Wanted to get into MH

[Chago09]

ok I have set up a new 180 gallon. Its been running for about 2 weeks now and I want to get my lighting set up now. I really love shimmer, basically only reason why I like MH. Now I don't plan on keeping SPS, so my lighting can be less. I quite honestly think this tank is gonna be some large specie fish and maybe some soft corals to add a little colour, ie. mushrooms, gsp and other corals that can practicly grow in the dark.

Now after that being said, I like having a tank well lit. The right light and colour of light make the tank look cheap and boring or beautiful. My 90 gallon had 6 x 54 watt 48" T5HO. I was satisified with that brightness. My question is, would 3 x 175 watt 14000k MH bulbs over a 6' long, 24" deep tank be roughly the same amount of light as my 6 T5 on my old 90?

Thanks

[rangerD275]

Just my opinion but I would go with 150w HQI's over 175's. You will have a better selection of bulbs and ballasts, plus the HQI's will be crisper. I used to have a 150 HQI 14k over an 18" deep tank and I could grow whatever I wanted on the bottom.

[Tater11]

go with 3-250watt hqi or mogal.better bulb choice.build your own and use these ballast.i use the 250/400watt versions and love them.
Lumatek 250 Watt 120V/240V Multi-Wattage Ballast

* Dimmable Electronic Ballast
* Dual-Voltage - The only E-Ballast with the same light output on 120V or 240V
* Multi-Wattage – Powers 150W, 175W, 250W and HQI Lamps
* The HQI setting on th

[James77]

I second the Lumatek selectable ballast mentioned ^^, I just got one and the versatility is great.

I currently run 175 watt Iwasaki 15ks, very bright high PAR blb that is a solid white.

[Brando457]

He doesn't plan on doing sps definitely does not need 250 watt. Go with the 150 hqi as suggested.

[GhostCon1]

Originally Posted by James77

I second the Lumatek selectable ballast mentioned ^^, I just got one and the versatility is great.

I currently run 175 watt Iwasaki 15ks, very bright high PAR blb that is a solid white.

Thirded

James and I got ours roughly the same day, I can't measure PAR but I can tell you that it's awesome. I run a Radium 20k on my ballast and the best thing about the ballast is that if you decide a 150w isn't bright enough for you, you can go up to 250w.

[JAustin]

I would recommend 3 250w single end bulbs, you would have a lot of bulb choices there.

[GPhiAce]

The 150 HQI will give you several bulb choices, and so will 250w SE MH. If you are sure that you don't want SPS and clams, then the 150w is just fine and will save you a little $$ in electric costs. If you are uncertain, the selectable ballast may be a wise choice. Make sure you get good reflectors to get good PAR at the bottom. You will need 3 MHs. LEDs have a little shimmer to them as well. You may want to look into a T5/ LED combo too- although I am not 100% sold on LEDs yet (I am 75% sold on them). Good luck. I think all the suggestions above are good depending on what you want to do.

[outy]

im running a 215g 29" deep by 72" long

I have a 150 de hqi 10k in the middle and 2 175w on the sides. all my LPS [tank is full] are doing great and they love the light.

im running 2 x 60" VHO 454's and I get some great color out of this tank

i have old 175 se bulbs so its not a fare comparison but the 150w is brighter and crisper then the 175's my new 175w bulbs are in the mail and then I can give better details

no need for 250w unless you go SPS

[t4zalews]

I agree that you don't need 250w if your not going the SPS route. Reflectors are the key decision here with either 150w or 175w

[geaux xman]

will a JBJ Viper 150w be okay for a 24x12x14 17g tank?

will the same unit work okay for a 33g 24x18x18 mix reef?

thanks.

[rmjj21]

HEY CHAGO09 - Congrats on the 180. I am picking mine up this week. Very excited. It sounds like what you want to do as far as lighting goes is similar to me. I like the shimmer effect too. I was thinking of the 150 HQI's. Let me know what model you decide on and how it looks. Keep in touch, maybe we can compare notes.

[Chago09]

thanks for all the input. My main questions was though, would 3 x 150deHQI be as bright as my previous 6 x 54watt T5HO? Like to the look.

[Chago09]

bump

[Chago09]

anyone?

[sirreal63]

That is a very subjective question...subject to the bulbs and fixtures you run. Unfortunately it isn't an easy answer. With what you are wanting to do with the tank, I would do the 150 watt and 14k bulbs in a quality fixture, either LumenBright or LumenArc so you get good spread and focus as much light down as possible.

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by Chago09

thanks for all the input. My main questions was though, would 3 x 150deHQI be as bright as my previous 6 x 54watt T5HO? Like to the look.

Nope not even if you use 400w IMO. the uniform spread of flourescent tubes simply make them appear to look brighter in general. I even noticed with pc (going from 96wx2 to 150w x2). Not that being said whiter MH bulbs wether 150w or 400w are far from dim looking and there's a realism that goes beyond just shimmer.
I also found 175w to be significantly superior to 150w HQI. What you lack in choices for bulbs (which really isn't that significant short of no 175w radium) you gain right back and then some in SE reflector selection. that combined with the 25w + lack of required sheilding = significantly better performance even if not on paper (yes I've used both). This is here nor there for your purposes but to me the only significant advantage of 150w DE is packaging (fitting where large reflected SE wont).