Help with Halides

[Beckmola24]

I am going to set up a 72 gallon reef. I'm pretty new at all this so I need help with my halide selection. I don't know where to start at all. For excellent halide lighting how much should I be spending? I want to know around what it should cost BEFORE going into my LFS. Like I said I really don't have a clue where to start. I need to know size, what wattage and spectrum. I'd like to be able to house 100% of the corals out there. Thanks for your help!!

 

[Elmo18]

I would go with 2 x 250 Watt Metal halides. The bulb color temperature is really your preference. Some prefer 10k with supplemental blue actinics (VHOs, PC's...T5s), or others go with 20k and add either blue actinics or white actinics.

Is this 72 gallon a bowfront tank? If you have already custom made a hood for the MH, i would go 2x250 and add some VHO's or PC's for actinics.

Cheapest prices will be on the internet by way of retrofit kits. Comes shipped with everything including reflector, socket, ballast, and you can choose bulbs. All you have to do is mount it into your hood, and hmm plug it in

- Elmo

 

[Witfull]

definately order online....LFS mark up is highway robbery on MH. i have a 72bow and run dual 250wt 15k. with 2 40wt NO actinics.

 

[Beckmola24]

Any reccomended sites for buying halides? I don't have a hood for them either. Do people usually buy a pre assembled hoods for VHO's and Halides or preassemble their own?? What type of fans should I use and how many?

Becky

 

[Witfull]

hardly anyone has a premade canopy for the 72bow that will accomodate MH. if you know someone handy with woodworking thay should be able to make one.

 

[Beckmola24]

I know of someone that could "create" one for me. Do you need a specific type of wood for the heat?? Does anybody have any pictures of their halide "creations"?

 

[Witfull]

my creation

 

[cookiemn]

Any preference between the DE and SE bulbs. I am putting together a 90 with dual MHs, but I haven't decided whether to go with DEs or SEs. Can someone tell me the pros and cons to these types?

 

[NaH2O]

Cookiemn, see if this thread helps you out:

Lighting questions....

 

[Ed Hahn]

Cookieman,
The dual Ended or HQI are cheaper to run and produce more light. I believe they burn cooler due to electronic ballast. But that is my thoughts.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Witt,
Your lighting system is pretty close to mine. I am gonna monitor your progress. I want to see how you do with all corals and clams. Thanks for the view.

 

[B-Random]

You could also buy a complete 48" pendant style lighting system that is ready to go. (PFO Acrolight) It would be more expensive, but you could use it without a hood and just hang it above your tank. Those already have reflectors,fans,ballasts, bulbs, etc. Also, I wouldn't use PC's. They run too hot and the Power Compact actinics aren't nearly as good as VHO actinics. Since you will be using two metal halide bulbs, you could balance out the color by using for example, a 10k on one end and a 20k on the other, where you would have on whiter side and one bluer side, but in the middle it would be a balance of both. Here is a picture of the PFO Acrolight http://www.pfolighting.com/new pfoAq/AQFrames.htm

 

[Fijikid]

Witt,

What the small light (holiday like light bulb) that you have in the middle of the canopy?

Thanks,

Sam

 

[wooddood]

it's witts moon light i believe.

 

[DonW]

So are actinics necessary for the health of corals when using 10k mh bulbs?? Are they just for looks?
Do corals get better color with actinics?

Don

 

[Fijikid]

What type of bulb and fixure is that?

 

[Beckmola24]

If my tank is 48" long and 23" deep, what length MH hood should I use?? 3ft or 4ft???

 

[captivereefs]

Use a 4 ft retro kit. With a 23" deep tank i would go with 250 watt halides to maximize your livestock choices. Coralvue makes nice afordable retro kits. You can take a look at all the Coralvue retros on my site if you like.

 

[Fijikid]

I actaully interested in the "moon light" fixture.

How did he make that?

 

[captivereefs]

Do you mean the coralVue Moonlight?