Metal Halides

[nanomantis]

Ok I have two questions for yall:
1) What is the smallest metal halide i can get my hands on (size and wattage)?
2) I can only fit 1 bulb in my light fixture (this means no actinics) what kelvin output would be best for the tank with only one metal halide above it?

 

[tinyreef]

1. i think the 70W MH is the smallest commonly found. i think there was a 40W'er but i never heard anything after a mention a couple of years ago. could've been a mistake then.
2. "best" is really subjective. i would suggest (if only the one bulb/light could fit) to get a 20000K bulb. that gives you the blue and decent lighting.
if you don't give a fig about the blue then a 10000K gives pretty decent CRI rendering. i'd really hesitate on suggesting anything lower, too red imo.
but part of the choice also depends on what you're looking to keep, as well as what you yourself find aesthetically pleasing (which may not be the same for me or the next person). hth

 

[nanomantis]

i have had pletty experience with softies and now i wana step up and try some sps. How large is a 70w light and do u know how much a retro kit for it would run?

 

[tinyreef]

i think the size of the 70W DE is about the same for a 150W DE (fixture and bulb-wise). i've not run the 70W though.
but i figured if the 150W was too much i could just raise it higher (to lessen the intensity, inverse relationship). cost depends on where you get it. i don't think hellolights.com or championlighting.com directly competes with swf (they're dry good-lighting versus livestock and limited-dry goods for swf) so you can try those places.
there are other ols of course but they frown on posting competitors (which is understandable). hth