thinkin bout goin halide

kirru

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My dad brought up the question of halides and I have honestly been thinking about having halide(s) over my tank. What do you guys/gals think? Its a 40 gallon breeder with a 4x38 T5 fixture on it. Has a single reflector for all four bulbs and is mostly focused in a linear lighting pattern, if that makes sense. Like the fixture sit perfectly in the middle both length and depth of the tank and I feel there is a lack of light in areas. Originally I planned to go with 6 or 8 bulb but funds at the time didnt allow it. So back to my question, its a 40 breeder with mostly sps and lps with a few softies. What, or better yet, is it safe to have halides over the tank.

What would be the best set-up to get me the best color and growth. Those are my main concerns, well, color mostly, my tank's growth is slow anyway but if halides would help it, i wouldn't mind it.

Right now, this is just brainstorming, nothing more till I get some dough.

If anyone has equipment I may /borrow/use to experiment for a while to see the results that would be appreciative.

I'm sure I am thinking of something else, have questions for better answer ask away. I'd like to see my tank growing corals like crazy if at all possible, lol i know, its impossible. but i can dream right?
 
If you can retro individual reflectors into your fixture that would be your best bet. IMO your T5 fixture is only at best running at 50% of it's potential with a single reflector. Halides are nice and a retro would be best for you.
 
What about a 2x150w fixture? Get you some Phoenix bulbs and you're set and should be able to grow whatever you want, clams, SPS, etc, etc. Depending on how much you want to spend, they have them with actinic supplements and moonlights also.
 
glxtrix;445985 wrote: If you can retro individual reflectors into your fixture that would be your best bet. IMO your T5 fixture is only at best running at 50% of it's potential with a single reflector. Halides are nice and a retro would be best for you.

I realize that. I was aware of it when I bought the fixture but was hoping to upgrade to the one i wanted long time ago, never happened though.
I can build a canopy easy, built my tank's stand from scratch so retro fitting would be a cake walk, except, i never win a cake when i do one lmao...

i have thought of getting individual reflectors and rigging them the fit in the current fixture but never got around to it. i think i would use the fixture to go on a 20l i have sitting, well it was a turtle cage but holds water fine and good.

au01st;445986 wrote: What about a 2x150w fixture? Get you some Phoenix bulbs and you're set and should be able to grow whatever you want, clams, SPS, etc, etc. Depending on how much you want to spend, they have them with actinic supplements and moonlights also.

i was thinking that as well. i would mostly have sps and lps and the few softies i have in there and thats it. maybe a clam, maybe but havent given it much thought.

not sure if I want retro or premade, cheaper of the two and one that would get the best results for growth and color.
 
I kinda dig the 2x150 idea. You can retro that for pretty cheap too. There may be some people here selling something like that. I do know hellolights.com has a nice 150W kit....has an ARO ballast...I love those ballasts! It's a 150/175, so you can later use those with 175W bulbs if you upgrade tanks.
 
so many options.. great, i hate making decisions. lol thanks guys... hmm, i will do research tomorrow. off to bed, lots of stuff to do tomorrow, inlcuding work x2 and school ugh!


i'll let other ideas flow in as i sleep and work and get edumacated... some what lol
 
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