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Lighting opinion needed! (1 Viewer)

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AggieBrandon

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Ok here is the deal:

I am setting up a 75 gallon tank that is going to be primarily sps with some scattered softies. I am going to start off with 2 250 watt iwasaki bulbs with VHO actinic. My question to you is how many VHO bulbs should I use for supplementation. I can use 2 or I can use 4. If I use 2 will it be enough to supplement the iwasaki's? If I use 4 will it be too blue? I will be installing the VHO bulbs tomorrow so constructive criticism is appreciated. The vho bulbs I am using are URI 48" super actinic powered by workhorse 7 ballasts. Thanks.

Brandon
 

Cakepro

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Whatever you decide to do, can I see a picture of your canopy once it's finished? I'll be upgrading the 2 x 175 watt MH's/2 x 100 watt VHO's over my 75 gallon tank to 2 x 250 watt MH and have been contemplating two or four VHO's as well. Compared to pc (which is what I had for "actinic" supplementation before installing the VHO's a month or so ago), those VHO bulbs really get hot. I hope you have good ventilation if you go with four.

~ Sherri
 

Brad

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I only have a 55 but my 4 VHO's pretty much take up all the room from front to back. I know the 75 is 6 inches wider so I guess you could squeze it all in but I'm not sure.

I've seen people put the MHs above the VHO's but it seems like that would block a lot of the light. I would want everything at the same level so no light is blocked by the lower bulbs.

Something to think about.
 
G

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Brandon, on my 180g I have the 3 250w 65k iwasaki's {for now :D } and supplement with 2 160w URI 03 actinics. To my eyes that is enough BUT..... 4 I think would be awesome. I really don't think it would be too blue.
 
G

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bulbs

I read anything over 175 watts MH in less than 18" is excess.

Go easy with the replies :D
 
G

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I have 2 175's on my 90 gallon with 4 vho bulbs, the 2 175s make a huge difference when they come on.
I don't see a need for 250's on my tank, but who knows, I may switch someday just because more is always better. right? MORE POWER!
 
G

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I don't like Iwasaki bulbs too yellow for me so I would go with 4 actinics.
 
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AggieBrandon

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All bulbs will be at roughly the same height. The metal halides may be a tab bit closer to the water line. For ventilation I have 4 4" fans mounted on the back wall of the canopy. Two fans blow in and two fans blow out. Well I think I will try four since everyone seems to think it will be fine.

Brandon
 
G

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WHy

I run a 60 gallon with a 400w 65k saki over it, I have two NO actinics for dusk/dawn. I see that most folks want a PRETTY blue color to the light but I see no reason unless its for vanity.
If you want the color to be better to YOUR eye, then why not go with a higher Kelvin MH bulb?
If your wanting a better look to the eye, then 1 vho would suffice, and two would be super blue. IMO
I think we all know that the saki seems to have the best PAR value in the 65k. And if you want pretty sps color, then you may want to go higher in the Kelvin color scale (10,000+). If you want good growth then your stuck with 65k. I am not saying those are your only options, just trying to touch some of the issues not already noted above.
There are a millon combos to choose from, but I have my 400 watt with NO canopy, and it heats the water up, and it hangs about 16 inches above water. I have a 30 with three 3 foot VHO's over it and it has a canopy, and its hot as heck in there. SO you may consider the money your going to spend on electricity with 2 MH and 2+ vho and 4 fans running, then you have water circulation, skimmer, return pump, heater, chiller........... and so on and so on..... if someone else is paying electric bill, then no worries.
My guess would be, what do you want, performance and looks with extra vho, or performance and economy with MH at a higher Kelvin.
The higher Kelvin MH 10000+ all seem to need to be replaced after about 10-12 months (VHO too), and the 65k seemto last 18+ months from some of the literature I have read, there may be a slight color shift in the 18 month use, but not as big of a shift as the 10000+ after 12+ months of use. SO there is another cost incurred.
And where are these ballast (vho and mh) going to be loacted. Hopefully in a remote location. Like far away from the tank unless they are all electronic.
 

fishcraze

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IMO, the saki bulb will look too yellowish, so the more actinic the better if you can afford them. So my vote is for 4 actinic bulbs :wink:

If you want to save electricity, you can go for the higher Kelvin MH bulbs and use less VHO bulbs. You can use 2 Radium 20K bulbs and no VHO needed. But 20K bulbs have shortest life (~6 - 9 months), and slower coral growth.

To me, the 10K is the best for both the growth and look. These bulbs (eg. Ushio) have a crispy white look, and you may only need 2 VHO super actinic to make it look nice. The 10K bulbs should last about 12 months or more, and the growth is good too.

So it's up to you now: whether you want really good growth and dont care much about the tank/corals appearance, then go for the saki bulbs. If you want nice colors and can accept moderate or slow growth, put more actinic or 20K bulbs.
 
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AggieBrandon

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Well I purchased the metal halide ballast and moguls and reflectors and it came with iwasaki bulbs so I will use them first. Then when it is time to upgrade I will either go with 10K bulbs or if i like the way it looks then will stick with the iwasaki's.

Brandon
 

Cakepro

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Are you going to mount your bulbs parallel to or perpendicular to the front of your tank? Did you get parabolic reflectors or one long one?

~ Sherri
 
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AggieBrandon

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I painted the inside of the hood with gloss white paint then a coat of polyurathane and many days of curing. Then I mounted the spider reflectors in the canopy for the metal halides. I had to modify them a bit in order to allow the vho bulbs to fit in without shading anything out but i think the reflectors will help a bit...mainly heat distrobution off the wood. The uri bulbs have built in reflectors so that should work well. I have two 48 inch vho in front, then the metal halides in center, and then two more vhos in the back. It should definitely be enough light. 8) I am going to use my ranco temp controller to turn the metal halides off if the fans and sump don't keep the water temp stable.

Brandon
 
G

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A little late now, but what K are the halides?? With 6500K, 2 actinics should be enough. With 10,000k you really don't even need actinics.
 
G

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on my 46G:

2 175W metal halide ushio 10k

2 96W vho actinic blue


PERFECT!
 
G

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as

As a Yankee, I really do get sick of hearing about AGGIES and LONGHORNS....
But I must admit, that FISHINAGGIE has said the best info, and finally put it in simple terms!!!!!!!!!
So for one time only I will say GO AGGIE 8O
now I shall never repeat that phase again!!!
 
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AggieBrandon

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I know 2 will probably be enough but I like the effects of the actinics before and after lights on/off. I will have all the lights on timers so if 4 is too blue then I can have 2 shut off until dusk.

Brandon
 
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