Metal Halide HELP

fishyman12 · 06/28/2011, 08:05 PM

Hi all! I am new to reefing and metal halides so I have some basic questions. Can you please tell me a good setup (Bulb, reflector, ballast...) that would work well on my 46 bowfront. Would i need one or two? Thanks I'm a total rookie.

dublo8 · 06/28/2011, 10:25 PM

On your tank a 250w would do very nicely...very nicely indeed. Here is a link for the retro kits. I like them better since your not buying a full fixture and paying a premium for it. A full fixture will only be usable on that size tank as well, so if you ever upgrade (which everybody does) to a larger tank you can get another matching kit and be ready to rock. I have the lumatek kit from here but I upgraded the reflector. The phoenix 14k bulb is a favorite amongst many and a 20k is a little bluer than that, it just depends on the look your going for. Anything from 14k-20k and you don't really need supplemental actinics. Enjoy.

http://www.aquacave.com/searchresult...CategoryID=437

Chris27 · 06/29/2011, 05:33 AM

Do you have a canopy? Are you planning on hanging a fixture above the tank? Or do you want a fixture to rest on the top of the tank?

daplatapus · 06/29/2011, 07:40 AM

Good morning,
glad to see I'm not the only new guy on the block. Just to throw a wrench into your decision making... I've been doing a fair bit of research into the whole lighting thing and the general concensus seems to be metal halide lights are the cats meow. But it almost seems that is just because that's what people have gotten used to. Don't quickly dismiss the idea of LED's if you are starting from scratch and don't have a MH fixture yet. There seems to be a few really good LED's out there that are reef grade and are growing corals quite nicely. They're more power efficient, run cooler and don't transmit as much heat to your tank.
Just another option...

dublo8 · 06/30/2011, 11:16 PM

Yes, LED is certainly an option you shouldn't dismiss. Here is a link for rapid led another RC sponsor. If your descent with DIY then these kits are the way to go. Otherwise there are some nice fixtures out there just don't skimp on the quality. You get what you pay for. Rapid LED is awesome to work with and I have purchased a small kit from them before. I still use MH though and will eventually be bringing my system full fledged LED but it takes time and $ to do those things. I think when the next bulb replacement starts to roll around I'll just buy another LED kit. Good luck with whichever way you decide to go.

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-...its/Categories

mdeleon1 · 07/01/2011, 06:34 AM

I'm looking for assistance with selecting the right MH lighting for my 56g Column tank. I was told with the MH, that will take care of my lighting needs as I move on to the different phases of my tank. I just started my tank 2 weeks ago and add LR last friday.

It is 31in wide, 24in high and 18in deep. Currently running a T5 dual lamp with 2 6,700k bulbs

I looking to start of with Fish & Inverts. Then move on to anemones and then some easy to keep corals.

What should I be looking for? LED or MH?

Gary Majchrzak · 07/01/2011, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishyman12

Hi all! I am new to reefing and metal halides so I have some basic questions. Can you please tell me a good setup (Bulb, reflector, ballast...) that would work well on my 46 bowfront. Would i need one or two? Thanks I'm a total rookie.

what animals do you plan on keeping in this aquarium?

daplatapus · 07/01/2011, 07:32 AM

Thanks for that link Dublo8! I was thinking of buying a premade fixture for my tank but now I'm thinking I just might DIY it. I'm just in the process of getting everything together in one pile before I start and been doing so much reading about every pro and con of everything I need my head's about to burst.

This might just be a nice little welcome distraction.

06/28/2011, 08:05 PM	#1
fishyman12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 122	Metal Halide HELP Hi all! I am new to reefing and metal halides so I have some basic questions. Can you please tell me a good setup (Bulb, reflector, ballast...) that would work well on my 46 bowfront. Would i need one or two? Thanks I'm a total rookie. __________________ FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD Current Tank Info: 46 Bowfront Reef Tank 30 Gallon Sump

06/28/2011, 10:25 PM	#2
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	On your tank a 250w would do very nicely...very nicely indeed. Here is a link for the retro kits. I like them better since your not buying a full fixture and paying a premium for it. A full fixture will only be usable on that size tank as well, so if you ever upgrade (which everybody does) to a larger tank you can get another matching kit and be ready to rock. I have the lumatek kit from here but I upgraded the reflector. The phoenix 14k bulb is a favorite amongst many and a 20k is a little bluer than that, it just depends on the look your going for. Anything from 14k-20k and you don't really need supplemental actinics. Enjoy. http://www.aquacave.com/searchresult...CategoryID=437 __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

06/29/2011, 05:33 AM	#3
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Do you have a canopy? Are you planning on hanging a fixture above the tank? Or do you want a fixture to rest on the top of the tank? __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

06/30/2011, 11:16 PM	#5
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	Yes, LED is certainly an option you shouldn't dismiss. Here is a link for rapid led another RC sponsor. If your descent with DIY then these kits are the way to go. Otherwise there are some nice fixtures out there just don't skimp on the quality. You get what you pay for. Rapid LED is awesome to work with and I have purchased a small kit from them before. I still use MH though and will eventually be bringing my system full fledged LED but it takes time and $ to do those things. I think when the next bulb replacement starts to roll around I'll just buy another LED kit. Good luck with whichever way you decide to go. http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-...its/Categories __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

07/01/2011, 06:34 AM	#6
mdeleon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 424	I'm looking for assistance with selecting the right MH lighting for my 56g Column tank. I was told with the MH, that will take care of my lighting needs as I move on to the different phases of my tank. I just started my tank 2 weeks ago and add LR last friday. It is 31in wide, 24in high and 18in deep. Currently running a T5 dual lamp with 2 6,700k bulbs I looking to start of with Fish & Inverts. Then move on to anemones and then some easy to keep corals. What should I be looking for? LED or MH? __________________ Starting over!

06/29/2011, 07:40 AM	#4
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	Good morning, glad to see I'm not the only new guy on the block. Just to throw a wrench into your decision making... I've been doing a fair bit of research into the whole lighting thing and the general concensus seems to be metal halide lights are the cats meow. But it almost seems that is just because that's what people have gotten used to. Don't quickly dismiss the idea of LED's if you are starting from scratch and don't have a MH fixture yet. There seems to be a few really good LED's out there that are reef grade and are growing corals quite nicely. They're more power efficient, run cooler and don't transmit as much heat to your tank. Just another option...

07/01/2011, 07:32 AM	#8
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	Thanks for that link Dublo8! I was thinking of buying a premade fixture for my tank but now I'm thinking I just might DIY it. I'm just in the process of getting everything together in one pile before I start and been doing so much reading about every pro and con of everything I need my head's about to burst. This might just be a nice little welcome distraction.

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