Metal Halide ?

[plum70rt]

I am thinking of adding 2 250watt metal halides to my reef tank,
are 12ks good? better than 10k? is 80.00 a bulb a good price?
any info is appreciated

 

[rangermonroe]

The K rating describes the temperature in kelvin. As far as we are concerned, the higher the number, the bluer the light. 10000k is supposed to be perfect white. 12k would be a little bluer. 20k would have a very blue light.
I have 6500k Iwasaki light on which I spent $70 each. They are very green/yellow. I which I went with 10k/12k.
IMO 10k/12k for $80 is a good price. Be advised, Iwasaki bulbs run on a different ballast, so you cannot change your mind later and buy a different brand bulb...you are stuck with it like me.

 

[alti]

i just got 12k 175 watt bulbs and love the color. it may be a little blue for some people, but i like it better that way.

 

[matti070]

dont they cost like 2000 bucks?

 

[plum70rt]

Want to add the bulbs are hamilton brand mogul socket, any good? thanks for the replys

 

[richard rendos]

As big as your tank is, why not go with 400's? The price difference is not much and the diiference in heat won't be much either.

 

[plum70rt]

Thats a posibility, what bulbs do you like with my VHO combo?

 

[josh]

You could probably go with 6500 saki's with that much VHO. I have seen a tank with saki's and VHO and it was pleasing to my eyes.
Or you could sell the VHO's and get yourself some 400 watt radiums driven off a dual HQI ballast. Then you would be in business!

 

[plum70rt]

ok I need some more input, I can get a PFO 2 dual 250watt setup for 265.00 the 400 watt setup for 385.00, is this a good deal? goining with 12ks for the 250s or 10ks in the 400s?Thanks for all help and replys

 

[richard rendos]

my vote goes with the 10K 400's.

 

[plum70rt]

Anyone else? you think I can do without a chiller? 400s much hotter than 250s?

 

[mlm]

I just went through this same thing. I ended up going with 2 400 watt MHs with 6500 k Iwasaki. I ended up buying a chiller b/c the temp would get to hot without it.

 

[plum70rt]

MLM, how big of a tank?

 

[plum70rt]

Nevermind, a 55, is that a yellow tang in there?
beware the Tang Police , JK,, you think heat will be a problem on my 262 Gallon?

 

[mlm]

The metal halides are in my new 120.

 

[jim672]

Plum,
I have (only) a 45 gallon but went through alot of the same thought process you seem to be going through. I bought a Hamilton hood, by the way. After alot of thought, I decided on a 175w 10K MH and 2 96w VHO 03 actinics.
I love the blue look of the tank! I admit I'm a bit color-blind though ......my wife recently brought to my attention that "everything looks the same color" As a matter of fact, I had just bought an orange feather duster and, in my tank, it looks more brown than anything. I think I have too much blue!!
I'm replacing the VHO's now and am going with one 03 and one 50/50.
All this to say, I wouldn't go with the 12K or 20K MH's unless you want a really blue look to your tank.
One other thing, I did go back to Hamilton to ask if I could upgrade the 175w to 250w using the same ballast. Their answer was: "definitely not."
One last thing.....the 250w MH's start at $99.95 where I buy mine.
Jim

 

[mlm]

It is probably a tar or magnetic ballast. The bulbs don't last as long and the ballast gets hotter and uses more energy than an electronic one. These are usually for outdoor applications.