Need Input on MH Lighting

[Mort]

Hi all, I have decided to upgrade my lighting for my 75g reef as I *PLAN* to
have clams and other "high lighting requirement" creatures.
I would have gone MH in the beginning but the cost is what convinced me to
go with PCs.

Then I found a good DIY artcle on the web that says you can do it for under
$100...

http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/rpi.html
click on articles.

So basically, I just want to get some feedback on my plan thus far...

I have a standard 75g which is about 18" from substrate to top of tank.
I am thinking of going with 2 -250watt 6500k Iwasakis. When running off a
certain balast (as mentioned in that article) the lights will appear bluer
which is what I like.

Would there be any benefit to going with the 400 watt versions of this
setup? Would that be too much for a 75g?

TIA

~Mort

[Mort]

"Mort" > wrote in message
y.com...
> Hi all, I have decided to upgrade my lighting for my 75g reef as I *PLAN*
to
> have clams and other "high lighting requirement" creatures.
> I would have gone MH in the beginning but the cost is what convinced me to
> go with PCs.
>
> Then I found a good DIY artcle on the web that says you can do it for
under
> $100...
>
> http://aquarium.union.rpi.edu/rpi.html
> click on articles.
>
> So basically, I just want to get some feedback on my plan thus far...
>
> I have a standard 75g which is about 18" from substrate to top of tank.
> I am thinking of going with 2 -250watt 6500k Iwasakis. When running off a
> certain balast (as mentioned in that article) the lights will appear bluer
> which is what I like.
>
> Would there be any benefit to going with the 400 watt versions of this
> setup? Would that be too much for a 75g?
>
> TIA
>
> ~Mort
>
>
>

I've done some more reading and I am getting the impression that I will not
like the looks of the 6500k. However, I have also heard that the MH temp
colors may look different when compared to VHO or PC. For example a 6500k
on a MH would look "bluer" than a 6500k PC.

Anyway, my questions is, has anyone seen a picture comparison of the
different temp colors with MH lights? (other than the not so informative
one on marinedepot.com)

TIA

~Mort

[Dragon Slayer]

running the 6500K Iwasaki's are going to give you a very yellow tank
regardless of ballast IME.

the 250w bulbs would be fine for anything you wanted to keep. i had 400's
over my 75 but it really was more trouble then it was worth. while i had
excelent growth with sps and clams the softies growth was to much, leathers
spent most of the time shedding rather then looking good to the eye when
looking in the tank. and its also easy to "sun burn" corals with 400's when
they arent acclimated very carefuly.

kc

[Mort]

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> running the 6500K Iwasaki's are going to give you a very yellow tank
> regardless of ballast IME.
>
> the 250w bulbs would be fine for anything you wanted to keep. i had 400's
> over my 75 but it really was more trouble then it was worth. while i had
> excelent growth with sps and clams the softies growth was to much,
leathers
> spent most of the time shedding rather then looking good to the eye when
> looking in the tank. and its also easy to "sun burn" corals with 400's
when
> they arent acclimated very carefuly.
>
> kc
>
>

Everything I have read so far agrees with what you are saying to a "t"



I'd like to know what people are running out there.... Color Temp wise and
the various combinations...

TIA

~Mort

[Dragon Slayer]

my 75 has 2x400 XM 20KK
the 180 has 4x250 XM (2 are 20KK and 2 are 10KK)
my 29 grow out tank has a single 400w 6500K Iwaskai, its very yellow but
growth is excelent.

kc



"Mort" > wrote in message
y.com...
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > running the 6500K Iwasaki's are going to give you a very yellow tank
> > regardless of ballast IME.
> >
> > the 250w bulbs would be fine for anything you wanted to keep. i had
400's
> > over my 75 but it really was more trouble then it was worth. while i
had
> > excelent growth with sps and clams the softies growth was to much,
> leathers
> > spent most of the time shedding rather then looking good to the eye when
> > looking in the tank. and its also easy to "sun burn" corals with 400's
> when
> > they arent acclimated very carefuly.
> >
> > kc
> >
> >
>
> Everything I have read so far agrees with what you are saying to a "t"
>
>
>
> I'd like to know what people are running out there.... Color Temp wise
and
> the various combinations...
>
> TIA
>
> ~Mort
>
>

[Marc Levenson]

Mort,

Check this link out for some sample images:
http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm

I"m currently running 2 x 175w 10,000K Ushio MH over my 55g, with 2 x 110w
Actinic VHO bulbs.

Marc


Mort wrote:

> Anyway, my questions is, has anyone seen a picture comparison of the
> different temp colors with MH lights? (other than the not so informative
> one on marinedepot.com)
>
> TIA
>
> ~Mort

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Mort]

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> Mort,
>
> Check this link out for some sample images:
> http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/ltg_bulb_color.htm
>
> I"m currently running 2 x 175w 10,000K Ushio MH over my 55g, with 2 x 110w
> Actinic VHO bulbs.
>
> Marc
>
>
> Mort wrote:
>
> > Anyway, my questions is, has anyone seen a picture comparison of the
> > different temp colors with MH lights? (other than the not so
informative
> > one on marinedepot.com)
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > ~Mort
>
> --
> Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>
>


That was EXCELLENT Marc, that is what I have been looking for. Thanks for
the link!

I consistently like the appearance of the Hamiltons. But I havent read much
about them. Are they popular?

~Mort

[Marc Levenson]

I have a Hamilton ballast for my PC setup, but Ushios for my MH setup. I can't
say which is more popular, since I've only joined the MH generation this year
finally. :)

Marc


Mort wrote:

> I consistently like the appearance of the Hamiltons. But I havent read much
> about them. Are they popular?
>
> ~Mort

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Mort]

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
...
> I have a Hamilton ballast for my PC setup, but Ushios for my MH setup. I
can't
> say which is more popular, since I've only joined the MH generation this
year
> finally. :)
>
> Marc


I've just learned that the 175w Hamilton lamps were private labeled Ushios
at one time. Not certain if that is still the case or if the same
applies(ed) to the 400W 10000K bulb.

Sigh....

~Mort