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RG21
09/11/2012, 10:33 AM
i just bought an aqueon 65g, dimensions 36x18x25. I am going to keep primarily sps. What are my lighting options with MH? i have a PFO dual SE 175w, but im looking at some other fixtures. What about a 250w HQI or a 400w HQI? share your opinion on what would be the best light for adequate PAR.


check out the poll and tell me what you think! if you choose other, describe why. heating the tank is not an issue due to my chiller.

thanks!
Mmiller40gt
09/11/2012, 02:27 PM
36 inch fixture with 2 de bulbs and 2-4 t5's
RG21
09/11/2012, 02:43 PM
36 inch fixture with 2 de bulbs and 2-4 t5's

Thanks for your input.

I'd really like to go with a retrofit rather than buying whole new fixture. And if I supplement actinic lighting id rather go with LED. I don't want to have a ton of bulbs to change
RG21
09/11/2012, 02:47 PM
Is a two bulb fixture necessary over a 36" tank? Or is a one bulb with a good reflector sufficient?
Mmiller40gt
09/11/2012, 05:04 PM
I think you need two. 24x24 is about the best coverage a single halide will cover. You might get a wide reflector and hang it really high
sirreal63
09/11/2012, 05:10 PM
I would use the 2x175's with Ikasaki 15k bulbs, it would be the right combination. If you just have to try one reflector, make it the LumenMax Large, it will do the best job at covering the 36" length but the 18" depth will be a waste for that reflector.
JAustin
09/11/2012, 09:43 PM
I vote for 2 250w metal halides.
RG21
09/12/2012, 12:08 AM
I would use the 2x175's with Ikasaki 15k bulbs, it would be the right combination. If you just have to try one reflector, make it the LumenMax Large, it will do the best job at covering the 36" length but the 18" depth will be a waste for that reflector.

Elaborate? Not sure what you mean by waste.. Right now I just have the standard retrofit reflectors, one for each bulb
sirreal63
09/12/2012, 05:28 AM
Your tank is a rectangle, most pendants are more square, and the one that will cover the 36" length of the tank will spill a lot of light over the front and back because it is lighting a much larger area. The LumenMax Large is wider than your tank but is the one that will cover the 36" length but you will spill a lot of light over the front and back. Stick with two bulbs, even with retrofit reflectors you will get more light in the tank.

I lit a 58 with a single 250 and a LumenArc III Mini, the sides were not adequately covered. What you have now, though not a fantastic setup, will work better than a single bulb and reflector.
RG21
09/12/2012, 06:36 AM
Could I just get better reflectors, or should I get a dual 250w?
sirreal63
09/12/2012, 06:40 AM
I would get better reflectors, there are some that do a great job with your tank dimensions, ReefOptics are good at putting light down into the tank, but there are others as well. http://www.reefopticslighting.com/reflector.html
RG21
09/12/2012, 10:43 AM
And will these be able to plug into my ballast? I have little experience with lighting I just buy them
sirreal63
09/12/2012, 12:05 PM
Depends on the ballast, at worst you will need to wire them up, very easy to do.
125G Reefer
09/12/2012, 01:46 PM
dual 250w?

Bingo
grigsy
09/12/2012, 07:12 PM
One Ecotech Radion would probably cover it.

NOT. The PAR on Radion's suck.

Next week when I get my paycheck, I am going to switch out my MH pendants and buy a Hamilton Cebu Sun system - Metal Halide & 4-T5 HO.

Right now the price is really good.

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cebu-Sun-Systems---Metal-Halide--4-T5-High-Output--LED-Lighting-System-2113

Plus - since you want to keep "primarily SPS", you can't beat metal halides for that. That would blow doors on a Radion.

For your tank, I would go with 2 x 175 watt 10K & 4-T5 HO Actinics - $539.95 new.
RG21
09/12/2012, 07:33 PM
One Ecotech Radion would probably cover it.



Nah.. I'm over LEDs. I'm running LEDs over my current tank and they're just not for me. My coral grew so much better under MH that I decided to move back to MH. Maybe I'll run LEDs over a FOWLR.. That or PCs
RG21
09/13/2012, 11:59 AM
alright, here's what im going with:

(2) Hamilton tech 250w ballasts
(2) Lumenarc 3 reflectors
(2) 250w 10k bulbs

2 x 24w (or 2 x 39w if theyll fit) T5 HO retrofit w/ Atinics


i think this will be perfect for my needs
RG21
09/13/2012, 12:03 PM
or hamilton reflectors, havent decided on a model though.whatever will fit in my canopy and allow me to fit the t5s
sirreal63
09/13/2012, 12:06 PM
If LumenArc III's they will have to be the Mini's, you won't get a full size one and T5's on an 18" deep tank. The other problem will be finding them, unless used. I do agree with the reflectors, I run a pair of LAIII Mini's and love them, even ran them on my old 58, first as a pair of 150's then just a single 250. The 39 watt LET retro from ReefGeek would make it a perfect package, more than enough light to do anything you want.
Mmiller40gt
09/13/2012, 01:24 PM
Are you sure you wanna use 10K bulbs? Those two t5's wont be able to add enough color for my taste. I like 14K
davidadelp
09/13/2012, 01:33 PM
I have a 24" 150w 14000K MH over my 65g and it does great my only complaint which makes me wish Id got the 36" is the brace in the middle of the tank makes a shadow in the tank if the light is suspended.
RG21
09/13/2012, 04:58 PM
Ok.. I made a couple changes.

Scratching the lumenarc 3s, after further research I too discovered they won't fit.

So I'm going with

(2) 250w hamilton ballasts
(2) Hamilton cayman sun reflectors (leaves me plenty of room for T5s, and has moonlights for nocturnal viewing)
2 x 24w actinic t5 retrofit

This I think will be a perfect lighting system..

Any bulb suggestions?
I'm kinda leaning toward 14000k too...
RG21
09/13/2012, 05:02 PM
Or maybe the Bali sun.. Which do you suggest?

Bali sun:
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Bali-Sun-Reflector---Mogul-Based-Reflector--LED-2051

Or cayman sun:

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cayman-Sun---250-Watt-HQI-Reflector-with-LED-lights-1801
Mmiller40gt
09/13/2012, 05:36 PM
Or maybe the Bali sun.. Which do you suggest?

Bali sun:
http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Bali-Sun-Reflector---Mogul-Based-Reflector--LED-2051

Or cayman sun:

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cayman-Sun---250-Watt-HQI-Reflector-with-LED-lights-1801



The Caymen is for a DE bulb and should put out more light. 250HQI for the win!
RG21
09/13/2012, 06:31 PM
The Caymen is for a DE bulb and should put out more light. 250HQI for the win!



The cayman comes in borh SE and DE models. So I could do either. Is there a significant advantage to using DE over SE?
Mmiller40gt
09/13/2012, 06:42 PM
The cayman comes in borh SE and DE models. So I could do either. Is there a significant advantage to using DE over SE?

De bulbs allow for better reflectors. You can also run them on a hqi ballast and get even more light/par.

I know you said at the beginning of this thread you were trying to avoid a fixture. But your flirting with the same budget and could have a cleaner looking all in one unit.
Mmiller40gt
09/13/2012, 06:43 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunlight-Supply-Maristar-36-inch-500w-/271010365879

That is a steal for 150$. On the 48 inch unit he says add dual galaxy ballast for only 99 more, might be worth asking about. A complete new fixture with built in t5 ballast, fans, and reflectors for half of the price of single reflector you posted.
RG21
09/13/2012, 10:05 PM
I'm not buying this setup at full retail. My cousin owns a hydro shop and most of it I'm getting cheap. The 2 ballasts im getting for $65, the t5 retro I'm paying $40, I already have a canopy. The only thing I'm buying full price is reflectors and that's only if I go with the hamiltons