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01/04/2012, 10:55 AM | #1 |
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Aqualight Pro, 150 watt- 4 SPS?
I have a 48" Aqualight Pro 2X 150 14K phoenix bulbs, 2x 96 watt 420nn PC. My question, is this fixture going to from SPS in my tank well. I would really hate to purchase another $1500 in equipment to keep SPS only to realize my lighting isn't going to cut it. My fixture is mounted very low to the waters surface. Options welcome. Thanks.
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/04/2012, 11:15 AM | #2 |
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yes, it will work, however you will want to place your sps as high up as you can. I have done it, SPS doesn't have the best growth, but it does grow.
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-150DD SPS with 90 gal sump and 40gal frag tank -Yellow tang, Blonde naso, RS sail fin tang, Clown tang, Sohal Tang, Purple tang, Yellow eye Kole, Lineatus Wrasse, Rhomboid, Flame wrasse Pair, |
01/04/2012, 11:21 AM | #3 | |
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Quote:
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
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01/04/2012, 11:38 AM | #4 |
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What is the best retro fit brand? What do I need to look for?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/05/2012, 03:47 PM | #5 |
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Bump
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/06/2012, 10:43 PM | #6 |
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Yeah, you can keep SPS no problem. You will get growth. Don't spend another $1500 in equipment. Just move your SPS higher up in your tank. It will be fine.
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01/06/2012, 11:44 PM | #7 |
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A lot will depend on the bulb and ballast. A low par bulb will not be a good thing. I kept a 125 gallon full of sps with just 150's for years but was running 10K bulbs with VHO actintics. I had clams on the sand and they grew very fast, but if the bulbs had been low par ones it would not have worked as well. The reflector on that fixture isn't exactly great so the need for better bulbs is even more critical.
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01/07/2012, 12:04 AM | #8 |
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How about radiums? for the 150s? How about going retro fit with T5HOs or stunner strips? Will they have enough power to reach 22"????
Could I put a 250w HQI retro fit kim on my fixture?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/07/2012, 12:18 AM | #9 |
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How about radiums? for the 150s? How about going retro fit with T5HOs or stunner strips? Will they have enough power to reach 22"????
Could I put a 250w HQI retro fit in this current fixture? Would it be better to buy new, but price$$$$$$$ ?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/07/2012, 08:40 AM | #10 |
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Radiums if lit by a M81 instead of electronics ballasts will be ok, IIRC the Aqualight came with both over the years. The par from the 10K's is unbeatable and in many cases will be stronger than a 250 watt with a crappy bulb in it. I get almost double the par from my 10k's as I do from the Radiums. 22" is a lot to expect from 150's unless you get the 10k's or will be happy with the sps higher and not on the bottom of the tank.
You will not be able to retro 250's into the fixture easily and would be better off going with pendants if you want 250's. Only you can decide if you want another fixture, the 150's will work as long as you understand the limitations and work within them. If it helps any, the tank below is my old 125 with 150's on the ends and a 250 in the middle, 10k XDE's and ARO electronic ballasts and a single VHO actintic, I had no trouble with growth even with the clams on the sand bed. If you want the windex blue look, you will need 250's or keep the sps on top.
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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. |
01/08/2012, 09:25 AM | #11 |
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How do I now it I have M81 ballast or electric?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/08/2012, 09:34 AM | #12 |
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The first question would be how deep of a tank is it?.. i had sps on a 75 in d sand bed with no issues.. but in my 120 i wasnt getting good results and upgraded....
So what size tank you have?.. how tall?
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01/08/2012, 10:52 AM | #13 |
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To tell if the ballast is electronic or magnetic you may need to contact the mfg, or sometimes it is marked on the ballast. If the ballast is internal it probably isn't an M81 and you will need to use higher PAR bulbs.
Ricky brings up a good point, the height of a 120 is also a limiting factor.
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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. |
01/08/2012, 11:10 AM | #14 |
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I may have no choice but to upgrade this fixture
Magnetic ballast perform better, better PAR??
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/08/2012, 11:48 AM | #15 |
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If it is a standard 4' 120 gallon I would use 250's on it. But if I had to use 150's, I would stick with XDE 10 K bulbs to get the extra PAR and use the PC actintics to balance the color out. The choice is yours.
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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. |
01/08/2012, 05:07 PM | #16 |
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So upgrading wouldn't be as simple as upgrading the ballast and bulbs?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/08/2012, 06:15 PM | #17 |
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No Sir, bulb, ballast, lamp holders and reflectors, that is if the 250 ones will fit. You could do it, but by the time you did you have paid for a whole new fixture.
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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. |
01/08/2012, 11:31 PM | #18 |
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I will have to get a new fixture, for now I need alot of other equipment first so Ill upgrade to 10K bulbs till I get a new fixture.
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/09/2012, 11:25 PM | #19 |
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It seems that I have the magnetic ballast, so that's good? For PAR?
What is the best 10k HQI bulb?
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
01/10/2012, 12:55 AM | #20 |
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I grow SPS with 150w MH and cheap oddysea 20k bulbs from about midway and up in my tank. It's def doable with what you have. And I'm talking like ORA red planet SPS, not just like plain monti's or something. But those do good too.
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125 w/ 30 gallon sump. ASM G3 w/ Sedra 9000 and gatevalve. Two Little Phishies 550 phosban reactor. 3x150w XM 10k MH, 2x 96w PC. |
01/10/2012, 12:57 AM | #21 |
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Oh and mine is a 5' 120.
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125 w/ 30 gallon sump. ASM G3 w/ Sedra 9000 and gatevalve. Two Little Phishies 550 phosban reactor. 3x150w XM 10k MH, 2x 96w PC. |
01/10/2012, 09:17 AM | #22 | |
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
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01/10/2012, 09:25 AM | #23 |
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I think the XM (XDE) 10K puts down the most PAR, but most 10K's are close to each other.
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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. |
01/10/2012, 09:48 AM | #24 | |
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Thanks all!
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180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant |
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01/10/2012, 10:29 AM | #25 |
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For many years we did the 10K and actintics and had excellent results. If you want the windex blue look, it won't happen, but you can still have a great looking tank that is colorful and grows very well. The PC actintics you have will do a very good job at making the corals pop. Over the years I used PC actintics and I think that next to VHO's they are the best looking actintics. I still prefer VHO but I don't use actintics any more. Good luck and remember to shop around for the XDE's, some people have them cheap and some don't, buy online and save some money.
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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. |
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