switching to MH, new question. (1 Viewer)

[padanky]

when I finish my 135 set-up I'll be switching to MH and T5's

Pfo Hqi dual 250w metal halides, 14k phoenix DE
4x54 T5 (2) Geismann Aqua Blue (2) Geismann Actinic

Any input on how to set my lighting and where to start or place certain corals, I'm new to MH and don't want to Bleach everything out.

I'm thinking Start first couple days at T5's 8hrs and MH 1 hr and every couple days rotate in another hour of MH until I'm at 5 Hours MH. Sound alright???

Thanks in Advance.

Video of tank (Recent) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkPO4tsryFE
Corals, etc.

Derasa Clam
LTA
GBTA
Yellow Polyp Zoas
Green & Purple Zoas
Watermelon Zoas
Button Polyps
Candy Cane Coral
Green Candy Cane Coral
Nuke Green Candy Cane Coral
Cabbage Leather
Random Mushrooms
Blue Mushrooms
Green Pagoda Coral
Pulsing Xenia
Green Star Polyps

SPS:
Green polyp Orange Birdsnest (DustinB)
Frags:
Neon Green Slimmer (Lesd)
Black Momba Millepora (Lesd)
Purple MontiCap (Avid Aquatics)

 

[flexrac]

why are you going to MH, your tank will grow and thrive under t-5's, plus it looks great as it is in that video.

how high from the water surface do you have the MH setup?

 

[padanky]

Still in the process of building the 135 gallon. Haven't built the canopy or the stand yet.

Adding MH to make up the extra 2 feet of tank. tank is 72x18x20tall. Plan on More SPS too.

 

[Tnconcept]

He wants the shimmer! I would definitelygo back to mh but led are already in...All those lps should be very easy to adapt, just be careful with those fancy sps chris! you pretty much got the concept down! GL

 

[padanky]

Shimmer is nice too Tony. The SPS I had before the picnic has turned from frags into baseball/softball size colonies in about 8 months, I like watching them grow. I want more.

 

[andrew7b]

Have you consider 3 Geisemann actinic + and 1 KZ figi purple. That's what I'm running on my son tank with 14k Phoenix de.

 

[padanky]

I already have all the T5's from my other tank, and I'm trying to keep the wife happy and buy only the minimum.

 

[padanky]

Do I need to keep any of my corals towards the center away from the MH's or should everything be fine as long as I aclimate everything to the new lights. Not sure if I'll add any more rocks right away, I want to do two islands with valley. I have three decent base rocks to help out a little.

I'm so ready to get my 135 setup, I hate the floor plan of a 72 bowfront with overflow.

 

[Tnconcept]

Pictures?

 

[padanky]

Pictures?

Pics of the tank are here: http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=399706#399706

 

[padanky]

After getting into the build more, I just realized how screwed up it will be to fit the two MH and the 48" T5's.

Does anybody run just MH on there tank? I also have a 36" 4 bulb T5 setup that could be used but it's a $100 eBay odyssea and it could barely keep my xenia alive when I had them on a 40B. Could the fixture run better bulbs and be worth a crap?

 

[andrew7b]

I'm running a 4ft fixture in my son. It have 2 mh with 4 T5.

 

[padanky]

But it's one unit right? Mine would be a retrofit 48" T5 x 4 and two MH Pendants. (W x H x L): 7.5" x 4.5" x 12"

 

[andrew7b]

I'm running a 4ft fixture in my son. It have 2 mh with 4 T5.

 

[andrew7b]

I'm running a 4ft fixture in my son. It have 2 mh with 4 T5.

 

[RR-MAN]

After getting into the build more, I just realized how screwed up it will be to fit the two MH and the 48" T5's.

Does anybody run just MH on there tank? I also have a 36" 4 bulb T5 setup that could be used but it's a $100 eBay odyssea and it could barely keep my xenia alive when I had them on a 40B. Could the fixture run better bulbs and be worth a *carp*?

I'm running just MH (20K); Even though I do have some T5s in the canopy but do not turn them on.

In your case, you can just run MH, no need for T5s. You probably need 3 fixtures since your tank is 72" in lenght.

 

[padanky]

Cool, I plan on doing a valley so I think two will work until I run across a third. What kinda schedule are you running your lights?

 

[RR-MAN]

Mine are 400s, almost 6 hrs. a day.

 

[padanky]

So I take it Corals will do fine with just 6hrs a day? Thanks.

 

[RR-MAN]

So I take it Corals will do fine with just 6hrs a day? Thanks.

Yes, some people even run it for 5/hrs.