Halide Q & A

[CarlosS]

Hi Guys

I would like to change mu VHO and replace them for leds. Currently I have 2x400w Metal Halides 10.000K and 2x140w Actinics.

I like 24 1 watt leds of 465nm with 60º lens. What you think?

[DoubleVanos]

I'm having a little bit of trouble getting my halides to fire properly.

Equipment: Two 250w XM 10000k bulbs, two Galaxy 250w ballasts, standard parabolic reflectors.

The right side (closer to the ballast/power) seems okay, but the other one only fires only when it feels like it. I've taken out and screwed in the bulb a dozen different ways and very rarely does it ever work. When it does actually work, it works pretty well with no performance issues. I know it's not the ballast or the bulb because both work fine on the right side.

What circumstances could cause a halide bulb not to work?

[Alex T.]

Maybe the mogul socket is bad.

[gohstwrighter]

Originally Posted by DoubleVanos

I'm having a little bit of trouble getting my halides to fire properly.

Equipment: Two 250w XM 10000k bulbs, two Galaxy 250w ballasts, standard parabolic reflectors.

The right side (closer to the ballast/power) seems okay, but the other one only fires only when it feels like it. I've taken out and screwed in the bulb a dozen different ways and very rarely does it ever work. When it does actually work, it works pretty well with no performance issues. I know it's not the ballast or the bulb because both work fine on the right side.

What circumstances could cause a halide bulb not to work?

reading this remindid me of my cousins tank we got from her uncle whin we picked up the reef in south florida all the lights worked fine two 4ft VHO'son an icecap balest and two 250watt (MH)'s on a single balest every thang worked fine for about a week and thin one side of the balest started acting up /not allways coming on win it was supose too,and win it did come on it wasent vary bright thin one day it qit all together , wee tride swaping the wires in the plugs on the balest and the opiset light came on like it was supoes to .wee talked to a few reef shops nearby that caried the same balest and was told ther was a bad relay in the serkitry for a few monts one year but it didint appear till a year or more later win the balest was out of warenty.
the short of it was we had to by a new ballest

[Islander84]

I have a 30" deep tank and need help choosing new bulbs. I am running a current outer orbit mh/t5 fixture w 2 250watt 10 k and 4 actinic t5... I would like to get some bulbs that have nice blue color with good growth. Sps tank...couple lps on sand bed..

I was looking at the phoenix 14k....and xm 20 k....what are the differences in these...growth/color

[kingfisherflesh]

Dont really know where to post this, so I will start here...anyone have comparison shots of Phoenix bulbs...10 and 14k? I have to decide between the two...already know I want that brand...used to be an ushio guy but I would like just a tad more blue...so now I just have to decide between the two of these, but cant seem to find any comparisons between the two. Thanks

[reefmanmatt]

i have two 175 watt se halides i run on my setup , doing some changes and had a thought... maybe someone can help ? can i hook up the two 175's to one side of my dual 400 pfo ballast ? i was looking at the 175 and noticed it takes 200 watts ... did the math ...seems like a go to me ??? the idea is to consolidate , im hooking up a prop tank and would like to run my current halides and the 400 for over the new setup off this pfo . thanks for any thoughts or help in advance -- matt

[reefmanmatt]

Originally Posted by reefmanmatt

i have two 175 watt se halides i run on my setup , doing some changes and had a thought... maybe someone can help ? can i hook up the two 175's to one side of my dual 400 pfo ballast ? i was looking at the 175 and noticed it takes 200 watts ... did the math ...seems like a go to me ??? the idea is to consolidate , im hooking up a prop tank and would like to run my current halides and the 400 for over the new setup off this pfo . thanks for any thoughts or help in advance -- matt

well....does anybody have some old 175's i can blow up then??? ??? ??? ??? ???

[reefmanmatt]

seriously .... mh guys !!!! were are you ?? can i do anything like vho's with the dual 400 pfo ? i have no use for it yet otherwise and i just cant wait ... ... ...would love to run some 175's and some vho's with it - hasnt anyone attempted this ???

[hbubble]

Hey, we are trying to reduce the # of tanks in the basement. Planning on consolodating the sump and refug. Have a 120 cube tank that will work nicely for the refuge-loaded with sand and will transplant about 75lbs of rock to fill it 3/4 up, then replant the mangroves. Want to get rid of the MH lighting for heat reasons and put up T5's. Is this going to be adequate for growth. (will disband the corols currently growing in "cube" ) Want this to be a refug. Protein skimmer will be set up in separate 50 gallon tank with Ca+reactor probes, leveler, heaters,etc.
What do you think on the lights especially??

[dwolson2]

I have this fxture:
http://fishneedit.com/250w-metal-hal...ndant-lig.html

I am trying to replace the bulb in it and have read about different base types. Which base type do I have? Thank you!

[Amoore311]

Can anyone give me some insight into reflectors?

I lit my 180 (6x2x2)with (3) 250 Watt DE Finished Lumenbrite Pendants with great success.


My new tank is 36" x 37" x 18". Would I be able to use one of my Lumenbrite pendants to effectively light this tank for SPS? I know the standard effective light area is closer to 2' x 2', but with a 250 Watt DE Halide over an 18" tank I figured I could raise it up a bit.

Is there a better finished pendant/reflector I can look into if raising the lumenbrite up will not work?

[1Fish]

OK I am new to the MH world. I going to put 2 400 watt mogel MH's On my new 120 (48x24x24) with two VHO's. Now my question is what ballast do yall prefer Magnetic or electronic and what are the advantages and disadvantages.

[Amoore311]

Have you bought the halides yet? Only reason I ask is 400 watt is overkill for 24" depth.

I ran 250 watt DE phoenix 14k halides in lumenbrite pendants on my 180 (24" depth as well) for 2+ years. I had sps growing even at the very bottom of the tank.

I used Electronic ballasts since the bulbs were HQI. I prefer double ended bulbs to single ended.

[TruespeedEM1]

just bought a 265 gallon tank (8x2x30") I currently have 250w Maristar fixture on my 120 gallon, and was thinking about metal halides for my 265. What brands do you suggest, as well as bulbs and wattage. Thanks

[bcwalz]

I have a 150 gal (72L X 18W X 27H) that I am thinking of converting to a reef tank. For lighting I was considering 3 250 watt 20k MH. Given the color range of a 20k bulb would I still want a couple VHO actnics as well? Does that seem like it would work well?

[matt604]

Whats the best mogal base 400 w mh bulb,or will all 14000k bulbs give me the same effect

[micdarj]

HID life span question - what should the average life span be for a 10k 150w G12 bulb be? I purchased an aqualife light unit 3/11/11 with 2 HIDs, 2 T5's, and 4 lunars and came home to one of the HID's being burned out - is this on par with life expectancy or not?

[srfnhooker]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am looking at the possibilty of buying 2 used 175w electronic ballasts and 2 slightly used 175w EYE Color Arc 15k bulbs for $100. These ballasts will not come with reflectors or moguls so I will have to purchase them from another source. It sounds as if the ballasts are a few yrs old. I have zero experience with MH so, A few questions.

1. Does this sound like a decent deal?
2. Will this be enough light for my 75gal DT (48"x18"x21") and what types of corals will I be able to keep under this lighting. (I really like the acans and zoas)
3. I know I will have to compliment with Actinic, any sugesstions?
4. Is there an avg. life span for ballasts? If so, can they be repaired/refurbished?
5. What recommendations for reflectors and moguls? (I am on a budget hence the reason I am looking at used equipment)

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[castaway]

Setting up a 40 breeder, and i access to a 20' sunpod 150w. I was thinking of running 4 t5's as suppliment, and mounting the pod in the middle of my hood. Not interested in sps, so anyone see any major issues, if i go this route?

[Maine_fisher]

Hi All:

New on here. I have a 30 gallon glass cube tank (19 x 20 x 19) and recently purchased a 400 watt metal halide fixture for $20 from ebay. Since it didn't come with a transformer I need to purchase one. Need a recommendation for that, but I think I want to use a lower wattage. Recommendations please. I noticed Lumatek has a dimmable ballast, is this something I should consider? I want to keep fish, LPS, and a clam.

Thanks,
Rick

[_Mackus_]

Hey all,

I'm setting up a 125 gal tall with a light fixture that has two 250W MH's, 4 PCs, and some LED moonlights. How high above the tank should I suspend the lights to find a happy medium between light reaching the bottom of the tank (25" tall) and not heating the water too much?

I've read 8" is the standard but wanted to double check before I do anything semi-permanent.

Thanks

[nanoreef16g]

I'm setting up a 40 gallon breeder and using a Current Outer Orbit. It's a 36" two by 150 watt fixture with four T5's. Any recommendations to get a nice crisp bluish white light? Around a 14k. I like the look of a 14k Phoenix bulb but i know the T5's would affect the color if I just used a Phoenix.

[cas1069]

i have a current 72" 150w de fixture that has the ballast going out on it, i wanted to ask if anyone knows if i could upgrade the ballast to 250w and not have to change out the hqi scokets on it and not have it blow up on me?

[Jfannin]

Thought about upgrading to a 36x36x24 and trying out Mh instead of the T5s I use know on a 40g breeder. Tanks going to be mostly SPS. Wondering if a single 250w would be good. If so what would be the best reflector to do the job?
Figure on having most LR and corals near the center so the fish can swim all around the LR/coral island. But everyone knows how it is when placing rock.

A while back i was looking into a 48x24x24 for like forever and was going to do 2 250w for it with LB minis or the ATI 10 bulb unit. I ended up decideding to hold off for a while and recently I started thinking a cube might be more acceptable by the wife and just as appealing.
As far as aquascape goes. I'm kinda into the less is better group and I like the columns style look. I'll have alot of LR hidden in the sump area though.

Ugh idk might still consider the four foot tank instead. I have a good spot for ether.
Your thoughts ? Thanks