Lighting questions.

[kelso1980]

I bought a used 54G corner tank. I love it to pieces. There's a light that comes with it and I just dont understand it. It's a metal halide (double ended) and looks like 2 PC's on each side of it. The bulbs need to be replaced but I want to learn about them first. I dont really like the color of the lights and I think my corals could look prettier. I want to know if I can get different bulbs and if so what should I get and where should I get them from? I've tried the newbie thread but still dont get it. Can someone help me out or direct me to a place where I can learn more about it? Thanks.

[amithi]

any pics ?

[xskyzx]

ask the old owner (howmany watts is it and what k is the bulb), 10k is yellowish looking, 14k if blue/yellow and 20k is blue....if the bulb is 10k and 150watts de bulb , you might want to change to phoenix 14k bulb. which is popular on here. its show the color of your corals.

[xskyzx]

or you could chnage the PC bulbs to all actinic could help the look of your corals.

[kelso1980]

I cant ask the old owner cause they sold it because they were moving to hong kong or something. if the bulb in there is a 10k, lets say, can I just buy a 14k or 20k and put it in there? and maybe i meant actinic on each side, not PC... :eek1:

here are a few pics:

The paint cans are temporary till my dad can help me hang it from the ceiling...or till I get some legs. Is that even a possibility?
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4294.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4295.jpg

it's hard to get a pic of the MH with the reflection.
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4296.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4297.jpg

just the blues
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4298.jpg

Ricordia, hammer and zoo w blues on:
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4304.jpg

blues and whites:
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4299.jpg

same w blues and whites. I think these could look so much nicer! I had the hammer and zoos in an aquapod and the color was much nicer. Everything looks brown instead of green and pink.
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4300.jpg

[kelso1980]

any suggestions?

[SEAFROG]

Hi
It looks like 150watt DE bulb to me. Have you took the bulb out and looked at it. Is their any markings on the bulb at all .Or take it a part and look at the ballast it should say what type bulb it's rated for .
Just my 2 cents

[kelso1980]

Ok. I have established that it's a double ended 150W 10K MH. And 2 actinics on each side. Are actinics always 10k? one of them just says 65 watt on the back and the other says 420/460.
I think i've decided to order the phoenix 14k MH but now what should I do for the actinics? Leave them? replace them with the same things cause they're probably old? or replace them with something else?

[WaterKeeper]

Yes it is an HQI MH surrounded by a couple of PC's. You have a ton of options but I'd use a 10,000 K HQi and a couple of actinic PC if I changed tubes. For more see- Lighting (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-12/newbie/index.php).

[kelso1980]

I put in a 14k HQi and two actinics. The difference in night and day! I love it!my blues and purples pop, greens are greener and pinks are pinker!

Look at my after shots!
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4315.jpg


http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n387/kelso1980/100_4306.jpg

in my before shot you couldnt even tell that there are green button polyps in the picture!
Thank you so much everyone for your help and info. and WaterKeeper thanks for your lighting basics. Helped alot! Now time to get some coral and fish

[WaterKeeper]

You're welcome and that is because I shine (or is it phosphoresce?) under actinic. :D