Do Metal Halides need separate Actinic bulbs?

[lilmojo79]

I am thinking of using a 250 watt metal halide ballast w/20,000K bulb would this be a good choice. I got the ballast REALLY cheap and I am wondering if this would be alright for my 29 gallon tank. I know that Metal Halides are porbably overkill for this tank, but I thought that I could use MH when I eventually get a bigger tank. This would be the primary bulb in the tank. Would it need any other lights for corals. Also I would like a variety of corals including Soft, SPS, and LPS. Would the Metal Halide bulb burn my soft corals(toadstool, mushrooms, and an umbrella leather). Do 250w ballasts and mogul sockets accept 175watt bulbs? SORRY ABOUT THE LONG POST JUST NEED SOME SUGGESTIONS.

 

[diatom]

lilmojo79~
I think the 250 will be fine just keep in mind the 20k bulb is VERY blue. I prefer a 10K with some Actinic support but everyone has there own preference.
HTH
Brent

 

[lilmojo79]

Would a 10,000k 250 watt blueline be ok with a 55 watt powercompact smartlite? If so this might be the best combination for me.

 

[sonny]

That's a good combo, but the PC actinics are not as good as the VHO's... don't have as good blue color. It'll work though. If you can get VHO's for just a little more, that's what I'd recommend. Some people really swear by the 20,000 K lamps for sps corals, but they are very blue. I don't think clams like the blue as much. The 10,000+ K by blueline is a good compromise.
Sonny

 

[option720]

You absolutely cannot use a 175w bulb with a 250w ballast, you will kill your bulb (it might explode) and toast you ballast. Stay away from that thought all together.

 

[keitho]

i run two 175 W, 12000 K sunburst bulbs. i have heard that you don't have to have any actinics with them, especially since they are considerably bluer than 10000K bulb, but i run two 40W 03 actinics anyway. besides, it helps make the green star polys, my elegance, and my closed brain really glow! hope this helps...

 

[burnnspy]

Um, actually you can safely use 175watt bulb with 250watt ballast but not viceversa.
I run 175watt 12000K MH in my 29gal reef and know for a fact it is actinic enough for most corals. About 2 months ago my Acropora started to bleach, I replaced the bulb and the color returned. I did reduce the light time to prevent photo-shocking the corals. The old bulbs lasted 16 months, now I will change them annually.
BurnNSpy