What is the best metal halide system?

[tennisstar28]

Hey everyone,

I am eventually going to upgrade from pc to metal halide. I am going to get one of those systems that uses legs so it just sits on top of your tank instead of building the lights in your canopy. I have seen outer orbit, coral life and various others. Please let me know about your metal halide system so that it may help me choose the best one for my tank and inclued any details on the water temp rising and if you had to use fans or a chiller to cool the water. I want to make sure i get the right equipment.

[DarthOcellaris]

I was VERY pleased with my Outer Orbit. I would suggest picking a fixture that will NOT place a halide over a brace...it wastes lights

[dobejazz]

what size tank?

I have a current Sunpod I really like it

[partobe]

I just got a set of Hamilton lights. I called them explained my set up and how I wanted my tank to look and what corals I have and they made a set just for my tank. They were very patient ( i have a tendency to be a bit(just tiny) of a drama queen) and helpful.

[tennisstar28]

I have a 55 gallon tank but I live in an apartment so hanging the light is not an option for me b/c the ceiling is not built strong enough like a house. So you say that metal halides on on 4 legs waste light. Why?

[chrischris]

outer orbit is good
the coralife is really bright

[rwlancaster]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I was VERY pleased with my Outer Orbit.

great light!

[aquawolf]

I have the Coralife Aqualight Pro Dual 150 watt MH and dual 96 watt Actinic with 3 blue lunar LED's. I have been very happy with this fixture and I actually was able to fit the whole thing into my canopy with a little creativity and haven't had any issues with it. The fixture is actually 14" wide, so you may have a tiny bit of overhang on a 55, but only on the outer sides and not where the bulbs are.

Any 48" fixture should have the halides spaced properly to not hit the center brace on a 55 gallon tank. My 75 doesn't have any top braces so I didn't have to be concerned with that at all.

I would also suggest that you look for someone selling a used fixture as this should save you a whole bunch of money.

[dobejazz]

Originally Posted by tennisstar28

I have a 55 gallon tank but I live in an apartment so hanging the light is not an option for me b/c the ceiling is not built strong enough like a house. So you say that metal halides on on 4 legs waste light. Why?

On legs doesn't waste light - putting the light over the center brace of the tank does

if you have a 55g with a center brace get a fixture with 2 MH

[Phishy]

Originally Posted by tennisstar28

I have a 55 gallon tank but I live in an apartment so hanging the light is not an option for me b/c the ceiling is not built strong enough like a house. So you say that metal halides on on 4 legs waste light. Why?

There have to be joists in the ceiling (every 16in usually) a screw/bolt in that will hold.

[danjen10]

On my frag tank I bought the lights from fishneedit.com.

I have pics on the site if you search my username.

They are not a "name" brand but they are also not a name brand price. They are also not Aquatraders (which has a bad wrap with many).

Your call ... but my $.02 is at least take a look.

Dan

[REEF JUNKY]

I ALSO HAVE THE coral life I LOVE IT TANK NEVER GET TO HOT SO NO CHILLER
IT WAS MORE THEN SOME BUT IM GLAD I GOT IT ONE THING I DISLIKE IS THE BULBS IT COME WITH FOR 6 MOS AND TRASH THEM REFELXS IS THE WAY TO GO ON BULBS

[Tasher80]

I have the Hamilton Prostar. It has 250 watt Double ended metal halides and VHO's for actinics. This is what I did before I built my fish room. I used Metal shelf supports from the hardware store and hung it using cable. Worked great. I do like the prostar. It has fans on both ends and glass on the bottom of the fixture. It keeps the heat away from the tank pretty well.

[tennisstar28]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the input, I will consider all your advice, I will be looking for a used system of course b/c I cannot afford a new one and it will save me a couple hundred of dollars. I do have a center brace, I never thought about that, can the brace be removed and the legs still fit on the tank?

[Hardhead Cat]

You never want to remove the internal brace of the tank. It will make it unstable. I have a 135-gallon with a Coralife AquaPro fixture, 3 150w MHs plus 4 96W blue/actinic PCs and 3 lunar lights. All have switches so you can turn off one set of lights and turn on another. It was very expensive but I've been very pleased with it. However, it heated up the water so we had to invest in a chiller too :<

HHC