metal halide comparible to anything?

[tru2037]

I used to have a LFS but they closed so now I have no guide other than you guys. Right now I have 2 175w mH bulbs and 2 48" pc artinics on a 240g. I have not seen any major improvment when I switched to mH's from all pcs. I need to use less power but keep the best lighting possible for REEF but I dont have much. Everybody says to go to Melevs Reef but it didnt give me any answers towards lighting. These mH bulbs are hot, use a huge amount of energy, and Im always worring about the cooling fans failing, which could be a fire hazard. is there a caparible light source?
Ive posted lighting questions before but had no replys, so just let me know what you use on the MT and ref. If you think mH's are the best, I guess I'll stick it out.

 

[zman1]

What is it you are trying to keep in the tank? It's the specimens that really dictate quality of light required.

 

[tru2037]

I used to have a few anemonies, some brain corals, claims, even plate corals. Now I just have a colt and some polops, I would like to go back to a full stocked reef

 

[tru2037]

My major setback was a snowflake eel.... The LFS said it was reef safe, and it was... at 3" but now the thing must be 3' and just tears everything up. So my plans are to make a aggressive tank and pull him out of the reef

 

[zman1]

If your going LPS or SPS you should keep the MH and the 175W are a little light for a 240 gal. Keep them at the very top of the tank. An anemone will find its own happy spot...

 

[tru2037]

k I will fix up my mH's but what would you recemmend for the artinics? can you run t5's off the same ballast as pc's

 

[zman1]

PC to T5HO - You need to check the ballast. I doubt it, bulb ballast must match. No, If they are a magnetic ballast and if electronic, maybe. I use Actinics with my MH. I like the twinkle/flashing MHs give to the tank and the florescence boost actinics give to corals. I think they are complementary combo.

 

[teresaq]

if your tank is 6 ft, then you really need 3 175 MH. They only cover about 2 ft each. If you are worried about heat, then why not retro your canopy with all T5s. I personally dont care for them, but many people have great luck with them.

 

[hurt]

First how deep if you tank, and what type of corals do you plan on keeping? I think you should go with at least 3 250's, but if you just plan on softies and most LPS(as long as the LPS are high in the tank) 175's should get the job done.
I wouldn't worry about heat with a 240g tank one bit. That's a lot of water volume to disperse heat. I have 2 250w MH's along with 2 110w VHO's on my 55g and I don't have any issues with heat. Two clip on fans, and my tank runs 78-80 in the winter, and 80-82 in the summer. Watts are Watts no matter what type of lighting you choose. They all add up to the same amount of heat regardless of source.

 

[gatorwpb]

If you do keep the 175s, check out the Iwasaki 15k bulbs. they get you the most PAR for a 175w bulb. They are known as "Par busters".