miskairal
February 7th 06, 08:22 AM
Hi everyone, I would love some advice with my lighting. This is a bit
long but I wanted you to have as much info as possible.
I bought my tank second hand and the lighting came with it. Everything
else is new but it's time I did something about the lights. I've left
them this long (several months) b/c I didn't really know what corals I
want further down the track and I still don't but probably a mixed lot -
cheaper ones to start out with.
Tank is 700 litre with 2 x 150W metal halide things (the tank is roughly
6'x2'x2'). I say things b/c they look home made. There are two white
boxes attached to each light (I've got two piles of live rock, one under
each, rather than a wall of rock) which I assume is the ballast.
Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to it all when I set them up
so can't read all that is on these things now but one says Tridonic
igniter 220/240V 50/60 Hz for 150W so I gather from that that you need
the right ballast stuff for the right Watt bulbs.
I have read that for a tank of the depth of mine that 250W bulbs are the
better choice (sigh) but do I really need them? Each bulb is set into a
metal reflector thing (they are double ended) but each metal thing has
room for something else to be inserted alongside the MH bulbs although I
have no idea what. There is just one white plastic insertion point and
the length would be the same as the MH bulb roughly.
I bought this tank intending to have only freshwater fish in it so
didn't quiz the previous owner about a lot of stuff ok, I didn't even
meet him as my son picked up the tank for me.
I have some coral growing that came with the live rock and I have a
single leather coral that I bought about 6 weeks ago that still is
undecided on whether it is happy or not. It's under one of the lights. I
leave the MH lights on for 6 hours and then there are 2 actinics and a
white fluro tubes that are on for about 3 hours longer. I am still
battling all the yucky stuff that tanks start out with such as hair
algae, diatoms and a touch of cyano.
I think I really need to replace the MH light bulbs BUT should I totally
go the whole hog and upgrade it to a 250W system or could I stay with
the 150Watts for now? I am thinking of just replacing one bulb to start
with, the one over the leather coral as there is no coral up the other
end anyway. I am currently unemployed and trying to be a bit frugle with
my money (I think the tax man will be taking a lot shortly). I would
rather stick with halides than change the whole setup now.
I also can't work out what bulbs I should get - 10,000k? I'm happy to
wait until I have to replace them in another year to buy corals that
might need something more. I think for the moment I just want a good all
rounder?? I'm taking this tank very slowly.
So add to all that I live 2 1/2 hour's drive from any store that sells
this kind of thing so I toddle off to several online Aussie stores and
there is all this stuff there that confuses me even more such as XM 175W
10,20 0r 15,000k metal halide HQI and mogul. Then they mention 14,000k
bulbs which I've never even seen mentioned in any info.
I'm floundering and need help. What do ballasts do anyway?
Thanks as always for any advice.
long but I wanted you to have as much info as possible.
I bought my tank second hand and the lighting came with it. Everything
else is new but it's time I did something about the lights. I've left
them this long (several months) b/c I didn't really know what corals I
want further down the track and I still don't but probably a mixed lot -
cheaper ones to start out with.
Tank is 700 litre with 2 x 150W metal halide things (the tank is roughly
6'x2'x2'). I say things b/c they look home made. There are two white
boxes attached to each light (I've got two piles of live rock, one under
each, rather than a wall of rock) which I assume is the ballast.
Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to it all when I set them up
so can't read all that is on these things now but one says Tridonic
igniter 220/240V 50/60 Hz for 150W so I gather from that that you need
the right ballast stuff for the right Watt bulbs.
I have read that for a tank of the depth of mine that 250W bulbs are the
better choice (sigh) but do I really need them? Each bulb is set into a
metal reflector thing (they are double ended) but each metal thing has
room for something else to be inserted alongside the MH bulbs although I
have no idea what. There is just one white plastic insertion point and
the length would be the same as the MH bulb roughly.
I bought this tank intending to have only freshwater fish in it so
didn't quiz the previous owner about a lot of stuff ok, I didn't even
meet him as my son picked up the tank for me.
I have some coral growing that came with the live rock and I have a
single leather coral that I bought about 6 weeks ago that still is
undecided on whether it is happy or not. It's under one of the lights. I
leave the MH lights on for 6 hours and then there are 2 actinics and a
white fluro tubes that are on for about 3 hours longer. I am still
battling all the yucky stuff that tanks start out with such as hair
algae, diatoms and a touch of cyano.
I think I really need to replace the MH light bulbs BUT should I totally
go the whole hog and upgrade it to a 250W system or could I stay with
the 150Watts for now? I am thinking of just replacing one bulb to start
with, the one over the leather coral as there is no coral up the other
end anyway. I am currently unemployed and trying to be a bit frugle with
my money (I think the tax man will be taking a lot shortly). I would
rather stick with halides than change the whole setup now.
I also can't work out what bulbs I should get - 10,000k? I'm happy to
wait until I have to replace them in another year to buy corals that
might need something more. I think for the moment I just want a good all
rounder?? I'm taking this tank very slowly.
So add to all that I live 2 1/2 hour's drive from any store that sells
this kind of thing so I toddle off to several online Aussie stores and
there is all this stuff there that confuses me even more such as XM 175W
10,20 0r 15,000k metal halide HQI and mogul. Then they mention 14,000k
bulbs which I've never even seen mentioned in any info.
I'm floundering and need help. What do ballasts do anyway?
Thanks as always for any advice.