Halide Q & A

[E.intheC]

I'm considering a switch to MH for my build (Elos Midi - 22x20in footprint with a central rock structure housing BTA's). I have experience with MH's but nothing recent. Going to choose a 150 watt bulb, but what reflector and ballast would be best?

[Reef_Mania]

Just set up my first Bigger sized tank a few months ago. Had nano tanks for a while. Ended up getting a light from a friend for FREE. I have a standard 75G tank w/ 2x250w 20k MH and 2x54w t5. Having a lot of trouble keeping everything in there happy. light sits8in above the water. My clam is very happy but everything else is lookin shriveled.
Any help?

[cas1069]

Originally Posted by Reef_Mania

Just set up my first Bigger sized tank a few months ago. Had nano tanks for a while. Ended up getting a light from a friend for FREE. I have a standard 75G tank w/ 2x250w 20k MH and 2x54w t5. Having a lot of trouble keeping everything in there happy. light sits8in above the water. My clam is very happy but everything else is lookin shriveled.
Any help?

check your temp and how long are you running the light. and think about moving the light higher

[moondoggy4]

Originally Posted by E.intheC

I'm considering a switch to MH for my build (Elos Midi - 22x20in footprint with a central rock structure housing BTA's). I have experience with MH's but nothing recent. Going to choose a 150 watt bulb, but what reflector and ballast would be best?

I would say the Aqua Medic 150 cube ballast I think I saw that cube for 49 on flea bay and the 14 K Phoenix bulb, sorry to ideas for reflectors.

[aquaenthusiast]

I have a 80 gallon 48"x24"x18" deep blue tank, and a belize hamilton 48" fixture which has (2) 400w mh , with (2) 54w vho actinics , how high would you guys place this light above the water level? Canopy will only have 24" to work with , so I was thinking I would start at at least 12 inches above the water?

[sirreal63]

Originally Posted by aquaenthusiast

I have a 80 gallon 48"x24"x18" deep blue tank, and a belize hamilton 48" fixture which has (2) 400w mh , with (2) 54w vho actinics , how high would you guys place this light above the water level? Canopy will only have 24" to work with , so I was thinking I would start at at least 12 inches above the water?

That is a lot of light and heat over a small tank, you could use 175's just as easily. Start at 12", and adjust from there. One concern will be heat management, how well is the canopy vented?

[aquaenthusiast]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

That is a lot of light and heat over a small tank, you could use 175's just as easily. Start at 12", and adjust from there. One concern will be heat management, how well is the canopy vented?

So I might be better off getting an adjustable ballast that can handle multiple bulb wattages, and start with 175's?

[sirreal63]

Only being 18" tall, a pair of 400's will cook corals and throw off way more heat than needed. It is possible to acclimate the corals to the 400's but it isn't really needed. The 175's are more appropriate for the tank and yes the adjustable wattage ballasts will make changing to more light if needed in the future a snap.

[crazyfish]

I find the mention of 175w halides very strange, is it different in the states cuz in canada 175s are rarely used. I always heard the 150de made them kinda obsolete, hmm.

[sirreal63]

175's are still available and even though I prefer 150's he would have a hard time screwing in a DE bulb.

[crazyfish]

Well he just needs to try harder, lol

[Jim.mer]

That's fine but IMO, 150 MH are not up to par, hehe, I'd go with 250s,

[greengeco82]

Need some advise....
I have 2 lumen max elites. They are SE hoods. I now need 2 ballast. My neighbor has offered me his dual 250w magnetic ballast. It is big, heavy, and blue for $100. This seems like a fair price.
Any suggestions on bulbs I should use with this settup? Looking for cheap and a lot of blue. I have no supplement lighting at the moment.

[sirreal63]

Depends on the ballast, M80 uses different bulbs than M58, you need to know ahead of time to get the right bulbs.

[greengeco82]

Im assuming that it is an m58 ballast then. Since its old, big, heavy, and Ive used it on a single end bulb.

Any suggestions on what type of bulb to buy that is cheap, and has a nice blue look?

[sirreal63]

I would not assume when it comes to ballasts, it should be marked, somewhere.

[E.intheC]

Originally Posted by E.intheC

I'm considering a switch to MH for my build (Elos Midi - 22x20in footprint with a central rock structure housing BTA's). I have experience with MH's but nothing recent. Going to choose a 150 watt bulb, but what reflector and ballast would be best?

So I'm coming back to this idea. I've decided to go with all SPS and a 250 watt MH. Is a Lumenbrite Mini a stupid idea on such a small tank?

[aquaenthusiast]

Originally Posted by crazyfish

Well he just needs to try harder, lol

just got two 250w e-ballast in the mail , going to set the lights 18 inches above the water, with proper ventilation , good thread guys

[Amatuer21]

Long live metal halide!!

[odst223]

Hello, I would like to do an sps dominated smaller tank in a 36x12x19. What wattage would I need? How many bulbs? and would a 150w bleach lps and softies.

[sirreal63]

150's will be fine, but remember there is a large gap in par between 10k and most 20k bulbs. The bulb, ballast and reflector play a part in how much light you will have.

[odst223]

Would you recommend 2 150's at 14k for a 36" reef then?

[sirreal63]

Yes for an average reflector and no for a great reflector. What equipment is it?

[odst223]

Not sure, I haven't purchased anything yet. I have run LEd's and t5's but am very impressed with the halides and would like to buy a fixture for my tank.

[sirreal63]

It will be tough to find a decent 2x150 that is 3' long, I would try Hamilton or look in AquaMedics refurb and discontinued section. If you skip the fixture and go with a single pendant like one of the smaller Hamilton ones you could get away with a single 150.