400w MH is definitely overkill for a 125g tank. What kind of bulbs do you buy for $180 each? That's insane. You can get 400w XM's for $65 w/free shipping from
Hello Lights.
Just keep in mind a 6x54w=324w will only produce slightly less heat than your 1 400w MH and an 8x54w=432w will produce MORE heat than 1 400w MH bulb. Remember a watt puts out the same amount of heat no matter what type of bulb produced it.
I completely agree with whit the price, it should be fairly close to online competitors, but not.
400w double ended, I don't remember the brand but it was $178+TAX.
The ones I but from eBay keep arriving broken, the seller send me a second one, it also arrived broken, I believe the inside glass hit the outside glass when get drooped.
As for the heat, my 400w reflector body runs at 92.5c and the 108w T5 runs at 37c, I don't believe 400w T5 with built in fan will run that much hotter, maybe 50c !??
Also I find the 400w single point light source does not distribute the light evenly, even tho I have a light mover gadget for it, its very intense right underneath and somewhat faded on the sides.
8x54 will cover my tank much more evenly and I can turn them on/off in 3 step, that will also help on the heat problem.
I'm somewhat EVG in electronics, and I can program my controller to turn off some of the lightbanks if the water goes above a preset temperature, on a single source of light is kinda hard to do that.
On the other side I'll have much better display as well since the light's can be changed to different color in a small step instead of jumping from 10k-14k-20k. The light's is used manly for the benefits of the corals, but also for my viewing pleasure to !
To keep it short, I have a 400w Hamilton light and transformer whit a new 14k and a used 14k for sale
Now waiting patiently for my new light's.
Until here is some of the most recent pictures from today, will try to make somewhat similar when I set up the new light.
