2X150W upgrade to 175's or 250's

[Zebodog]

I currently have an Aqualight Pro (2X150W Phoenix 14k with no supplementation) over my 2 year old 65 gal tall mixed reef. Softies are limited to a variety of 'shrooms and a large toadstool on the approximately 2" sandbed. I keep lower light SPS along with a gold maxima in the top third.

I'm considering the Hamilton Cebu Sun 36" fixture; 4X39w T5 and 2X175W or 2X250W halides (both mogul.) I'd like more light to open up my SPS options (both species and location in tank) and the flexibility of added T5's. I've considered straight T5's and like the colour they provide to tanks, but just find something lacking without halides; I want the best of both worlds.

The 2X250's would obviously be ideal for mainly SPS but I'm concerned about my softies under that much light. My clowns would never forgive me if something happened to their toadstool.

On the flip side, I'm not sure that 2X175 would provide much, if any improvement over my HQI's. The fixture in question is shielded so that would negate the impact of having to run the DE shielded and the SE unshielded. Of course the 4 T5's HO's with the right bulbs could add significantly to the overall light output and Iwasaki makes a 175W that is comparable to a 250 so there are options.

I wanted to spend some time on Sanjay's site reviewing his data but it's throwing XML errors so I can't do that.

Has anyone done a similiar upgrade?

Opinions from all would be welcome and appreciated.

[nanojg]

Leathers can actually saturate more light than sps corals.

Personally I think the 175 watt iwasaki 15k is the BEST mh bulb available. Great color (a true 15k bulb) and more par than most 250 watt bulbs.

[sirreal63]

Another option is to change to XDE 10K bulbs, which put out the par that many 250 watt bulbs do and more than many higher K 250 watt bulbs, and add 4x39 T5 to balance the color, 2 on each side. The 150 watt Phoenix is not as much of a par monster as the 250 watt version. I get the same XML errors on Sanjays site, or I would toss up some examples.

If I had to make a choice, I would go with the 2x250, the 15K Iwasaki is an awesome bulb, but when it is time for a change, your bulb choice is limited. With the 250's your bulb selection grows considerably.

[nanojg]

I agree other than the 15k iwasaki most 175 bulbs are not that great.

[Toddrtrex]

Depends on what color bulb you like -- I have an older (( 10+ years )) Hamilton fixture, it started off as 2*175 + 2*96 PC (( this is over my 58 )). I tried the Iwasaki bulbs, but I didn't care for the color of them -- like a bluer bulb. So I tried an 175 watt 20,000 bulb -- gave me the color I liked but was a bit dim. At that point I upgraded to 2 250 watt Galaxy ballasts, and went with the Radium bulb -- that was about 3 years ago, and have been happy every since.

[Zebodog]

Thanks for the input.

Since I don't have a canopy (or the woodworking skills to make one) a prefab fixture is the route of choice. Adding T5's, while a good suggestion, isn't an option with my current layout.

[Zebodog]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

Depends on what color bulb you like -- I have an older (( 10+ years )) Hamilton fixture, it started off as 2*175 + 2*96 PC (( this is over my 58 )). I tried the Iwasaki bulbs, but I didn't care for the color of them -- like a bluer bulb. So I tried an 175 watt 20,000 bulb -- gave me the color I liked but was a bit dim. At that point I upgraded to 2 250 watt Galaxy ballasts, and went with the Radium bulb -- that was about 3 years ago, and have been happy every since.

58 is almost identical to 65 - did you happen to have any lower light inhabitants in your 58? How did they respond to the 250's? Also, were you running a shield over the 250's?

Thanks.

[pmrossetti]

Go with the 250 moguls. the Cebu is a great fixture. If you're worried about two much light use a 20k bulb. the 250s give you many options down the road.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by Zebodog

58 is almost identical to 65 - did you happen to have any lower light inhabitants in your 58? How did they respond to the 250's? Also, were you running a shield over the 250's?

Thanks.

I just had to acclimate them to the new lights for the first 3 weeks, after that they were fine. I just used the acrylic splash shield that came with the fixture -- it sits on top of my tank, don't want the bulbs getting splashed.

As for how they responded.... (( pictures are about 3 years old now ))

Started like this,



About 10 months later,

[nanojg]

Pretty weak growth there

what hapened to the orange digita and the zoas next door?

[Toddrtrex]

Thanks.

If memory serves, they got shaded out and disappeared.

[shred5]

250's, A 65 is pretty deep if you really want to switch. 175 just wont give you anymore light that a 150 and the bulb selection is so slim.

Dave Polzin

[Zebodog]

Thanks for the input, guys. Greatly appreciated.

[brob22]

i think the reflectors is more important than the wattage of the bulbs
150 watt pheanix should be adaquate light for the 65 if in a reflector like a lumenarc
also the cleaner the water has a relation to the amount of light that is needed. if the light is too intense and the nutrients are stripped than the colors will fade assumin there not being fed.

[GrampaDon]

Originally Posted by brob22

i think the reflectors is more important than the wattage of the bulbs
150 watt pheanix should be adaquate light for the 65 if in a reflector like a lumenarc
also the cleaner the water has a relation to the amount of light that is needed. if the light is too intense and the nutrients are stripped than the colors will fade assumin there not being fed.

ding ding ding

[brob22]

thats a real honor grandpa don

my first since i been hear

[EllisJuan]

I have the same fixture over my 65g with the same bulbs (aqualight pro/2x150w 14k phoenix) and am also running 2-T5 HO actinics in a Catalina fixture for added pop. I can not imagine needing more light.