Who has MH here?

[legend]

Do you notice an increase in your electrial bill?
I'm not sure if i should so with 6 72" 160w VHO bulbs or 3 250w MH 10k bulbs.
I would like to keep some clams eventunally...but i'm not sure what hood i should get. The VHO or MH.
Any suggestions to make my decision easier would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[spsaddict]

i agree mh. the thriving corals and clams are worth a extra few bucks a month

 

[harlequinnut]

I never had vho's so I can't compare, but I upgraded from power compact to 2 / 175 watt mh and I definately notice a big difference! Especially since I'm now running the 2 mh plus the 2 pc together for 6 hours a day.

 

[reefnut]

As skilos said using 6-160w VHOs use more electricity than 3-250w MH... VHO total=960w MH total=750w... VHO's = more watts but less light... if it was me I would go with 3-250w MH & 2-160w VHO.

 

[legend]

thanks for all the help guys. I think i am going to do with 2 250w and 2 vho actinics as reef nut said. Its going to set me back another month or two of saving but its worth it......i just hope i dont run into any heat problemss during this upcoming summer....
thanks for the help

 

[reefnut]

2 or 3 250w MH?? I would suggest 3 on a 6' tank.

 

[neowind]

I use MH 175w MH XM. My electric bill went up 10 dollars but I don't know if it was because of the Mh or not.

 

[legend]

my bad i meant 3 mh bulbs.
What MH bulbs do you guys recommend/ use?

 

[reefnut]

What kind of ballast do you plan on buying?

 

[legend]

um a Pulse Start Ballast...made by annod

 

[z28]

electricity included in the rent..................so i dont care what the electric bill is with my mh's.............lol

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by Legend
um a Pulse Start Ballast...made by annod
10k Ushio with actinic VHOs would be a good combination IMO...

 

[legend]

the 10k is more white or blue? I want the tank to look white with a little bit of blue. Is that what you are running on your tanks?

 

[skirrby]

10k is more white.. 20k is more blue

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by Legend
Is that what you are running on your tanks?
I'm currently running 10k Ushio's (soon to be running XM's) with VHO actinic's... and IMO the Ushio's are a little yellow but with the actinic's it makes a nice white.

 

[golfish]

Originally posted by Legend
the 10k is more white or blue? I want the tank to look white with a little bit of blue. Is that what you are running on your tanks?
A 10K is more white with a hint of yellowgreen...IMO, It would be the best bulb to use with VHO'sactiics

 

[stapler]

I got a 175w 20k MH pendant...and I love it. Its a little blue, so I will be getting some PC or VHO to whiten it up a bit.
Does anyone just run their PC or VHO all day, and their MH for a few hours?