Another Lighting Question

jdmh22

jdmh22

New Member
Would this be a good setup for my 150 gallon? Tank is 48x24x31. I want to have some nice corals. I want to do a MH/T5 combo. I was thinking:
2 - 400 watt HQI metal halide 20k
2 - 54 watt T-5 Actinic
Ok now I like the blue color but I think a 20k MH with actinic will be too much. I understand that for the best growth a 10k is where its at, so could I do maybe:
2 - 400 watt HQI metal halide 14k
2 - 54 watt T-5 Actinic
Will that still be too blue? Could you guys please post pics of you tank with lights and list what you all are running? So I can get an idea of what it will look like? I was told T-5 is the way to go. Do T-5 bulbs run at 10k. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm new to T-5. Someone told me I didn't have to run actinics. Thats why I was wondering if I could do
2 - 400 watt MH at 20k and maybe 2 - T-5 at 10k, I just don't know if they make em in a 10k. Thanks in advance.
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
color choice is just that. a choice.
as for the lighting i would go with the 400's but with that said you only NEED the 250's
but since the price is nearly the same i would do 400's. since i switched the 250's to 400's the coral have really come alive.
i run 3x400 Mh radiums and 2x110 VHO and IMO its not to blue. never had anyone say that it was to blue. but keep in mind i run radiums. when run proper on german pulse start magnetic ballast like they are made to run they are not as blue as most other 20k bulbs.
IMO nothing makes a coral look nicer then a Radium. You get the same effect that actinic gives you yet the tank is a very bright crisp ice white. they also give great par for a higher K bulb. the down side is they are at the higher price range of MH bulbs.
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jdmh22
oceana, could you please post a pic of your tank with the lights on? Thanks
here ya go
search my name and you can find more pics. all you could want lol. the back of my tank is made from blue glass so it looks more blue at first glance. i think its a very crisp look
 
oceana

oceana

Active Member
Originally Posted by Crox
Oceana
I love that green carpet. He's huge!!!!


thanks. he's around 15"+. when he blows up it almost touches the front glass
 
T

tampausmc

Guest
oceana....
I love that tank.....great setup you have......thanks for having me over.....
 
jdmh22

jdmh22

New Member
Originally Posted by oceana
here ya go
search my name and you can find more pics. all you could want lol. the back of my tank is made from blue glass so it looks more blue at first glance. i think its a very crisp look

Wow!!! Nice tank. That color is perfect. What are your VHO bulbs? Thanks for the help. I went to my lfs today and I was talking to the guy there and he suggested I get the 2 - 400 watt MH and then get a 10k t-5 and a actinic t-5. With that do you think I should go with a 14k or 20k MH?
 
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