175W or 250W MH

sharky71 · 02/07/2006, 01:49 PM

Would dual 175W Metal Halides be ok for a 75 gallon tank if I'm not planning on keeping clams at the bottom of the tank? If most corals can survive and thrive under 175W i'll be fine with that. What do you think? I'm looking at the Aqua Medic Ocean Light T5/MH Combo Series, 48" (2x250W+2x54W) but I think 250W will be too much.

Shadowramy · 02/07/2006, 01:55 PM

I am using 250 on my 75

racer69 · 02/07/2006, 02:04 PM

You will be fine with dual 175's. I ran them on my 90 when I had it up, and the corals grew thrived.

sharky71 · 02/07/2006, 02:40 PM

is there a fixture that has dual 175W MH bulbs or do you have to build it yourself?

Entropy · 02/07/2006, 03:03 PM

You can do either. Most fixtures I have seen have some form of actinic supplementel lighting (VHO, PC, or T5) included.

manderx · 02/07/2006, 03:07 PM

until recently, i would have said you can get by with 175, but you really want 250. but with the new iwasaki14, 175w is back in business. i have 2 in luminarc minis over my 50 and i wouldn't hesitate to put them over a 120. they are *bright*.

Entropy · 02/07/2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by manderx
but with the new iwasaki14, 175w is back in business.

I just order two of them, so I hope you are right.

sharky71 · 02/07/2006, 03:24 PM

what fixture could I get that has the 175W MH so I can put in the iwasaki14? With this bulb do I need actinic? I'd like to have some sort of dawn to dusk effect.

mntl · 02/07/2006, 03:24 PM

I'll second the Iwasaki's, I posted some pics on the icecap forum if you want an idea of color/output. I posted another pic with a Hamilton for comparison.

Sharky-- they are like a very crisp 10k with a little blue, I do not use actinic with them but it is not too blue as to make the tank look bad if you did have them.

---John

Entropy · 02/07/2006, 03:33 PM

What kind of ballasts are you using (I assume IceCap since you posted in that forum?).

sharky71 · 02/07/2006, 04:19 PM

I have to purchase the fixtures and the ballasts unless they come included. I only know I want 175W MH with a dawn to dusk effect. I'm new to MH so I don't really know what I'm doing.

sharky71 · 02/07/2006, 08:46 PM

would you recommend I purchase the bulbs, light fixtures and ballasts separately than an enclosed fixture? Which brand names should I get?

manderx · 02/09/2006, 03:44 PM

sharky- i don't have an easy answer for you. so many choices based on how much you feel like wiring/assembling yourself. i haven't even looked at storebought fixtures in so long i wouldn't know what to recommend.

do you want something completely assembled and what's your budget? the wiring is really easy, don't get scared off by it.

chtan · 02/14/2006, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sharky71
Would dual 175W Metal Halides be ok for a 75 gallon tank if I'm not planning on keeping clams at the bottom of the tank? If most corals can survive and thrive under 175W i'll be fine with that. What do you think? I'm looking at the Aqua Medic Ocean Light T5/MH Combo Series, 48" (2x250W+2x54W) but I think 250W will be too much.

A 175 w MH would be okay ... if you think of keeping mainly LPS and soft corals ....

250 w is a nice option to have as there are certainly more aqua scaping possiblities like creating semi-shaded areas and still placing your lps in these spaces ....

But at some point you are thinking of sps, then I would suggest the 250w.

And speaking from personal experience, its much cheaper over the medium and longer term to buy the highest specifications you can afford so that you do not have to waste money on upgrading.

Shadowramy · 02/15/2006, 10:44 AM

I just bought 2x250 with ARO ballast and VHO (URI) and love the setup.

apedroza · 02/16/2006, 06:37 PM

Does anyone know if there is a 175W HQI double ended bulb on the market? I have only found 150W and 250W but no 175W.

supertech3 · 02/16/2006, 07:23 PM

That is all that I've seen for the de

szwab · 02/16/2006, 07:56 PM

175's will work but I believe in the long run you'd be happier with 250's

apedroza · 02/16/2006, 08:43 PM

So if a ballast is rated 175W can you use a 150W??

szwab · 02/16/2006, 08:45 PM

no you would need a 150 watt ballast

apedroza · 02/16/2006, 09:51 PM

So is Jebo Odyssea the only maker of the 175watt HQI and does anyone have experience with the bulb?

jimbo045 · 02/16/2006, 10:36 PM

I have dual 175s on my 120, they should be fine on your 75. JD

02/07/2006, 01:49 PM	#1
sharky71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 403	175W or 250W MH Would dual 175W Metal Halides be ok for a 75 gallon tank if I'm not planning on keeping clams at the bottom of the tank? If most corals can survive and thrive under 175W i'll be fine with that. What do you think? I'm looking at the Aqua Medic Ocean Light T5/MH Combo Series, 48" (2x250W+2x54W) but I think 250W will be too much.

02/07/2006, 02:04 PM	#3
racer69 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 1,446	You will be fine with dual 175's. I ran them on my 90 when I had it up, and the corals grew thrived. __________________ Todd Its better to burn out than to fade away..... Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef, w 50 gal sump 33 cube w/15 gal sump

02/07/2006, 03:03 PM	#5
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	You can do either. Most fixtures I have seen have some form of actinic supplementel lighting (VHO, PC, or T5) included. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/07/2006, 03:24 PM	#9
mntl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 526	I'll second the Iwasaki's, I posted some pics on the icecap forum if you want an idea of color/output. I posted another pic with a Hamilton for comparison. Sharky-- they are like a very crisp 10k with a little blue, I do not use actinic with them but it is not too blue as to make the tank look bad if you did have them. ---John __________________ minimalist

02/07/2006, 03:33 PM	#10
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	What kind of ballasts are you using (I assume IceCap since you posted in that forum?). __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/07/2006, 01:55 PM	#2
Shadowramy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 598	I am using 250 on my 75

02/07/2006, 02:40 PM	#4
sharky71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 403	is there a fixture that has dual 175W MH bulbs or do you have to build it yourself?

02/07/2006, 03:07 PM	#6
manderx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Christiansburg, VA Posts: 4,893	until recently, i would have said you can get by with 175, but you really want 250. but with the new iwasaki14, 175w is back in business. i have 2 in luminarc minis over my 50 and i wouldn't hesitate to put them over a 120. they are bright.

02/07/2006, 04:19 PM	#11
sharky71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 403	I have to purchase the fixtures and the ballasts unless they come included. I only know I want 175W MH with a dawn to dusk effect. I'm new to MH so I don't really know what I'm doing.

02/07/2006, 08:46 PM	#12
sharky71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 403	would you recommend I purchase the bulbs, light fixtures and ballasts separately than an enclosed fixture? Which brand names should I get?

02/09/2006, 03:44 PM	#13
manderx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Christiansburg, VA Posts: 4,893	sharky- i don't have an easy answer for you. so many choices based on how much you feel like wiring/assembling yourself. i haven't even looked at storebought fixtures in so long i wouldn't know what to recommend. do you want something completely assembled and what's your budget? the wiring is really easy, don't get scared off by it.

02/15/2006, 10:44 AM	#15
Shadowramy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 598	I just bought 2x250 with ARO ballast and VHO (URI) and love the setup.

02/16/2006, 06:37 PM	#16
apedroza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 90	Does anyone know if there is a 175W HQI double ended bulb on the market? I have only found 150W and 250W but no 175W.

02/16/2006, 07:23 PM	#17
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	That is all that I've seen for the de

02/16/2006, 07:56 PM	#18
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	175's will work but I believe in the long run you'd be happier with 250's __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

02/16/2006, 08:43 PM	#19
apedroza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 90	So if a ballast is rated 175W can you use a 150W??

02/16/2006, 08:45 PM	#20
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	no you would need a 150 watt ballast __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

02/16/2006, 09:51 PM	#21
apedroza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 90	So is Jebo Odyssea the only maker of the 175watt HQI and does anyone have experience with the bulb?

02/16/2006, 10:36 PM	#22
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	I have dual 175s on my 120, they should be fine on your 75. JD