Clam lighting at 13 inches and 16 inches? Will 175W MH do it?

Sylock · 09-19-2002, 02:13 PM

Ok, I eventually want clams. If I get a 75 gallon, they will be 13 inches under water, if I get a 90 gallon, they will be 16 inches under the water. Will either work with 175W MHs or will I need 250 to have any growth?

DuncanReefer · 09-19-2002, 03:17 PM

I believe that 175W is enough lighting for 18" of water. If you do not already have your ballast I would recommend going ahead and picking up the 250W. I have a 90 g and I was going to get the 175W. I looked up the PFO ballast on ebay and a guy sells 175, 250, and 400W(dual systems). The difference in the prices is only about 10 bucks(maybe cheaper if you get lucky)(I paid 190 for the ballast, end caps, and reflector). Everything is brand new in the box.

Just my experience, check it out!

Kevin

Sylock · 09-19-2002, 03:25 PM

Duncan, I was thinking about going with IceCap ballasts. A 175W with a 10K bulb is $160 (x2 is $320). A 250W with a 10K bulb is $214 (x2 is $428). That is without the reflectors though. If I picked up the 250W setup that guy sells I'd have to get bulbs, about $80 each. So that would be about $330-350 for 250 watt. However they won't be IceCap ballasts and they would be tar based and not electronic.

Do you like yours? And what kind of bulbs can you run on them. Electric ballasts can run any type of bulb, where as the tar kind (the ones on EBay) can't right?

DuncanReefer · 09-19-2002, 09:30 PM

sylock,

I am running 12k sunburst on mine right now. The bulb is the screw in type( like a regular light bulb in your house). I am pretty sure that I can run any 250W bulb that is a screw in like that. If I am not mistaken the only advantage that I have heared about concerning the electric over the tar, is that the electric is supposed to run with no buzzing noise that lights sometimes have.

I have my tank in my kitchen and have not had any problems or loud buzzes. From what I hear the PFO is a good quality ballast.

My experience, might want to get a second opinion.

Kevin

TimBeR · 09-19-2002, 11:07 PM

I bought a 48" retro from marine depot with 2x175 12k MH's and 2x96watt Blue PC's for $470 shipped not to long ago All I had to do was mount it in my canopy and plug it into the ballast they look awesome. I am working on transfering my 29 into the tank with the kit and I hope my baby maxima will like it he has been fine under 165 watt pc's for a long time now but shows little growth hoping he will take off under the MH's

Clay