Upgrade Questions.

[balakoth]

The Government has decided to "fund" me a tank upgrade!

This is going to go towards lighting and a nice metal halide setup. A quick question, is there a point where your giving your corals TO much light? I have a 50 gallon, though I do eventually want to upgrade, I dont want to be over doing it on my current tank.

I would take my current pc setup and turn it mostly into actinic supplementation. 2 96 watteres and 2 55 watters. And either go with 2 250 Watt Metal Halides, or 2 400 Watt (Overkill?)


I love SPS and Clams Some LPS, and a few softies. I have overhangs and shaded areas if needed.


Secondly. What do many of you Metal Halide users go run? PFO Ballasts? I know there are a few eballasts out there, but boy are they expensive. Kind of curious to know if they were really worth that jump in price.

Last! My LFS uses 20k Radium Bulbs. I expected them to be MUCH bluer, but was a very crisp white. A little to white. Would Ushios be best if wanting to use a 10k bulb?


Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks


- Joe

[Wrasse Man]

Joe,

Overkill is dependant on your budget for bulbs and how fast you want to make the electric meter spin!
There are some people running Iwasaki 400W over a 20 gal tank.

I would think the 2X250 and supplementation would be good for your tank. As far as the crisp white light, don't forget you are supplementing, the LFS may not have had any supplementation. I have heard that the color of Radiums depends on the ballast, but I can't confirm this. I used 2X250 W Aqualines with 2X110 50/50 supplementation on my 75, but I prefer white light.

I think the major selling points of the e-ballasts is that they run coller and are more energy effecient than the tar and coils. Someone might be able to help clarify/correct this.

Hope that helps some.

Regards,
Scott