Why is MH better?

nanosrcool

nanosrcool

Member
Thanks everyone for your replies... I knew I could find the answers on this board :)
Graham, thanks for the detailed explanation... I am assuming that the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) that you mentioned is some frequency above and beyond the color spectrum rating.... possibly in the UV range that corals and clams crave. Also, I got the fact that the luminosity/intensity of MHs are far greater than PCs or VHOs. Sounds like Metal Halide bulbs are a great invention, especially for reefers.
ReefNut, I could not find the thread you mentioned. Would be very interested in light spectrum/luminosity studies on various bulbs. Coralcollector, I will be sure not to touch the bulbs :)
With assurances from people on this board I think I am gonna go & get the MH canopy... I do not have a budget for a chiller at this time... hope it will be ok...
 
nanosrcool

nanosrcool

Member
Graham,
Nice article... thanks for the link. I also checked out some of the references in that article that describes Photosynthetically available radiation. Cant say that I understand it all.. but trying :)
There seems to be a lot of variation even in Metal Halides in terms of spectral content and also with ballasts. Are you happy with your Ushios?
I am thinking about the getting the Custome Sealife prism pendant - 175W 10K MH + 2 32W Actinic. Would that be enough for a 30 gallon? I would like to get into SPS and clams. Dont know what kind of lamps or ballasts it comes with. Anything else I should be looking at?
Also should I worry about UV? My tank is right next to my desk in the study and I am always peering into it :)
TIA
 
spsfreak100

spsfreak100

Active Member

Originally posted by NanosRCool
Are you happy with your Ushios?
Yes I am.
I just switched from the 400wt 20,000k radiums which I was disapointed with. While the coloration of the corals was greatest while using the 20,000k Radiums, the growth I was getting was slow. It was also a pain replacing them every 6 months. Also, more than 50% or more of the intensity was lost within 6 months. When I switched to the Ushios, I noticed an increase in growth...a lot of growth. I must say that the Ushios beat the radiums hands down. The coloration of the corals hasn't changed too much. The only corals which changed their coloration were an M. capricornis, which was Orange using the radiums (while running the Ushio's, it appears Yellowish), and an A. valida which was purple with green polyps to begin with (while running the Ushio's it turned yellow with electric green polyps). Although, I am not disapointed with the pigment changes of the corals :)
I am thinking about the getting the Custome Sealife prism pendant - 175W 10K MH + 2 32W Actinic. Would that be enough for a 30 gallon? I would like to get into SPS and clams. Dont know what kind of lamps or ballasts it comes with. Anything else I should be looking at?
So you're planning to have a single metal halide bulb illuminating the middle of the tank? Each bulb will illuminate only 24" of space, meaning that if the tank is longer than 24", you may want to look into getting a second halide. Either way, you may want to purchase a 250wt halide rather than a 175wt halide. 175wts will be sufficiant, although a 250wt halide will be much better, with a much higher intensity. A 250wt 10,000k Ushio along with 2x 32wt Actinic power compacts would make excellent lighting for your tank.
Also should I worry about UV?
Nope, not with the quality halides made these days :)
Graham
 
nanosrcool

nanosrcool

Member
My tank is only 21 inches wide, its a 30 cube, so I guess one MH bulb should be enough. I will go for the 250 rather than the 175 as you advised, plus the two actinics.
Will let you know how it goes.. Thanks for your help!
 
sammystingray

sammystingray

Active Member
For what it's worth.....the "glimmer" effect from point source lights like pendant halides is obviously the surface water playing with the light, BUT it also is the light actually being magified and lessened during this effect. At certain times, that "glimmer" is magnifying the light several times...many believe this up and down concentration is very helpful to coral growth because at peaks the light is far more than the light itself is even putting out......kind of like burning a bug with a magnifying glass.....also, as stated many times previously by many people.....watts are nothing more than an input needed to run the lights. It ONLY tells you what electricity is pulled from the wall, and has nothing to do with output of a light. If watts really mattered....we would all have a 1000 watts of house bulbs over our tanks....:D
 
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