Mixing metal halide bulbs

Manicosi · 06/19/2012, 05:24 AM

I currently am running (3) 250 SE MH (Phoenix 14k) with (2) 3 feet LED stunner strips over my 180 gallon mixed reef. I wanted to see if people had any good results with running different kelvin bulbs at one time? For instance, Phoenix 14k or Reeflux 12k on the sides and say a XM 10k in the middle. All opinions are welcome!

Manicosi · 06/19/2012, 05:32 AM

Here are some pics of the current lighting on the tank. Sorry for the quality the pics were taken with my iphone!

sirreal63 · 06/19/2012, 05:46 AM

You could do it, the PAR levels would be different but it could give a nice effect of deep to shallow water.

Manicosi · 06/19/2012, 09:37 AM

Does anyone have pictures of their tank that are running this sort of setup?

tkeracer619 · 06/19/2012, 11:15 AM

Many very large systems utilize different kelvin bulbs but they are all together with their spectrums blending into one. If you are utilizing a halide for its coverage I would use the same color bulbs. While the tank will continue to grow just fine it will be an eye sore looking at different colors.

emdr888 · 06/19/2012, 11:26 AM

I have 3 lumenarcs over my 8ft, with two 14k blv on the sides and a 20k radium in the middle. The 14k give the tank the crisp white and brightness and the 20k gives the blue to make the corals pop. In the flesh you don't notice that there are different bulbs with the naked eye, but in the photo it seems to come out.

06/19/2012, 05:24 AM	#1
Manicosi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 70	Mixing metal halide bulbs I currently am running (3) 250 SE MH (Phoenix 14k) with (2) 3 feet LED stunner strips over my 180 gallon mixed reef. I wanted to see if people had any good results with running different kelvin bulbs at one time? For instance, Phoenix 14k or Reeflux 12k on the sides and say a XM 10k in the middle. All opinions are welcome!

06/19/2012, 05:46 AM	#3
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	You could do it, the PAR levels would be different but it could give a nice effect of deep to shallow water. __________________ 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.

06/19/2012, 11:15 AM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Many very large systems utilize different kelvin bulbs but they are all together with their spectrums blending into one. If you are utilizing a halide for its coverage I would use the same color bulbs. While the tank will continue to grow just fine it will be an eye sore looking at different colors. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/19/2012, 11:26 AM	#6
emdr888 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Uk, Lewes Posts: 143	I have 3 lumenarcs over my 8ft, with two 14k blv on the sides and a 20k radium in the middle. The 14k give the tank the crisp white and brightness and the 20k gives the blue to make the corals pop. In the flesh you don't notice that there are different bulbs with the naked eye, but in the photo it seems to come out. __________________ carpeted 8ft tank, luminous green, red, blue and purply/green :)

06/19/2012, 09:37 AM	#4
Manicosi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 70	Does anyone have pictures of their tank that are running this sort of setup?