Reef Brites with Halides?

[tcwayne]

I've been told that with two 250 watt halides that if I use two 36 inch reef brites on both sides of the halides that the led's will be washed out. I'm speaking of using this for actinic with 14k bulb halides. Anyone have experience with this? Tried it or using this sort of combo now?

[ganjero]

Halides usually wash out any supplemental lighting (LED, T5, VHO, PC). Unless you have an insane amount of supplemental lighting they only give a slight tint when the halides are on.

[tcwayne]

Halides usually wash out any supplemental lighting (LED, T5, VHO, PC). Unless you have an insane amount of supplemental lighting they only give a slight tint when the halides are on.

That's what I'm thinking but I think with the halides off the reef brites will look nice. I could just have them turn off when the halides come on. That's what I do now with T5's

[ganjero]

Reefbrites will make your colors pop amazingly. BTW I also do that with my VHOs (Have them come on when the halides go off)

[Beaun]

This is a 48" tank?

I've seen two 250's with two 48" reef brite blues and they work just fine.

[James404]

I run two 250w radium 20ks and have 2 36" blue reef brites. With the halides on you cant even tell the reefbrites running. I only use them actinics for 2 hours after the MH's turn off.

[tcwayne]

Reefbrites will make your colors pop amazingly. BTW I also do that with my VHOs (Have them come on when the halides go off)

Glad to hear. What bulb to go with? Would the reef brites at least add some blue to the tank when using a 14k. I use radiums now and want to switch back to Aquaconnect 14k.
This is a 48" tank?

I've seen two 250's with two 48" reef brite blues and they work just fine.

yes sort of. My current tank is 48x24. This is for the 240 I'm building. 4X4. I have 2 lumenmax elite reflectors and will be putting the lighting at about 18 inches off the water.

[tcwayne]

I run two 250w radium 20ks and have 2 36" blue reef brites. With the halides on you cant even tell the reefbrites running. I only use them actinics for 2 hours after the MH's turn off.

so that answers my question.

[tcwayne]

I run two 250w radium 20ks and have 2 36" blue reef brites. With the halides on you cant even tell the reefbrites running. I only use them actinics for 2 hours after the MH's turn off.

How far are they apart? When you did run them together did you have any issues with heat from the halides on the reef brites? I'm thinking that I'm overall best at using them for a dusk till dawn effect. For two reasons= heat from halides and just no real benefit to run while the halides are on.

[James404]

They aren't that far apart or away from the MH's, no issues with heat. Like you said I didnt see any added benefit from running them same time as MH, instead I turn them on 2 mins before the MH turn off and let them run for 2 hours after lights out. They do have a very nice actinic look.

[Mr.Maska]

i run 3x400 watt 10k and a reef brite 48" strip and i noticed a huge difference. my tanks 30" deep and i can see the difference. totally took the yellow 10k look out of the picture. I ordered another one for the back.

[tcwayne]

i run 3x400 watt 10k and a reef brite 48" strip and i noticed a huge difference. my tanks 30" deep and i can see the difference. totally took the yellow 10k look out of the picture. I ordered another one for the back.

No heat issues? That's good to hear that with a 10k bulb you noticing the blue quite well. I'm ordering them today and likely still go with the 14k's. I can't wait to see how it does with halides on. I don't mind just halides if I have to do that but it would be nice to put the RB's to use with halides.