Looking to Purchase MH lighting

[NightSpirit]

Doesn't look like retro-fitting is going to save me any money compared to a hood but that's ok. Kit is for a 110g w/ a center divider, and I have a 60" CSL 4x65 PC unit that somehow I'm going to incorporate into this, maybe try to retro-fit it or something. I'm looking to keep at least a couple of SPS.

Here are my options (VHOs are 140w each):
Option 1) 2x175 MH unit with 2 VHOs and sell the PCs [630 w total]
Option 2) 2x175 MH unit with 2 VHOs and try to place a couple of the PCs in the middle of the reflector [760w total]
Option 3) Run two reflectors on the lid, one with 2x175 MH and the other with 4x65 w PCs. [610 w total]
Option 4) Run two reflectors on the lid, one with 2x175 MH and VHOs and the other with 4x65 w PCs. [890 w total]

Any other suggestions? I don't think I need 250w MHs.

 

[jackdp]

How deep is the tank? I would think you want at least 250's in a 110, I'm running a 175 watt in a 12" deep 20 gallon. The 250's aren't that much more and there on sale at http://www.captivereefs.com Might create some more heat, but some fans will take care of that.

 

[jamal-188]

I agree, I'd go with 250's, they aren't that much more expensive and a good amount more light. IMO, 2 MH's may not cover your 60" tank, you may have shadows on the ends of the tank.

 

[cj10488]

I would also run 250w bulbs as well if not 400's I would go with 3 bulbs

either 3x250w or 2x400w and 1x250w or 3x400w And then use the PC bulbs for our Actinic supplement.. Run all 4x65w as Actinic.. Should look really good.. I run 2x250w mh and 2x110w vho Actinic bulbs on my 55g tank..

HTH<
James

 

[WarOrks15]

why dont you skip the vho and just use the pc? that is what i would do. and i took out my csl light just a few days ago and put them in a new hood. it is really ez to do. and take very little time if you know what each wire dose.

 

[NightSpirit]

Tank is 24" deep, however, it's ~ 19 inches down to the sandbed.
Also, since I'm building the canopy, and 12" wood is acutally 11", my MHs are only going to be ~ 6-8" above the top of the tank.

Two 250s plus whatever I need for actinics seems like a lot of wattage. With the VHOs actinics that'd be 780w, about 7w / g. Plus I would have to worry about the middle section, so if I put a couple of PCs there it'd be 910 w, or about 8 w/ gallon. That seems a little high to me, as most sites recommend 3-5 w/g.

Since I have a center divider, I can't put one MH there, and two additional MH is way above my budget. So I figure my only options are to put my MH at the ends and some PCs in the middle, or just let the VHOs hopefully take care of it. I can place the light intensive corals near the ends.

So you guys don't think that's too much wattage with the 250s?

 

[NightSpirit]

why dont you skip the vho and just use the pc? that is what i would do. and i took out my csl light just a few days ago and put them in a new hood. it is really ez to do. and take very little time if you know what each wire dose.

You mean with two reflectors? I don't see how it would be possible to fit both the PCs and MHs on one 60" reflector. I guess that would be option 3. The bulbs are the 65w, so they aren't straight like the 95s.

 

[NightSpirit]

I just found this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4315650399&rd=1

4 250w MH ballasts, 4 10k bulbs, and 4 reflectors. Looks like a way too good deal.

The reflectors look like junk if I go for this should I ask them to exclude the reflectors and just install them all on a 60" reflector, or do you think what is included is enough. They say each reflector is 11 inches long, which doesn't make any sense from the picture.

Hmm...likely a scam and the ballasts and lights are likely junk.

 

[NightSpirit]

Nevermind, I think I can put the MH in my existing reflector, however, they would kind of be near the ends. This would give me 175 or 250 w of MH at each end and 260w of 10k PC lighting in the middle. However this would leave me without actinics.

Would running 60" actinic VHOs down each side need a reflector? The inside of my canopy is going to be painted white. However if I ran 250w MHs this would put my total at 1040 watts 8O

If I go with 2 instead of 4 PCs in the middle and 175w MH instead of 250 this would put my total at 760 w with the actinic VHOs.

 

[NightSpirit]

Maybe something like this?

 

[Sparky]

I like option 1.

You may want to check out this thread also.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=26625&highlight=

Mike

 

[cj10488]

Im telling ya Dont worry about the Wattage or WPG.. They dont really mean anything.. YOur dealing with mh lights.. I would go no Less than 3x250w on a tank that size... If you want to compare watts.. I have 720w of light on my 55g tank.. Reefrunner has a single 250w mh light on his 20g The 175w bulbs are just wayyy too little for a tank that size... I would personally do the 2x400w on the outside and a single 250w in the middle and use the PCs for actinic supplement... You can never really have too much lighting...

James

 

[NightSpirit]

Sparky has a real good deal.

Hmm...how about a 250w on each side, two 175w MH in the middle (since they're sharing the same one foot of space), and use my PCs for actinics (since I already have them, otherwise I'd go with VHOs)?

If I used 400w my wife would kill me.

 

[cj10488]

That would work as well... I would just stay with atleast 250w.. You have room to upgrade in the future... Why buy a 175w ballast when its not really good for anything if you upgrade tanks...

hth,
James