Someone tell me if this is a good buy :)

D

Dr_Wonka

I have a 29g using a power compact with 16"x2 bulbs. I found the new coralife 4 bulb 24" T5 for $259 in store [smilie=wait.gif] ( The cheapest I have seen this ficture is $269 online). I keep soft corals with plans on maybe adding a clam or two. Is it worth upgrading to the new ficture or does any one see these used for a better price? Thanks.
 
You can allways find them used for a better price used, but a 24" fixture is somewhat difficult to find. I also have a 29 gallon nano, and eventually went with a 250w MH. Some would say that its overkill, but It looks awesome and I get crazy growth. I just keep a fan on it when the light is on and the temp swing stays under 1 degree (mine stays a constant 78 by just keeping the fan on when the light is on). You can find a used pendant allot easier and probably cheaper than a t-5 to fit your size tank... at least that was my experience. See my 29 gal below:


(Click photo for larger image)

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Hope this helps,

Chris
 
Go with a 150W I have sold and bought used ones for 100-150 on this forum.... Viper k2 and sunpods I would go with the viper [smilie=lol.gif] USED ftw!
 
hmmm if you go with a 20k bulb it might but after the meeting I learned that all blue light is about the same... If u want blue go with t5's you can easy find them on the buy/sale If you want the "WOW DAMN that looks bad ass" go with the led kit but your going to fork atleat 300+ on them unless your handy with leds....
 
I really like the shimmer effect (I had no idea that came from those bulbs) I have been looking all over the forum and cant find a 24" for sale or the MH for a nano :(
 
post on WTB umm a 20in should fit your also but im not to sure..... led's give a great shimmer.... viper k2 makes a clip on thats what I use on my aquapod
 
bulbs 50-70

It all depends on the type of metal halide lamp. At one extreme would be the Radium 400w 20,000K HQI mogul base lamp which should probably be changed every 8-9 months, 12 months at the most, and at the other extreme would be the 250w & 400w 6500K Iwasaki mogul base lamps which can be run for 18 months if you like. The 150w 10,000K HQI DE lamps can go 18 months and the 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps can go 14 months.

All of that is based on running them 10 hours per day. If you run them longer, replace them sooner. If you run them less, let them go a little longer between replacements.

There is also the possibility that different ballasts may affect the useful life of the same lamp. So that's another variable.

The above recommendations are sort of a rule of thumb that combines the two main variables: spectral shift and loss of intensity. In other words, do you replace your lamps when they have lost 30% of their intensity--in which case you could run them longer in most cases--or do you replace them sooner because they may have shifted their spectral distribution long before their intensity dropped by 30%.
 
Since I had a pretty difficult time finding a light for my tank, I thought I would keep you in mind and let you know when I saw stuff. Somone is selling a 24" 250mh w/ two t-5s for $150. I would jump on this or at least look into it... good 24" fixtures dont come up often. [smilie=smile.gif

[url=http://dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=76130]viewtopic.php?f=8&t=76130[/url]

BTW, I like a pheonix 14k bulb in my MH. It gives off a better PAR rating than most 20k bulbs, but still gives off that "blue" tint. It looks great.
 
Hey thanks for lookin out for me :) I saw the light ficture, it sounds like a great deal but do you think that is too much wattage for a 28g?
I also noticed it has 2 65 watt pc not t5, how do you have MH and pc in same ficture?
 
Sorry mis-read that... [smilie=smile.gif] Either way, 150 for the MH is pretty decent. If its not a pendent, you may need to worry about heat issues though.
 
Sorry I didnt answer your question about it being too much light. Some (allot) would say that its overkill, but I would say go for it if you can manage a constant temperature. I have a 250w over my nano and it looks awesome.

I will say that some softies will definetely need to start at the bottom of the tank, but if you acclimate them they can be moved upwards. You will know with zoas for example if they are getting too much light b/c they will start to only partially open. They are very forgiving though, just move them down and they open right back up. After a week or two, slowly move them up to the position you like... they will adapt. If you keep your water peramiter right... you will get crazy growth on everything!

Also with a 250w you could go with a 20k bulb without worrying about your hard corals not receiving enough light for optimal growth.

Ask around though.. thats just my opinion.
 
no light out there compares to led as far as pop and par and color and enjoyment.. and for the price of that so so t5 fixture you could make your led setup is your capable of basic soldering.. goto rapidled.com or get reefkois unit for $279 y settle for one color and have to change bulbs every 6 months.. not only that t5 and mh are sooo dull barely any pop and your paying out the butt for electricity cause not only are you needing power for the light you need power for the chiller cause the thing is like a oven.. just my 2 cents on your choice in lighting..

and mh bulbs cannot go 18 months and i would highly not recommend you going for 18 months cause by the time you switch bulbs your corals will be used to such low par that when you put on the new bulb your going to bleach them.. mh bulbs need to be changed 9 to 12 months max... if your going any longer then your risking your corals life.. it's not like you can dim your mh fixture when you get a new bulb... so you have 3 choices change your bulbs when your supposed to or raise your light or screen your tank when you do change..

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/how-often-do-you-replace-your-metal-halide-bulbs-61792.html

for reference...
 
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