Mixing MH Bulbs (Wattage)

[acrylic51]

Could it be possible to put both 250 and 400W MH bulbs over the same tank without getting a shadowing effect? :thinking:

 

[murph145]

you could do that by putting a 400W between 2 250Watters and it would probably look fine.... probably just a little brighter in the center ... what are you thinking of doing??

 

[acrylic51]

I've seen it done on another forum, but pics can be deceiving at times.....The tank is awesome and made Tand Of The Month.....Planning dominantly SPS in the new setup, not sure yet

 

[golfish]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
Could it be possible to put both 250 and 400W MH bulbs over the same tank without getting a shadowing effect? :thinking:

I did it on my old 150 and didn't have any problems..I kind of like the idea of mixing say 400 watt 20K's and 250 watt 10K's

 

[acrylic51]

Cool would there be a problem mixing lets say 250 10k and 400 10K?

 

[murph145]

i doubt there would be a problem but i think the 10K 20K combo would look better IMO

 

[acrylic51]

Haven't seen a 20K MH and think it might just be alittle to much blue than I want....I'm trying to shy away from the blue??????

I'm looking for a crisper clear white persay??!!!!!!

 

[murph145]

well if u do the 400W 10K with 2 250W 10K's then ur gonna need to supplement with a lot of actinic VHO's to get a crisp white look....
im tellin u that if u do all 10K's your going to have a very yellow tank.... if i were u id go with some !4K bulbs ud be happier

 

[acrylic51]

I've seen XM 10k and they weren't yellow by the least, what bulbs are you referring about yellowing??? Some of the coloration I think has to do with how the bulb is driven as well, meaning ballast choice......I don't have a problem with supplementing with 03 and always have to get my blue......That's why I'm looking at the 10k's I like to be able to tailor the blue with the 03's.......URI's rule!!!!!!!

 

[reefiness]

im gona get 2 250 watt hqis for my 90 and i think that the 14k would be better then the 10k and you dont need to have as much actinic plus hqi run closer to the actual k then the normal halides

 

[golfish]

Originally Posted by reefiness
plus hqi run closer to the actual k then the normal halides
:scared: your starting to scare me

where do you read this?

 

[reefiness]

i dont remember... i think it was somewhere on this sight that said something like a 20k de compared to a 20k se the de would be more blue then the se

 

[golfish]

Originally Posted by reefiness
i dont remember... i think it was somewhere on this sight that said something like a 20k de compared to a 20k se the de would be more blue then the se

Naw, some bulbs are bluer then others, some bulbs look bluer then other when ran on different ballast. The K rating is more of a guide line. I've seen 12K bulbs that looked bluer then some 20K's.

 

[acrylic51]

Yeah I'd have to agree depending on what type of bulb and ballast they are pushed with plays a big factor in things.....I really haven't seen any information that the HQI's (DE) burn the bulbs closer to the actual kelvin rating......Again I think this might also vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.....HQI's are know to drive the bulb or overdrive them compared to SE. Does anybody really know if this shortens the life of the bulbs as well?