cheaper and you have the space so ... The Reflector is really important, especially in a single bulb set-up. reefexotics.com reefgeek.com diyreef.com