| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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03-17-2007, 07:26 AM
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#1
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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ok, I need some suggestions
as of rite now my lighting consits of a current fixture pc 4x65. It is about six inches above the tank because of the way the hood is designed. the tank is a 55 gallon so the fixture is about 26 inches from the bottom of the tank. I like to keep softies and now i am getting into lps. I feel that the lps are not getting enough lighting so and i would like to upgrade my lights anyway so this just gives me an excuse to. I am going to purchase a fixture am i am leaning towards one with a few mh in it. My questions are, you can find a fixture for istance with 8 t5's for a total of like 430 watts, or 4 vho's with 520 watts or one with 2 150 mh and 2 pc for a total of 560 watts. Which would i be better off with, i am assuming the heat will be higher with the mh fixture, but what about the energy consumption, overall light quality etc. if the lamps are pretty much the same watts give or take 50 and i could save myself a hundred or so by going with the vho's or t5's or will the mh benefit me more as far as visually and for the corals? thanks guys and gals 
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03-17-2007, 08:39 AM
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#2
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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oh btw tank is 48 long in case that matters or if anyone didnt know
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03-17-2007, 08:54 AM
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#3
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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I can't imagine you being able to fit 8 T5HO's over a 55G tank very easily. If you bite the bullet now and get the halides you will enjoy the ability to keep most anything you want and have that wonderful {Shimmer} effect in the water that only halides can produce. 
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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03-17-2007, 08:56 AM
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#4
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,185
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If your planning on keeping your current tank for a while,.. I would probalby go with 2*150+ as many PC's/T5's as you can,.. the extra PC/T5 will give you atinic supp and allow you to run the 10K MH for more Par.
If you are planning on upgrading the tank to something larger soon, I would think about 250 so you can still use it on the new tank.
Whiskey
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Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
racing around to come up behind you again
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03-17-2007, 09:01 AM
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#5
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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i keep hearing about the shimmer effect, do they really look that much better than the pc's? maybe i dont know what i am missing? if i choose to go with the 150's i should not need a chiller i hope right?
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03-17-2007, 09:03 AM
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#6
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I'm Kinda Bored
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: north of Dimples
Posts: 3,698
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markrxdi
i keep hearing about the shimmer effect, do they really look that much better than the pc's? maybe i dont know what i am missing? if i choose to go with the 150's i should not need a chiller i hope right?
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imo, YESSSSSS, they look that much better
with the proper fans, you should not need a chiller
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In a way, all of us have an El Guapo to face someday. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us...El Guapo is a big dangerous guy who wants to kill us.
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03-17-2007, 09:05 AM
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#7
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,185
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My 125 is lit with 3*250W MH and I don't use a chiller,.. just fans on a temp controller.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
racing around to come up behind you again
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03-17-2007, 09:14 AM
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#8
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Montis 'R Us
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chuck Co, Mo
Posts: 5,284
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I have a similar setup to Whiskeys (3-250w MH, no chilller, and just a controller for a heater) No fans. My lights are a bit higher than his though. They are at 12" above the tank. I keep meaning to lower them but I just haven't had the time. Temp stays around 78deg.
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Fish Man Eric
34g Starfire Reef
I can see by todays discussion that there seems to be a gray area between the real world and fantasyland!
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03-17-2007, 09:23 AM
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#9
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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so it looks as if i get the 150's and keep them about 6 inches from the surface i should be fine
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03-17-2007, 09:50 AM
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#10
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Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,185
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With fans, yea, I think so. I've never found a tank I can't cool with enough fans lol.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
racing around to come up behind you again
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03-17-2007, 10:18 AM
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#11
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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Also, Keep in mind that the 150W are DE's (Double Ended) HQI's and run cooler than SE Mogul based halides do. They also penetrate the water better so a 150W setup with HQI's is fine all the way to a 75G tank. a 90 gets taller and 250's are suggested then.
__________________
I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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03-17-2007, 10:19 AM
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#12
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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ok mh it is, thanks guys, now all i have to do is wait patiently for my tax return to come in  |
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03-17-2007, 10:21 AM
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#13
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AKA Captain Jack Sparrow
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: rhode island
Posts: 343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ReefNeck
Also, Keep in mind that the 150W are DE's (Double Ended) HQI's and run cooler than SE Mogul based halides do. They also penetrate the water better so a 150W setup with HQI's is fine all the way to a 75G tank. a 90 gets taller and 250's are suggested then.
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oh, i wasnt aware of that, thats good 2 know, thanks alot for your help. the fixture i am looking at has 2 fans in it and i pretty sure that will be fine
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