mh lighting

[salt reefer]

ok i now i need 3 250w mh se units for my tank for optimum performance but will a coralife hqi 3 150w duel end be ok for my 231 gallon tank 69.5 inches by 24inches by 32 inches deep be ok till i can get the the right lighting as i dont or wont have the nearly 900.00 for the right stuff for a year. i need to now . my wife was forced to retire now i have to wait on the proper lighting . but i might be able to get the coralife for less than 250.00. or anyone got a deal on the setup i realy need. right now i got a 48 inch t5 54wx4 (but only two bulbs work) a 29 inch coralife power compact 50/50,and 2 regular hood lights one with daylight buld one with atinic.any help would be greatly welcomed.

 

[hackman72]

dawgdude;422607 wrote: A 150w will not penetrate deep enough for your tank. 250w will barely cut it on a 32 inch deep tank if you use lumen brights.

Yup. I currently have a 48" model with 2, 150w MH. I had to cluster everything onto a homemade frag rack, hanging 6" down just to keep the colors and I have very little growth. I've got 2, 250w pendants that I plan to start using this weekend.

 

[salt reefer]

tks ok ill try to sell a few things to try get some 250 w units.i might have to start with one and place the high light corals under it lol. man talk about bad timeing lol.

 

[salt reefer]

dawg so should i go 3 250 w mh and just keep the low light and mediam light corals middle to bottom. the 20s will penetrate at least 24 inches for the high light ones right and get enough light for the others at the lower tank level.

 

[acroholic]

Salt,
One thing regarding buying your halide lighting setup: I would advise you to decide what brand ballast/reflector/bulb combo you want then get three of each. I wouldn't buy one brand ballast here, then another brand there off the for Sale Ads. I'd get ballasts/bulbs/reflectors that are all going to work the same way and give you consistent light throughout the tank, even if this means waiting until you can buy all the same brand or until a FS ad comes up with three like units for sale.

Buy quality once. Buy cheap and you'll end up replacing it.
Dave

 

[salt reefer]

kool ok tks acrohlic that makes sence ill just have to buy my ballast from brs then wait for the reflectors and bulbs .they are goo ones the duel wave ballast right.

 

[salt reefer]

kool can you run radiums with thos ballast.

 

[salt reefer]

i now they got them in se thats the ones im going to get . ill get two duels so if i want to add a forth light later i can.

 

[salt reefer]

se is the radiums right.

 

[salt reefer]

sorry where can you find the lumen bright reflectors

 

[acroholic]

Tons of places having black friday sales. PM sent.
Dave

 

[salt reefer]

kool tks you are great. sorry i just still trying get it right from what you told me. one last ? can i use the se sockets that brs has and are they good ones.

 

[salt reefer]

i do want to do it right the first time.

 

[salt reefer]

tks got it the 20 x 20 or the 16 x 16.

 

[darren24]

I run 2 250W Radiums with the large Lumenbrite fixtures over my 60 inch tank and it is plenty. Tank is 60 x 24 x 25. Agree match everthing up so you have consistency. I happened to get all of my goods from

 

[salt reefer]

tks a million.everyone has been super great. as always i got my gameplan now lol ill go check the brs thread to see when we can order at the discount.

 

[salt reefer]

yea i have to order where ever i get it im too far away from atanta lol.

 

[acroholic]

salt reefer;422701 wrote: tks got it the 20 x 20 or the 16 x 16.

Salt,
There are two types of Lumenbright reflectors in the 20 x20 and 16 x 16 inch size. One is just the silver reflector (unfinished) and is meant to be mounted inside a canopy. And your canopy needs to be tall enough to have the bulb 12-13" from the water surface. The other type is a finished pendant. These are a black painted metal housing that the reflector sits inside of, and are made to be hung from the ceiling or wall without a canopy. I don't like canopies, so I have the finished pendants. They both work the same.

There is another brand of reflector called LumenMax, which would be the best choice (IMO) if you need to mount the halides close to the water surface, like if you have a short canopy. Both Lumenmax and Lumenbright reflectors are good.

The light from the Lumenbright reflector is too focused if you mount it lower than what I stated above. the Lumenmax has a wider spread at a lower height than the Lumenbright does.
Dave

 

[salt reefer]

im going to build my canopy to fit what i get. so im good there