Metal halides with Actinics for a Tank

S

sharko88

I have a tank that's dimensions are 36"L x 18" W x 20"H. I want to install Metal Halides with actinics. I want to use retrofit kits. I am looking for suggestions on what to install.
 
You could go with something like a:

Hamilton 2x14k 175w MH & 2x65w actinic PC $460 or so

or

you could just peice your own together buying the MH and PC or T5 seperate. You'll probably spend more money this route.

I recommend the 2x175w MH because of the center brace you probably have on a 36" tank. You don't want that heat over the center brace causing it to warp or cast a shadow.
 
Hmmm.... I don't know if a 250w MH would cover 36".

I still might suggest going with 2x175w MH instead.

You might could do something like a lumenarc III mini. It's like 14.5"x14.5". It might would spread over a 36" long tank. I would go 250w for sure inside a canopy w/ fans.

You might just contact lumenarc lighting and ask what they suggest.
 
With the canopy top only having 16.5 - 17" of depth to work with, that 14.5" would not leave me enough room for the actinics I am afraid.
 
Hmmm.... I'd say do two smaller MH's and then some PC or T5 actinics.
Can you piece it together or do you need help with what reflectors and bulbs? Budget?
 
No I can piece it together. Thanks for the input.

I was just wondering what the light spread would be on the MHs. Especially since if you go with a Coralife Aqualight Pro complete hood system, it only has the one 250W HQI bulb in it.
 
Yea... but the Current 36" models have 2xMH lighting. You could do 2x 150w bulbs too. I think I would go for 2 bulbs though.
 
One last question. Will 150W HQI's mounted 7" inches high be powerful enough for SPS corals (arcos, birdsnest, etc.) on a 20 inch high tank with a 3" sandbed if the corals were on the top of the sand (mounted to a flat piece of rock)?
 
If you used 2x150w HQI's I don't see why not. That would be 300w MH over a 36" tank. Should be able to keep anything you want in 20" tall tank.

I'm putting a single 250w HQI pendant over my 36g corner tank.
 
i have 1 250W Mh and 96w actinic pc. It covers pretty good and i did it by buying an f-can ballast i can point you where for about 50 bucks and you can get a spider reflector with socket for around 30 then i got my bulbs at a to t lamps and they are pretty good for growth but the color lacks a little. here is a pic if you care. But the actinics cost 10 and the mh cost 25 at a to t. This is kinda an old pic though stuff is much bigger now.
 
@Nazrac wrote:
i have 1 250W Mh and 96w actinic pc. It covers pretty good and i did it by buying an f-can ballast i can point you where for about 50 bucks and you can get a spider reflector with socket for around 30 then i got my bulbs at a to t lamps and they are pretty good for growth but the color lacks a little. here is a pic if you care. But the actinics cost 10 and the mh cost 25 at a to t. This is kinda an old pic though stuff is much bigger now. said:
Could you post or pm me the link to those places? I do know about a to t lamps, but not the other places.
Click to expand...
 
Sharko, what k rating were you planning for your MH bulbs?

You could roll with a couple Phoenix 14k 150w bulbs and skip the actinics. You won't need them... that's what I'm doing. But I'm doing 1x250w.
 
I really like the dawn and dusk look so that is why I want the Actinics. I am going to go with 10000K bulbs first to spur as much growth as possible. then I plan on moving to a 12000K bulb.
 
here is the phone number for kremin electric i recieved 2 250W ballast for 84 after shipping and those were 120v and fcan enclosed (looks like a flourescent ballast) but i have bought from them before and they gave me a deal. but the first time i bought just one for around 60 but the price was about the same just saved a little on the ballast but a bunch on shipping since it divided by two. here is the number. 818-368-8809. You can find them on ebay but they will give you a better deal if you dont go thru ebay. BTW the plus bulbs at a to t arent what you think. If you get a 14k it looks closer to 10k but with a 96w actinic it looks good IMOH
 
I run a single 250 with 2 39w atinics on a 40bdr (36" wide). My halide is about 12" off the surface and I love the coverage I get.

I'm using a Reef Optix III reflector. You can find them new on Reefgeek. If you can, I suggest checking out someones tank before you buy the 10K. I started out with a 10K reeflux bulb and even with the 2 T5's is was pretty white. I was worried if I went with a bluer bulb that combined with the T5's it would be too blue.

I've since moved on to a Phoenix 14K bulb to go with my atinics. (1 blue + and one super atinic). I absolutly LOVE the look. It doesn't make the tank bluer.... it just makes it brighter!

You are more than welcome to come by and see my lighting setup if you like.

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Ben
 
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