MH Question

[the_bandit]

Will this 4 ft Metal Halide HQI T5 HO Marine Reef Light 716W be too much for my 55g reef? Its a stardard 55g long I guess. Its too 250w HQI MH with T5's. I would love to keep a couple simple SPS. I will have mostly LPS and softies. I plan on just using the legs to mount it but if the light will be too much and cause a heat issue, should I hang them?

 

[scsinet]

You'll almost certainly have a heat issue unless they are hung very high. If you hang them high enough to solve teh heat issue, you are going to get a huge amount of light spilling into the room the tank is in.
Personally I'd pass this light up for a 55g, and get something smaller, perhaps 2x175w or 2x150w instead.

 

[the_bandit]

Id really love to get the system. Its only $350 for it. Is there any way I can maybe get different bulbs or do something to lower the wattage? Ive never used MH's before.

 

[stanlalee]

not only that I'm almost sure it will overhang quite a bit over a 55g (which is only like 12" front to back). anyhow its a little overkill if you arent planning on going predominantly sps (in which case besides the overhang I think its fine, just add chiller if needed).

 

[the_bandit]

Right now I have a 4 bulb T5HO system. It is good but I am looking to upgrade so I can keep a few SPS in the tank. Ive always wanted MH's. I dont have a canopy to mount lights on. My tank is open top.
I did also find a 48'' 6 bulb T5HO system. It is 18'' wide with my tank being about
12-13'' wide. Too much? Should I get that instead? Its off the e bay

 

[wangotango]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3188641
Right now I have a 4 bulb T5HO system. It is good but I am looking to upgrade so I can keep a few SPS in the tank. Ive always wanted MH's. I dont have a canopy to mount lights on. My tank is open top.
I did also find a 48'' 6 bulb T5HO system. It is 18'' wide with my tank being about
12-13'' wide. Too much? Should I get that instead? Its off the e bay
You can keep SPS with T5ho. What fixture and bulbs are you running now?
If you do want some shimmer, look into the Powerbrite LEDs.
-Justin

 

[bang guy]

I think it could work well. You could run the T5's most of the time and just run the MH for an hour or two. That's a nice looking fixture.
Is it wider front to back than a standard 55 though?
I thing you should get the fixture and throw out the 55 gallon and replace it with a 75.

 

[the_bandit]

Right now I have a 4bulb T5HO system.
I think Im going to skip on the MH + T5 fixture. I already have to fight a heat issue because I live in AZ.
Should I buy the other one?
Right now upgrading is not an option. When I do, its going to be to a 125 probably.

 

[chrisnif]

Maybe a good option is a 4 bulb 2 foot fixture and put that in the center, so you'll have 8 bulbs over the center plenty of light will spill to the ends of the tank, THEN when you get your 125 you dont need to buy a new fixture, just drop on the 2 foot and 4 foot fixtures side by side

 

[the_bandit]

Maybe I should do that.
Id like to buy this 6 bulb system but its 18'' wide and my tank only being about 13'' thick. If I hang this system would it be ok? Light spillage isnt that big of an issue.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3189343
Maybe I should do that.
Id like to buy this 6 bulb system but its 18'' wide and my tank only being about 13'' thick. If I hang this system would it be ok? Light spillage isnt that big of an issue.
The light spillage will really detract from the beauty of the tank.
But, if you pick the right MH bulbs you really don't have a need to turn on the T5s. With just the MH on you'll have plenty of light. Seems odd buying that nice fixture and only using half of it though. But it is an excellent price.

 

[the_bandit]

What about if I only got a fixture that had MH lights? Would that be ok for keeping corals if I got two Phoenix 14k bulb?

 

[the_bandit]

How about this? Its a 4ft Metal Halide Reef Aquarium Marine Light 500W. It comes with 2 250w MH fixtures, its 48.00” x 11.00” x 5.75”, comes with 6 blue moon lights, and cooling fans.
Would this be a good choice even though it doesnt come with actinic supplement lighting? Also, what is the actinic lights used for? Human appeal or do they help corals? Will I be ok with just the MH or do I NEED the actinics?
Its $189.00 + shipping.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3190001
How about this? Its a 4ft Metal Halide Reef Aquarium Marine Light 500W. It comes with 2 250w MH fixtures, its 48.00” x 11.00” x 5.75”, comes with 6 blue moon lights, and cooling fans.
Would this be a good choice even though it doesnt come with actinic supplement lighting? Also, what is the actinic lights used for? Human appeal or do they help corals? Will I be ok with just the MH or do I NEED the actinics?
Its $189.00 + shipping.

Actinics are not a neccessity. Althought the light is used by corals it's no more useful than any other lighting spectrum. It is mostly for human appeal.

 

[the_bandit]

And if I get 14k or 20k bulbs, the spectrum will be more blue and look as if I do have Actinics?
Is 500w too much for a 55g or will it be ok?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by The_Bandit
http:///forum/post/3190165
And if I get 14k or 20k bulbs, the spectrum will be more blue and look as if I do have Actinics?
Is 500w too much for a 55g or will it be ok?
500w is on the high end.
For your spectrum question I have my thoughts but no facts in front of me. 14,000K and 20,000K are light colors. Actinic light is a small range of wavelength. I only say this because these two concepts are not interchangeable. Flourescent actinics typically peak at the 420nm wavelength and this spectrum seems to make flourescing proteins glow in coral tissue. A 14,000K bulb will be bluish but it may or may not be emitting light in the actinic wavelength. It depends on the bulb and I think it's worthwhile to look for a bulb with a significant 420nm peak because many corals look much better visually when that wavelength is present.
As an example, the Iwasaki 6500K Mercury Vapor bulb actually emits more actinic light than a 20,000K Phoenix MH.

 

[the_bandit]

Hmm. That was a bit confusing.
I may just keep the lights I have now. They seem to be good at growing Coraline and keeping coral healthy and alive.
Id rather upgrade to a 75g or 90g and then buy a fixture that I was looking at in the first place.
Thank you for your input.