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07/12/2006, 09:37 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
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175MH or 250MH
I want to add a MH for my tank just because I want the ripple effect!!! I am also not so pleased with running my coralife T5's only because it lights up the whole tank and doesn't create enough "shade". With the addition of a MH, I will run the T5's on the front and back of the tank and have the MH on for lunch-dinner time.
I found these retros, which are the cheapest in Canada that I could find. Single 175W Metal Halide Retro Kit CV2135 - for 199$ Single 250W Metal Halide Retro Kit CV2140 - for 209$ I would like to go for the 250w, but I don't want to be using an extra 75w if I don't need to. Even tho it is only 10$ more for 75w 'upgrade'. Here is a pic of my tank  It is a very crisp white compared to the same bulbs of PC. I am thinking of getting 10,000k or 14,000k bulb but may lean towards the 10k and use the Coralife strips for Actinic supplement. |
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07/12/2006, 09:53 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 7,927
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go with the250
__________________
Hair algae is my Macro algae. |
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07/12/2006, 09:56 PM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
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I probobly will. I found used 175's ready to go but waiting for a price (if i can get it for 100, max 140 shipped), ill take it
if not I should get free shipping with the 250w from the store. If I build a canopy for tank.. I might gut the coralife fixtures to retro it to the canopy, but I like the open/hanging look for MH fixtures. |
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07/12/2006, 10:24 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Jackson, NJ
Posts: 513
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What size is your tank? Depending on the volume and height, you may not necessarily need the 250's. It's a matter of watts per gallon and light penetration. The taller the tank the more watts needed to help drive the light to the lower levels. On a 24 inch tall tank you'd probably want the 250's, but on something smaller (say 18 inches) you may want to go with the 175's. Between the T5's and either of them, you should have plenty of watts per gallon.
If you go with too strong a light you may have the issue of having to light acclimate just about everything you add. JMO & HTH
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I'm too tired to think up a whitty a signature . . . Current Tank Info: 180g RR Display |
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07/12/2006, 10:40 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gypsy
Posts: 1,131
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go with the 250.
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07/12/2006, 10:40 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gypsy
Posts: 1,131
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go with the 250.
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07/12/2006, 10:40 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gypsy
Posts: 1,131
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go with the 250.
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07/12/2006, 10:41 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gypsy
Posts: 1,131
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woooo sorry my computer glitched
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07/15/2006, 06:40 PM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
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my tank is a 40br so 16" high.
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07/15/2006, 09:13 PM
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#10 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Huntley, IL
Posts: 746
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175 would be plenty if you don't plan to upgrade soon. Even SPS's should do fine in a tank of your size with the 175's. According to the calculator on this site - you would spend an extra $5 a month on 2 175's vs 2 250's - so that shouldn't make a big difference. But, why add the extra heat if they are not needed.
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07/15/2006, 09:53 PM
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#11 |
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Premium Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sioux Falls South Dakota
Posts: 1,231
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175 cheaper to run, cheaper bulbs, and less heat...
IMO Grant
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Its unwise to pay to much or to little When U pay to much U lose a little $ When U pay to little U sometimes lose it all because the thing U bought was incapable of doing the thing U bought it to do Current Tank Info: 6' long, 3' wide, 2' high, My tank is not worthy of Tank of the Month |
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