need help with 175w Bulb selection

[raynist]

I currently am running 2 - 4ft Aquactinic T5/MH fixtures over my 120 sps tank. Each fixture has 2 Iwasaki 15k 175w bulbs and 2 ATI blue Plus bulbs. I am frying my SPS with this combo. Anything above 1/2 way up in the tank bleaches. I am looking to replace 2 of the Iwasaki bulbs with a bluer bulb that still has decent PAR. The ballasts are all Icecap in these fixtures.

I was thinking about the EVC 14k and Helios 20k bulbs based on Sanjays sight but I can't find where to buy these.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Ray

[stugray]

I dont think that is too much light for a tank your size.

I am currently running 2 400W XM 15ks, and one 175W XM 15k, and everything is just fine. I actually want to put in three 5 ft T5s as well.

My tank is only a 125.

Stu

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11160597#post11160597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stugray
I dont think that is too much light for a tank your size.

I am currently running 2 400W XM 15ks, and one 175W XM 15k, and everything is just fine. I actually want to put in three 5 ft T5s as well.

My tank is only a 125.

Stu

According to Sanjay's site the 175w Iwasaki puts out a little more Par than your 400w bulbs. It would be like you having 4 of those, plus I have 4 T-5's.

--Ray

[s3aL]

Here, check this out for all the 175w SE bulb PAR ratings on E- ballast.

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-ballast-data.php?Watts=175&BallastType=Electronic&BallastManuf=Icecap&BallastName=5&shield=N&Submit=Submit


I really want to go with the 14k hamilton bulbs for my setup(mainly for the ice blue look) but most of the SPS guys are saying that it would not be a good idea and to just go with the 15k Iwasaki's. Now your saying these bulbs bleach your SPS on a 24" tall tank lol. Hmmm, did you acclimate properly? decision decision......

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11161967#post11161967 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by s3aL
Here, check this out for all the 175w SE bulb PAR ratings on E- ballast.

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/tabular-ballast-data.php?Watts=175&BallastType=Electronic&BallastManuf=Icecap&BallastName=5&shield=N&Submit=Submit


I really want to go with the 14k hamilton bulbs for my setup(mainly for the ice blue look) but most of the SPS guys are saying that it would not be a good idea and to just go with the 15k Iwasaki's. Now your saying these bulbs bleach your SPS on a 24" tall tank lol. Hmmm, did you acclimate properly? decision decision......

These are corals that I have had for a long time. Remember, I am running 4 of these bulbs over a 4 ft tank. I have a par meter and when I measures the par at the bottom of the tank (under the tank, through the glass - barebottom when bulbs were new) I was getting 400+ par readings. I could only imagine what they would be in the upper 1/3 of the tank. There is not enough room for me to get my hand in there to measure when both light fixtures are in their normal place.

I think with two bulbs you should not have a problem. I am even considering just using the one aquactincs fixture and selling the other. I am sure what I have is extreme overkill....

[s3aL]

Oooh, 2x48" fixtures lol. I didn't catch that.

[gkimble]

Go with a lower spectrum. I love the reeflux 12K Awsome light. Not to blue not to white. I have a 48" t5/mh aquatinics light combo over my taank as well. I love it.

[JC VT]

I've used both the 10k and 20k XM @ 175w and liked both of them.