actinics with metal halides

[Electrobes]

Hey everyone I am soon approaching the time when I will get a metal halide set up for my tank. I am most likely going to get a 250 watt set up for my 45G tall tank (36 length, 12 deep, 22 high). My question is how much actinics do I need to get for this set up? Thanks

[jamal-188]

It all depends on what bulbs/ballasts you go with. If you want to save money IMO the coralvue 20,000K bulbs look incredible and you won't need actinics. I'd go w/ the coralvue electronic ballast w/ a coralvue 20,000K bulb.

[jks1]

asthetically you can go w/ just MH, but the thing that stopped me was not being able to simulate dawn and dusk w/ actinics..jmo

[Electrobes]

yeah I agree jks1. I was thinking of getting a 250 watt 10000K with a single VHO (however max power I can get with 36 inches) in the hood. maybe I should just toss in the extra dough and get two tubes.. but then again I just don't see the need after seeing the charts for ballats and bulbs being fired over the same tank.

[jamal-188]

If youre tank is 36" one MH fixture may not light the ends of the tank that well. Most people put a MH fixture every 2 feet so I'm really not sure what you would do on a 3 foot tank and how it would look?

[Electrobes]

Well its an odd tank, 36 length X 12 deep X 22 high... I can't imagine myself getting dual metal halides... that would be a bit much wouldn't it? I am thinking one 250 watt 10,000K with VHOs is good, it should make up for extra foot maybe?