Which MH bulbs would you use?

uno_mas · 02/02/2012, 09:33 AM

I'm changing up the lighting on my 100g display 60x18x18 and trying to decide which bulbs I'm going to run. I have a Aqua Medic 2x150w magnetic ballast that I just got recently. I've been running Ushio 10k's with just 2 t8 actinics. I've got an Icecap 660 wired up to 4 t12 vho endcaps and 2x 48" VHO 454 actinics + 2 Super Actinic's that i'm going to be installing when the bulbs get here.

My question is which bulbs will i get the most out of with the magnetic ballast or which will work best with the ballast? I like the idea of running 10k's for growth and the pure white but I may consider 14k's if it's not blue enough after I install the new vho's. I have mostly zoa's and softies but would like to keep sps and lps possibly.

Here's a pic of my tank from a couple weeks ago.

sirreal63 · 02/02/2012, 09:43 AM

XDE 10K's will be about the best for PAR. I ran that combiation on my old 125 and had great results. I am currently running Radiums and love the color but the PAR is a lot less.

uno_mas · 02/02/2012, 10:50 AM

Thanks. I've kinda been leaning toward the XDE's, I've read a lot of good things about them, I just was not sure if there might be a better combination to run with the ballast that I have.

arentspowell · 02/02/2012, 11:04 AM

Are you running SE or DE?

uno_mas · 02/02/2012, 11:15 AM

Sorry I forgot to add they are DE.

sirreal63 · 02/02/2012, 11:45 AM

If the ballast is a M81 magnetic ballast there are no incorrect DE bulbs. The differences you will have are color and PAR. Higher K bulbs typically have less PAR. With the rest of the setup you have, 10K's would be ideal as you have the VHO's to supplement the color and add to the PAR. It should look great! Many of us ran the VHO Super Actinitcs with very good results. If you are looking for the Windex Blue color, you will not get it, but you will get great color form the above combination.

uno_mas · 02/02/2012, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the input, seems like I've been reading that some bulbs work better with some ballast so I just wanted to make sure before I bought the new bulbs. I was running electronic ballast most of the time I've had the Ushio 10k's.

I'm not really looking for the windex blue color with the halides on. I'm planning to run the actinics for a couple hours on before and after the halides and add some blue led moonlights soon for nighttime viewing.

02/02/2012, 09:33 AM	#1
uno_mas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 26	Which MH bulbs would you use? I'm changing up the lighting on my 100g display 60x18x18 and trying to decide which bulbs I'm going to run. I have a Aqua Medic 2x150w magnetic ballast that I just got recently. I've been running Ushio 10k's with just 2 t8 actinics. I've got an Icecap 660 wired up to 4 t12 vho endcaps and 2x 48" VHO 454 actinics + 2 Super Actinic's that i'm going to be installing when the bulbs get here. My question is which bulbs will i get the most out of with the magnetic ballast or which will work best with the ballast? I like the idea of running 10k's for growth and the pure white but I may consider 14k's if it's not blue enough after I install the new vho's. I have mostly zoa's and softies but would like to keep sps and lps possibly. Here's a pic of my tank from a couple weeks ago.

02/02/2012, 09:43 AM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	XDE 10K's will be about the best for PAR. I ran that combiation on my old 125 and had great results. I am currently running Radiums and love the color but the PAR is a lot less. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

02/02/2012, 11:04 AM	#4
arentspowell Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 296	Are you running SE or DE? __________________ Innovative Marine Nuvo 10g AIO Mixed Reef AI Prime Black with Hanging Kit // Vortech MP10QD // InTank Media Basket // Innovative Marine Ghost Skimmer // Tunze 1073.008 Return Pump // AutoAqua ATO

02/02/2012, 11:45 AM	#6
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	If the ballast is a M81 magnetic ballast there are no incorrect DE bulbs. The differences you will have are color and PAR. Higher K bulbs typically have less PAR. With the rest of the setup you have, 10K's would be ideal as you have the VHO's to supplement the color and add to the PAR. It should look great! Many of us ran the VHO Super Actinitcs with very good results. If you are looking for the Windex Blue color, you will not get it, but you will get great color form the above combination. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

02/02/2012, 10:50 AM	#3
uno_mas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 26	Thanks. I've kinda been leaning toward the XDE's, I've read a lot of good things about them, I just was not sure if there might be a better combination to run with the ballast that I have.

02/02/2012, 11:15 AM	#5
uno_mas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 26	Sorry I forgot to add they are DE.

02/02/2012, 05:11 PM	#7
uno_mas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Woodlands, Texas Posts: 26	Thanks for the input, seems like I've been reading that some bulbs work better with some ballast so I just wanted to make sure before I bought the new bulbs. I was running electronic ballast most of the time I've had the Ushio 10k's. I'm not really looking for the windex blue color with the halides on. I'm planning to run the actinics for a couple hours on before and after the halides and add some blue led moonlights soon for nighttime viewing.