Moving from Fluorescent to MH/VHO - Looking for Input

S

SALT

Premium Member
Hello Reefers,

For years I have been running Overdriven 48" - T-8 and or Normal Output T-12 Fluorescent bulbs on Icecap 660s (4 - 6500K, 4 - 03 Actinic). I have decided to give MH a try. Here is my plan. I will run 2 - 175 Mogul base 10Ks (I was thinking Reeflux) on a dual 175 ballast using spider reflectors and suppliment with 4 - 48" T-12 UVL VHO (2 - 454, 2 -Super Actinic).

My tank specifics are in my signature but it basically is a standard 105 (48 X 18 X 29), Mostly softies with a few LPS.

I have had LEDs rolling around in the back of my head but I just think that they need a few more years to run the bugs out and become mainstream.

Where do you think I should order the bulbs from? I have done a bit of surfing but have not found one place that has both?

So just wondering what anyone thinks.
 
on 175 bulbs iwasaki 15k is the best bulbs out there. they blow away most 250 watt bulbs
 
you have the same size tank I do

If I was to go back to MH's (I had them on my 300g) I was planning on using 2-175's in a top quality reflector or 2-250's in spyders suplimented with 2-46.5" VHO (T12) Super atinics. either way the the MH's would have been 12ks

I think you will have space issues trying to get 4 - T12s (or 8's or 5' as the mounts are all ~2.5" ea) and the 2 spyder reflectors in an 18" wide space but you really only need the 2 super aticics for your suplimental lighting anyway. I'd start with the 2 175's using the bulbs Pampee sugested and the 2 T12 VHO super atincis and you shoudl have plenty of light for even adding some sps in the upper third
 
Thanks for the responses!

Pampee suggested 15K and Pete talked about 12K then said to follow Pampee's suggestion. I know that it all boils down to personal preference but just wondered which was your favorite Pete?

Maybe I have the mounting of the reflectors wrong in my mind.

Here is a link to what I have, I guess I miss led when I said spider, they are actually Reef Optix II

http://www.aquariumguys.com/reefoptix-retrofit-reflector.html

I thought that they would go in parralells to the tank, the long part of the reflector running left to right, so since they are 13 X 9.5 X 4.5 I thought there would be plenty of room if they are 9.5 wide, that leaves me 7.5 to work with. I guess I will have to get it the canopy and take a look. Maybe I can put two in front and one in back???

Any suggestions on where to order the bulbs from?

Thanks in advance
 
I just would not go with the 10ks
When I had them I realy liked the reflux 12ks, but have heard good things about the ones Pampee suggested from several people

I was thinking the spyder was around 10" and I'm pretty sure the waterproof end caps are about 2.5" each so 4x2.5 + 10 was going to end up around 20" when at most you only have 18". Sounds like you may be able to do the 3. I'd still go with 2 Super Atinics and then use the 3rd one to fill in what you may want more color pop in - like a UV indigo or purple. So maybe get a used white bulb for that 3rd bulb to start with, and then go from there to your liking.
 
Gotcha Pete. I do actually have a few old UVL 48" VHOs laying around that I can try things out with. I like the idea of using the 3rd bulb for supplimenting a specific color.


I did get it all wired up and running last night. The balast I have is an old AF175WD MH bye ENS. I have a couple of old 10000K Reeflux bulbs that came with the ballast and so I had something to test with. Everything seems to work but the ballast makes sort of a chuggle sound when it is fired up. Anyone know if this is normal or out of the ordinary.

I need to make sure that the ballast I have will fire the iwasaki bubls before I go ahead and order. Is it safe to assume that if it fires one 175 watt Mogul bulb it will fire another?

Yuki, I did not get a PM from you????
 
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