Really Would Appreciate Some Help

peglet

peglet

Member
I would like to switch from T5HO to metal halide. My question is what kind of metal halide do I need. I have a 210 gallon tank that is six feet long and about 30" deep. Ever since I have switched from a 100 gallon to this tank everything has kinda stopped growing. I am sure it is light penetration. The color of everything looks more subdued. I have looked in the cataloges I receive in the mail and they have all kinds of hoods and fixtures.
Could someone lead me in the right direction as far as what kinds of bulbs(name of bulbs), wattage, and what hood to get and where I can get it. I don't want to have everything die off slowly due to lack of light.
I would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.......
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I have 225G that is also 30" deep....this is what I bought
Outer Orbit Pro Series HQI/T-5/LED Lights
72" 1080W
They are pricey...but IMO any good strong lighting is going to be.....I am very happy with the setup
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Ahhh... a defector! Welcome to the land of Halides...
Just don't tell Fanker, he'll have a fanker when he hears about this

Anyhoo, I'd do 3x400w halides. You could do 3 pendants or buy a whole system that comes with supplemental actinic, but in my preference, I'd do a 3 lamp setup with 3x400w 20K radiums.
 
peglet

peglet

Member
Hey guys/girls thanks for the info. I found a light set up that does have 3x400 with 2x80 HO T5's. It did not say if it was radiums though. I take it that is a name brand. Why 20K and not 10K? Also where do you get the radiums? Does SWF carry them? Where did you buy your set up? If you can't put it in message can you pm me? Thanks peg
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Radiums are a brand of lamp. 10K just looks too yellow to me (as I said, this would be my preference, but it isn't necessarily everyone's). The T5 lamps are going to be actinic which will help balance out the 10K lamps.
If it didn't have the T5s in there I'd go with 20K for sure, but you will probably be okay with 10.
Don't buy replacement lamps right way, if it comes with 10K lamps, use them for a year, if you don't like them, try 12, 14, or 20K at one year (your first lamp change).
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
My mh has the 3 250w and the 8 T5's...I just replaced my lamps with 10k bulbs...and yes...TOO YELLOW...in 6-7 months I will probably try 14k....
 
peglet

peglet

Member
I am not sure what the difference is between 14k and 20k. Is the 20K like really bright white and the 14k less so, or does one lean more to the blue? I can upgrade to either 14 or 20 at hardly any cost. What do you think I should do. I would like to get this right the first time. Hopefully when I do get them I can send a pic so you can see your work. lol I sure do appreciate your input. I have been worrying about my tank for awhile now. My coraline algae has all but disappeared, just a smattering. My old tank was much brighter, so I figured the lighting had to be the problem. Does it matter who makes the hood? Also can I ask one more question. I know I should probably know this, but I don't. The company asks if you want to upgrade to 3 250w ballasts. It has a ballast with the hood, so why do you need three. Does each light need an individual ballast?
 
peglet

peglet

Member
Hey thanks. So 14k is kinda both spectrums. So do you happen to have a pic of your tank? I would really like to see it. Is it possible to post your pic here as a reply? I sure do like the way everyone tries to help. It's really nice. Thanks. Does anyone know why I would need to upgrade to the three ballasts?
 
peglet

peglet

Member
I was reading a question on this forum from Barry I think. Fanker and ReefRaff was talking about T5's and I believe it was ReefRaff mentioned that you should take your shields off your tank and you could get up to 25% more light. Should I remove my glass shields from the top of my tank?They do tend to fog up with water splash and then dried salt from the splash. If I remove them how do I keep my wrasses from jumping out? I have a radiant wrasse that was pretty expensive for me to buy and I wouldn't want to find him on the floor or in the dogs mouth, if ya know what I mean. lol
I am leaning towards a light made by Hamilton Technology that has 3 400W MH and 2 80W HO T5's. Would this be sufficient for my 210g tank with mixed sps and lps? Hope to hear from you, I'll check back later as I am on the West Coast and you are mostly on the East so our time is way different I think. It is early morning here.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
IDK how big your wrasses are, but I had a Flasher Wrasse get thru eggcrate......You can make a lid out of pond netting, and I think the holes are small enough that the wrasse should not be able to fit....there are a few threads on this site about making such a lid....Spanko...has an excellent diagram somewhere
 
salt210

salt210

Active Member
I made some tops using the pond netting for my 210. oh and I am going to be using 2 250w halides over my 6ft. dont have any corals yet so I am not turning them on.
 
peglet

peglet

Member
I have black bird netting, would that work or would it block the light from getting into the tank? My one wrasse is pretty big, probably 5 or 6" and the other is a yellow coris wrasse, medium size. What do you guys think about the Hamilton lights? 3x400watt 14K MH and 2x80watt T5 HO lights for my tank. They cost around 1200.00, pretty expensive but am leaning that way. Is that to much light, overkill? Thanks for all the help from everyone. I'll check back on this thread later as I have to go for awhile.
 
mopar9012

mopar9012

Active Member
Originally Posted by peglet
http:///forum/post/3087371
I have black bird netting, would that work or would it block the light from getting into the tank? My one wrasse is pretty big, probably 5 or 6" and the other is a yellow coris wrasse, medium size. What do you guys think about the Hamilton lights? 3x400watt 14K MH and 2x80watt T5 HO lights for my tank. They cost around 1200.00, pretty expensive but am leaning that way. Is that to much light, overkill? Thanks for all the help from everyone. I'll check back on this thread later as I have to go for awhile.
im going to say that sounds like a good setup because one of my LFS has a 300 gallon tank with 3 400W MHs and it seems to be a tad bit on the weaker side for that tank.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Originally Posted by peglet
http:///forum/post/3087371
I have black bird netting, would that work or would it block the light from getting into the tank? My one wrasse is pretty big, probably 5 or 6" and the other is a yellow coris wrasse, medium size. What do you guys think about the Hamilton lights? 3x400watt 14K MH and 2x80watt T5 HO lights for my tank. They cost around 1200.00, pretty expensive but am leaning that way. Is that to much light, overkill? Thanks for all the help from everyone. I'll check back on this thread later as I have to go for awhile.
the 400 watt 14K hamiltons are supposed to look really nice and they have pretty good PAR. Trying to wash the yellow of 10K halides out with just 2 T5's would be like trying to put out a forest fire with a tucks pad. They are really only going to be good for dusk/dawn but that is fine. I wouldn't even bother to run them when the halides are on. I really don't think you will even see a difference.
 
peglet

peglet

Member
I just want to say thanks for everyone's help. I have had saltwater once a long time ago. Still trying to get caught back up. When I think I have it down I seem to get thrown for a loop. I guess bigger is not always better. I did just fine with my 100g, but I just outgrew it. Once I get this light figured out and my test kits I should be on the road to success, thanks to each and every one of you that took the time to help me out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top