400W MH - Best bang for your buck?

cgyarring · 09/06/2007, 02:27 PM

Looking to upgrade to 400W MH, my tank is 30'' deep and the 175 I have is not cutting it. I'd like a 400W hanging pendant and curious as to which is the best bang for my buck, also would like a 14/15k bulb. Any help/suggestions is appreciated.

Thanks!

Caleb

JetCat USA · 09/06/2007, 02:32 PM

Lumenarc III's w/ Hamilton 14kk bulbs.

cgyarring · 09/06/2007, 03:36 PM

Meaning a Hamilton ballast as well as bulb but with a Lumenarc Reflector? About... $275?

JetCat USA · 09/06/2007, 03:47 PM

Yes, or for a bit more $$$ an IceCap electronic ballast.

scarter · 09/22/2007, 09:24 AM

I like the icecaps with the 14k xm's

JetCat USA · 09/22/2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by scarter
I like the icecaps with the 14k xm's

the 15kk XM (XDE) is one of the worst bulbs out there for PAR, their 10 and 20 kk bulbs are excellent but the 15s leave allot to be desired.

seastar12 · 09/23/2007, 07:08 AM

A 250 watt MIGHT do it, but I think if you can you should just go with the 400 watt.

reefkrazy · 09/23/2007, 07:31 AM

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1209866

scarter · 09/28/2007, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
the 15kk XM (XDE) is one of the worst bulbs out there for PAR, their 10 and 20 kk bulbs are excellent but the 15s leave allot to be desired.

100% true, but I like em.... the 20k radiums look exactly the same... any idea how they compare on par?
I like them both

kdblove_99 · 09/28/2007, 02:03 AM

I like the PFO ballast.

GoldStripe · 09/28/2007, 04:08 AM

I thought I read that the PAR from the 15K was very similar to the 20K bulb which is why it was so bad. We'd expect PAR on a 15k to be higher than a 20k but not as high as a 10k.

I too have a 30" tall tank, currently running DE 250 10k's in ROIII pendants. I haven't had it up and running with SPS long enough to form an opinion yet but I'm trying to avoid 400's if I can. I supplement my 10k's with 4 x 54 watt T5's to get the color I like. I had a big birdsnest colong 7" below surface (16" below bulb) melt under the 250 which makes me think 250 DE might be sufficient.

09/06/2007, 02:27 PM	#1
cgyarring Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2	400W MH - Best bang for your buck? Looking to upgrade to 400W MH, my tank is 30'' deep and the 175 I have is not cutting it. I'd like a 400W hanging pendant and curious as to which is the best bang for my buck, also would like a 14/15k bulb. Any help/suggestions is appreciated. Thanks! Caleb

09/22/2007, 09:24 AM	#5
scarter Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 605	I like the icecaps with the 14k xm's __________________ My name is Shane and I am a reefaholic, I have a disease and they don't know what to call it. Current Tank Info: what tank?

09/23/2007, 07:31 AM	#8
reefkrazy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: southington, CT Posts: 953	http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1209866 __________________ To reef or not to reef, That is the question! Current Tank Info: 90g display, 55g sump/ Refuge, 400w APO fixture with 20k radiums, 250w 10k hqi, 2-110w vho actinics, Euroreef skimmer, vortech pump, phosban reactor

09/06/2007, 02:32 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	Lumenarc III's w/ Hamilton 14kk bulbs.

09/06/2007, 03:36 PM	#3
cgyarring Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 2	Meaning a Hamilton ballast as well as bulb but with a Lumenarc Reflector? About... $275?

09/06/2007, 03:47 PM	#4
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	Yes, or for a bit more $$$ an IceCap electronic ballast.

09/23/2007, 07:08 AM	#7
seastar12 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 245	A 250 watt MIGHT do it, but I think if you can you should just go with the 400 watt.

09/28/2007, 02:03 AM	#10
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I like the PFO ballast.

09/28/2007, 04:08 AM	#11
GoldStripe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jville, FL Posts: 1,136	I thought I read that the PAR from the 15K was very similar to the 20K bulb which is why it was so bad. We'd expect PAR on a 15k to be higher than a 20k but not as high as a 10k. I too have a 30" tall tank, currently running DE 250 10k's in ROIII pendants. I haven't had it up and running with SPS long enough to form an opinion yet but I'm trying to avoid 400's if I can. I supplement my 10k's with 4 x 54 watt T5's to get the color I like. I had a big birdsnest colong 7" below surface (16" below bulb) melt under the 250 which makes me think 250 DE might be sufficient.