Help me w/ lighting....

[nbd13]

Well after reading and reading, i am still lost.

Short back ground here, on my old 180 and current 180 i have the same lighting. 4 reef optics III DE pendants on the HQI ballast., now i have always used 14k hamiltons. and while i love the color, i feel there is something that i am missing.

so for the new 275, i decided to add 4 VHOs also. i am running an ice cap 660 with 1 48" and 3 36" super actinic 03's so a total of 395w of VHOs.

Now i have read and been told that the 14k hammys lack the intensity that some other bulbs provide. now i have been looking into some solutions,

1. try the 14k pheonix bulb.

2. add more VHOs and try a 10k bulb.

3. keep the same amount of VHOs and go 10k

now i have never liked 20k bulbs so those are out.

i am not that into growth, but do like it. i would say color, then growth.

i have seen people using 10k that have way more color than i do and i thought that 14k would give me more color.

so what do you guys think?

what have you guys been using that you are happy with?

1. what MH bulbs are you running (state DE or SE)

2. are you using some type of VHOs, t5s, PCs, so on....

3. how long of a photoperiod are you running?

right now i am running my VHOs for 12 hours and my MHs for 8 hourse only.

anyway any advise would be wonderful.

thanks.

Nick

[Aged Salt]

Hi Nick, while I'll not probably answer your question, there's nothing wrong with 14K Hamilton's...they'll do the job more than adequately for your reef, Bob

[nbd13]

Thanks Bob,

i guess its kinf of like the saying the more bang for your buck or however that goes.....haha

i just thought there was a bulb out there that would give me better growth or better color, considering Sanjay's test it seems that the 14k Hamiltons lack the Par that someother 14k bulbs have....

Nick

[nyfireman3097]

I am using the new reeflux 10k bulbs now and they look amazing and my corals colors are popping more now

[nbd13]

Nick arent you the one with 10ks on the side and a 20k in the middle?

are you using any VHOs to supplement?

Nick

[nyfireman3097]

yes I am had 2 10k xm on the outside 20k xm in middle w/2 6ft 110w VHO's now i have replaced the xm's w/ the reeflux bulbs and there color is amazing

[nbd13]

Thanks, so all of your MHs are now 10k or are 2 10k and 1 20k?

Nick

[coqui1pr]

Well ive tried the 10k SE ushio in the 250watt range with good results with 2 actinic 03 i love the color but now im using BLV 10k SE 250 watt with excelent results good growth and color i have used those 20k and really dont like them very much.

Nestor

[moonpod]

Nick, personally I'd do one of the two following:
EITHER go all Phoenix and ditch the VHOs

OR go BLV 10/14k and use the VHOs

This is my rational: Most people lean towards a whitish/blue tinge look with the actinic effect. This is relatively difficult to acheive given most of the bulbs that are out there. The Phoenix on the M80 IMO/E is about as close as you will get to that "look". The other way to do it is to get a white 10k and use actinics. Of the 10ks, the ones I like the best are the BLV 10k albeit the 14k is around the corner and sounds very promising. I know NY Nick likes the reeflux bulbs, but coralvue left a sour taste in my mouth after their initial bulb shenanigans so personally I won't use 'em. HOWEVER, they probably have a very nice "look". I know the old CV bulbs did before they started burning and bleaching your corals.

In terms of coral coloration, there is WAY more to that then the bulb you use.

In terms of growth, well that's a bit more linear in terms of more light=more light energy=more growth potential.

[o2manyfish]

CaliReef used to run AB 10k's (250wDE) with Actinic and he had gorgeous color

Shawn Bennet Ran Ushio (400w) with Actinic and he had gorgeous color

I tried both of those combos and never was able to achieve similar results.


The majority of tanks I see with excellent color are running Radiums (400w), but their longevity makes them very pricey to keep up to par - lol.

I played with the Aquaconnect (courtesy of Moonpod), the Hamiliton 14K, the AB10K, etc, and while the AC and the Hammy were nice bright bulbs, I still didn't get the bright contrasting color I got from my 20ks.

While the tank is not as bright under 20k's the colors definitely stand out more, and the various colors on a particular SPS really contrast. Even having a 14K next to a 20K the 14k while brighter also looks more washed out.

My growth under 20k's has been good to great. Granted the corals outside in the sunlight grow much faster, but the sunlight is just crazy I am using the Helios 20K bulbs which are not widely available.

Dave B

[nbd13]

Let me digest both of those post, then i am sure i will have some questions, haha.

Nick

[nbd13]

ok,

finally got a chance to think about it,

if i go with the BLV 10k or 14k choice, that would dramatically increase my PAR values, correct? and thus increasing growth?

anyhow on a side note, what are the demensions of the L3's? are they 19x19?

Chuck what bulbs are you going to run on your new tank?

thanks again for your help guys.

Nick

[o2manyfish]

Nick,

You going to switch bulbs - or you going to change the lights themselves (Watts, reflector, ballast) ?


I think Chuck is going to use a Cold Fusion Laser for lighting his tank.....

Dave B

Dave B

[moonpod]

Naw, good ol standard fusion will work nicely. I'll divert some of the LA River to cool the thing.

[nbd13]

Haha,

well i am thinking it over in my head, those LA3s would be nice, but what ballast would i need to get for those? i mean would i need to ditch my bluewave ballast i have now?

i will stick with 250w i think

Nick