Metal Halide Users

[jzdad]

With all the different combinations you could use, Please let me know,

1 What combo you use ?( Reflector, ballast, Bulbs)
2 Do you use supplemental lighting ? (which bulbs )
3 Are you happy with it , or what would you change it too.

But most of all please post a picture of the tank, so we can see that combo at work and I would greatly appreciate all that respond and post a pic

Thanks All

[OH GOD]

I use a duel 250 setup, 15K bulbs
also i use a 4 bulb VHO ( 2 super antic 2 aquasun daylight )
I have no reflectors on my M/H dont have room for them my lights are 3 inches off the water.

the color set up i have i don't like, but my 5 sea anemones are happy as all can be and growing.

[Eric the half-bee]

4-400 watt reeflux 12 K with reflectors + 4 URI VHO super actinics. I've been happy with this combo but I've never tried other Kelvin rated bulbs. My tank has grown well with these bulbs as well. I'm contemplating LED down the road as the electric bill is the biggest detractor.

[dzhuo]

1. I have 2 250MH Radium running BlueWave ballast. Reflector is LumenMax.
2. I don't have any other supplement lighting.
3. I am pretty happy with this setup. It produce the color (bright sunny white with a hint of blue) I want. It does get hot during the summer but a couple computer fans seem to be enough to keep the temperatur within range.

Here is a picture. In reality, it's a little less blue:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/150g/IMG_20110112_203429.jpg

[jzdad]

I use a duel 250 setup, 15K bulbs
also i use a 4 bulb VHO ( 2 super antic 2 aquasun daylight )
I have no reflectors on my M/H dont have room for them my lights are 3 inches off the water.

the color set up i have i don't like, but my 5 sea anemones are happy as all can be and growing.

Wow 4 vhos.Is that any good for your bulbs to be 3 inches off the water? (What about water splashing on the bulbs?)

How about a pic, we not critisizing just want to see how it looks.

[jzdad]

4-400 watt reeflux 12 K with reflectors + 4 URI VHO super actinics. I've been happy with this combo but I've never tried other Kelvin rated bulbs. My tank has grown well with these bulbs as well. I'm contemplating LED down the road as the electric bill is the biggest detractor.

I've seen a tank with 2 250MH Reeflux 12 k with 3 super actintic VHO's he had awesome growth and color.

Cant you go down to 250 with lumenac brights, large or the elites and put them about 7-8 inches above the water surface. that can cut your cost down somewhat and if your tank is 30" high it is ok, I've seen DD 300 g which are 29" high with 250s.

I have got to read up on LEDs I still dont understand how a little light can light up a high tank, although I heard they are dimmable which is a plus and lower electric but how do you replace them?

I have an Oceanic High which is 29" and I'm happy with mine but I burn Radiums with actinic VHOs .

And how about a pic.

[jzdad]

1. I have 2 250MH Radium running BlueWave ballast. Reflector is LumenMax.
2. I don't have any other supplement lighting.
3. I am pretty happy with this setup. It produce the color (bright sunny white with a hint of blue) I want. It does get hot during the summer but a couple computer fans seem to be enough to keep the temperatur within range.

Here is a picture. In reality, it's a little less blue:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w84/dzhuo/150g/IMG_20110112_203429.jpg

I have Radiums too, But I use actintics and love them.
I have spider reflectors that I'm looking to replace and that is why I have this thread to get an idea of which one to get
You are right it gets hot , I invested in a chiller and I got a Aqua Controller Jr set to cut my halides off if it gets too hot and I also got one of those fan vent for a room that I haven had installed yet.
Nice tank , Like the school of yellow tall damsels and anthiais ( I have 7 myself)

[OH GOD]

Wow 4 vhos.Is that any good for your bulbs to be 3 inches off the water? (What about water splashing on the bulbs?)

How about a pic, we not critisizing just want to see how it looks.

I dont get splashing in my tank but, i just rechecked the distance off the water i was wrong not 3 inches its 4.75 and my MH is 4 inches off the water.

I have a pic but i cant seem to post it yet

[jzdad]

OH GOD

Yea, posting pictures are tricky.It depends on which way you do it. I myself as well as others use photobucket

[jzdad]

Now I spend countless hours on RC as well as others reading lots of threads and I know there are more than responded, so let see them !

I see threads with aquascaping, corals, awesome builds so let see some tanks with MH, all you big boys and TOTM also need to chime in as well so you can inspire others for their hopes of their dream tank , It all start with members displaying theirs tanks and what works for them so others can see, learn and even pick up a few jems to help them
get what they are looking for,

Thanks, and happy reefing

[jzdad]

Sorry ,

Mine when I used 250w 14K Hamiltons on ARo ballast w/220 VHO

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/my150008-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/my150009.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/newstuff065.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/150gUpgrade3-09008.jpg

[jzdad]

Bump !

[allsps40]

I use a single 250w Reef Optics3 pendant and an Icecap ballast. I was using Phoenix 14k but now I am using an Oddysea 20k and am very happy with it. Both bulbs have almost the same blue color to them I will be testing the PAR on the Oddysea bulb soon.

[viggen]

Icecap 250's with icecap 20K bulbs & luminarc reflectors

No clue what I will do since they are no longer.......

[RokleM]

Radium, Lumatek 250 adjustable, LumenMax2


But most of all please post a picture of the tank, so we can see that combo at work and I would greatly appreciate all that respond and post a pic


Unfortunately this is of very little value. I would wager less than 1% has proper equipment to calibrate their screen, and probably less than 25% understand how to properly process an aquarium picture.

None the less, one of mine:
http://mad-skillz.com/aquarium/09.04.2010-1.jpg

[Hurdicuss]

Display: 250w Coral Vue ballast, Lumen Bright Large pendant, Reef Lux 12k SE. Sump/fuge: 175w coral vue ballast, lumen bright mini, Reef Lux 10k SE. No supplemental lighting, no pic at the moment...

[agsansoo]

XM 20K's, Galaxy 250w selectable, LumenMax3 (DE) w/ two VHO super actinic T12's

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/agsansoo/FTS/FTS-20110203.jpg

[jzdad]

I use a single 250w Reef Optics3 pendant and an Icecap ballast. I was using Phoenix 14k but now I am using an Oddysea 20k and am very happy with it. Both bulbs have almost the same blue color to them I will be testing the PAR on the Oddysea bulb soon.

When you get The PAR reading on that bulb let me know I used to use Phoenix too an also loved it I, messed around and used so many bulbs till I forget how some of them look and I cant capure the true color with a point and shoot so all pictures look the same.

If that is your tank in your avatar, Nice !!!!!!

Thanks.

[jzdad]

Icecap 250's with icecap 20K bulbs & luminarc reflectors

No clue what I will do since they are no longer.......

Sounds good, Lots of Ice Cap ballast and Luminarc. probably my next reflector, any pics?

[jzdad]

Radium, Lumatek 250 adjustable, LumenMax2



Unfortunately this is of very little value. I would wager less than 1% has proper equipment to calibrate their screen, and probably less than 25% understand how to properly process an aquarium picture.

None the less, one of mine:
http://mad-skillz.com/aquarium/09.04.2010-1.jpg

Nice Acans, bet they look good under those Radiums and that LumenMax2

Thanks,

[sasharotty]

Sorry ,

Mine when I used 250w 14K Hamiltons on ARo ballast w/220 VHO

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/my150008-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/my150009.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/newstuff065.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff285/canlic1/150gUpgrade3-09008.jpg

Very nice growth on that cap!
2 250 watt Galaxy ballasts w/ Radiums in Lumenarc III Reflectors.2 Vho 110 watt super actinic uvl's on a 660 Icecap ballast.

[jzdad]

Display: 250w Coral Vue ballast, Lumen Bright Large pendant, Reef Lux 12k SE. Sump/fuge: 175w coral vue ballast, lumen bright mini, Reef Lux 10k SE. No supplemental lighting, no pic at the moment...
Sounds good ,another favorite ballast ( Coral Vue ) and score 1 more for a Lumen pendent. When you get a pic, I would love to see it

Thanks,

[jzdad]

XM 20K's, Galaxy 250w selectable, LumenMax3 (DE) w/ two VHO super actinic T12's

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t257/agsansoo/FTS/FTS-20110203.jpg

Wow !!! What beautiful ocean like stucture !! How in the world did you do that ?

And score 1 more for LumenMax. Man I'm missing out, I use spider reflector (I'm a bargain reefer.) LOL

[jzdad]

Sasharotty

Thanks , That was the only thing that grew in my tank .LOL .

I loved that piece though, when I fed my fish and flakes or pellets fall into the cap they would go to the bottom and wait till it came out like a gumball machine and I got more of a kick out of it then they did. If you look at the pictures the naso is always swimming by the cap waiting for food . And the clowns loved too swim in it like a maze . look at the big pic.

[JoeBellz]

I run a single 250w Radium 20K bulb in a Lumenmax 2 Mogul pendant on a Galaxy select-a-watt ballast (set to 250w). I love the color it puts out and my corals are all happy:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=138599&stc=1&d=1297367567

[jzdad]

I run a single 250w Radium 20K bulb in a Lumenmax 2 Mogul pendant on a Galaxy select-a-watt ballast (set to 250w). I love the color it puts out and my corals are all happy:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=138599&stc=1&d=1297367567

Wow !! Nice clean looking cube (Is that the 60g or 70g) . And from your picture yea, they do like it . Radiums are awesome bulbs.....if they just wasnt so much (especially when you got to buy 3, OUCH !!!)

How do you like that select -a- watt ballast?

[JoeBellz]

Wow !! Nice clean looking cube (Is that the 60g or 70g) . And from your picture yea, they do like it . Radiums are awesome bulbs.....if they just wasnt so much (especially when you got to buy 3, OUCH !!!)

How do you like that select -a- watt ballast?

Thanks for the kind words, it's the 70g Marineland cube. The Galaxy ballast runs very quiet and very cool, I haven't had any issues with it at all. I haven't really tinkered with the settings. This is my first MH set-up so kinda set it and didn't touch it.

[jzdad]

JoeBellz

You're welcome .Those 70 are the perfect cubes not too big not too small . if this is your 1st set up with MH and you love it then you understand why some reefers are die hard MH users.

[JoeBellz]

JoeBellz

You're welcome .Those 70 are the perfect cubes not too big not too small . if this is your 1st set up with MH and you love it then you understand why some reefers are die hard MH users.

Absolutely, I had a TX5 T5 fixture prior on my old 55g reef. The things I love about MH are the shimmer, the fact that I don't need supplemental lighting (personal preference). The power of a single bulb is really nice, less to replace, less color variations to weigh.

I have yet to go through a summer season running the MH so we'll see how hot things get. I have the pendant on an adjustable wiring system so I can raise it up if I find things are heating too much. I'm not that concerned as it's just a single 250w not enclosed either. I am also getting an ATO to handle the evap in my sump, it's comparable to my old tank though, which is cool.

[jzdad]

Absolutely, I had a TX5 T5 fixture prior on my old 55g reef. The things I love about MH are the shimmer, the fact that I don't need supplemental lighting (personal preference). The power of a single bulb is really nice, less to replace, less color variations to weigh.

I have yet to go through a summer season running the MH so we'll see how hot things get. I have the pendant on an adjustable wiring system so I can raise it up if I find things are heating too much. I'm not that concerned as it's just a single 250w not enclosed either. I am also getting an ATO to handle the evap in my sump, it's comparable to my old tank though, which is cool.

Yea ! The shimmer is what does it. Do you have a build thread?