90 Gallon'ers!!!! Your Mh Advice Needed

gaubow · 08-10-2004, 09:38 PM

I am going to order my new lights tomorrow and I am nervous. I have tried to research everything the best as possible but I need a little shove one way or the other. I am resetting up a 90 gallon rr that has been down about 7 mos. since I had to move to a new house.

I had about 400w of pc lighting before and was happy I guess with my leathers etc., but I know that I am going to want more light specific things this time around.

Alot of people keep talking about the hamilton fixture with the 175 or 250mh plus the 96 actinics? I have tried to find their site but keep getting redirected. Anyone have this hood system? and where did you get it?

Would I be making a mistake by getting th 175 instead of the 250?

Does it just sit on the tank edges and can it be covered by my canopy? Or does it have to be hung? Maybe even if you have a mh hood that is not the hamilton one I am referring to it would help to hear from you.

Sorry for so many questions, but "D" day is around the corner and I want to make it right!

hunterd_67 · 08-10-2004, 09:51 PM

Do u want a hood or a retro fit? heres a link for retro fit http://www.roesmarineworld.com/xmhassemble.htm and heres 1 for a hood
http://www.aquariumlight.com/product...subcategory=48"%20MH/VHO%20Canopies

Woodstock · 08-10-2004, 11:17 PM

I bought my Hamilton plug-n-play from Captivereefs.. they are also a sponsor of this site

Check out their discounts too!

http://www.captivereefs.com/captivereefs/index.asp

Woodstock · 08-10-2004, 11:19 PM

Ohhh, btw.. my Hamilton fixture sits right on top of my tank.

wooddood · 08-11-2004, 06:31 AM

check out this thread. All new CoralVue HQI Hoods!

dave.

rkplucker · 08-11-2004, 07:18 AM

http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/
I have been very happy with mine - I have 175's over a 65 gallon.

Maxx · 08-11-2004, 01:49 PM

What are you wanting to keep? If its SPS only and Clams....I'd go w/ the 250's....If its a mixed reef or LPS and softies only then I'd go w/ the 175's to save money. If you even THINK you are going to eventually want an SPS/Clam heavy tank...I'd go w/ the 250's.
One set of lights is cheaper than buying one set and then another later...
Nick

gaubow · 08-11-2004, 04:27 PM

Thank you everyone for your input. I went to captive reefs and bought the special for around 680 bucks. Two 250 halides with two 96w compacts. Took woodstocks recommendation along with others and figured that what is another couple hundred or so I went with the 250's instead of 175 so I am unlimited!!!!

Can't wait to get em now!

wooddood · 08-11-2004, 04:54 PM

good choice i believe you'll be glad you did in the long run, now you can keep anything your heart desires. good luck.

dave.

Maxx · 08-11-2004, 05:08 PM

Awesome!! You'll be very happy w/ them...now the next big question....what bulbs are you going to run?
Nick

gaubow · 08-11-2004, 05:48 PM

Hmmmmm. I guess the 10k that come with the set? Don't know for sure. Am thinking that for the first year or whenever the originals fade out I'll worry about that then... or should I?

Woodstock · 08-11-2004, 07:38 PM

I have the 10 k's hamiltons that came with the set still on my tank. I plan on getting 10k xm's when these get old.

Be very careful when switching to your new lights!! The corals are very sensitive to the change. I would slowly increase the photo period over a month's time. The slower the better.

gaubow · 08-11-2004, 08:44 PM

Woodstock,
How long do you leave them on for. I am assuming that the actinics are on for an hour or so ahead of time and hour or so past the halides? How long do you leave the halides on for? Thanks.

gaubow · 08-11-2004, 08:45 PM

I should have said in the last post that these are going on a 90 gallon that I am resetting up after a move, so there are no coral and no fish right now... just getting started again!!!!

Woodstock · 08-11-2004, 10:25 PM

MH are on for 8 hours, actinics are on for 11.

08-10-2004, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
gaubow Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: chicagoland Posts: 161 View Gallery Karma Komment	90 Gallon'ers!!!! Your Mh Advice Needed I am going to order my new lights tomorrow and I am nervous. I have tried to research everything the best as possible but I need a little shove one way or the other. I am resetting up a 90 gallon rr that has been down about 7 mos. since I had to move to a new house. I had about 400w of pc lighting before and was happy I guess with my leathers etc., but I know that I am going to want more light specific things this time around. Alot of people keep talking about the hamilton fixture with the 175 or 250mh plus the 96 actinics? I have tried to find their site but keep getting redirected. Anyone have this hood system? and where did you get it? Would I be making a mistake by getting th 175 instead of the 250? Does it just sit on the tank edges and can it be covered by my canopy? Or does it have to be hung? Maybe even if you have a mh hood that is not the hamilton one I am referring to it would help to hear from you. Sorry for so many questions, but "D" day is around the corner and I want to make it right!

08-10-2004, 09:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
hunterd_67 Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: P.A. Posts: 649 View Gallery Karma Komment	Do u want a hood or a retro fit? heres a link for retro fit http://www.roesmarineworld.com/xmhassemble.htm and heres 1 for a hood http://www.aquariumlight.com/product...subcategory=48"%20MH/VHO%20Canopies __________________ Honorary Flood Club Member Feb. 13, 2005

08-10-2004, 11:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,676 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I bought my Hamilton plug-n-play from Captivereefs.. they are also a sponsor of this site Check out their discounts too! http://www.captivereefs.com/captivereefs/index.asp __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

08-10-2004, 11:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,676 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Ohhh, btw.. my Hamilton fixture sits right on top of my tank. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

08-11-2004, 06:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	check out this thread. All new CoralVue HQI Hoods! dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

08-11-2004, 07:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
rkplucker Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Marmora, NJ Posts: 21 View Gallery Karma Komment	http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/ I have been very happy with mine - I have 175's over a 65 gallon. __________________ - Kim

08-11-2004, 01:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,079 View Gallery Karma Komment	What are you wanting to keep? If its SPS only and Clams....I'd go w/ the 250's....If its a mixed reef or LPS and softies only then I'd go w/ the 175's to save money. If you even THINK you are going to eventually want an SPS/Clam heavy tank...I'd go w/ the 250's. One set of lights is cheaper than buying one set and then another later... Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

08-11-2004, 04:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
gaubow Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: chicagoland Posts: 161 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thank you everyone for your input. I went to captive reefs and bought the special for around 680 bucks. Two 250 halides with two 96w compacts. Took woodstocks recommendation along with others and figured that what is another couple hundred or so I went with the 250's instead of 175 so I am unlimited!!!! Can't wait to get em now!

08-11-2004, 04:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	good choice i believe you'll be glad you did in the long run, now you can keep anything your heart desires. good luck. dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

08-11-2004, 05:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,079 View Gallery Karma Komment	Awesome!! You'll be very happy w/ them...now the next big question....what bulbs are you going to run? Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

08-11-2004, 05:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
gaubow Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: chicagoland Posts: 161 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hmmmmm. I guess the 10k that come with the set? Don't know for sure. Am thinking that for the first year or whenever the originals fade out I'll worry about that then... or should I?

08-11-2004, 07:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,676 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I have the 10 k's hamiltons that came with the set still on my tank. I plan on getting 10k xm's when these get old. Be very careful when switching to your new lights!! The corals are very sensitive to the change. I would slowly increase the photo period over a month's time. The slower the better. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

08-11-2004, 08:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
gaubow Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: chicagoland Posts: 161 View Gallery Karma Komment	Woodstock, How long do you leave them on for. I am assuming that the actinics are on for an hour or so ahead of time and hour or so past the halides? How long do you leave the halides on for? Thanks.

08-11-2004, 08:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
gaubow Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: chicagoland Posts: 161 View Gallery Karma Komment	I should have said in the last post that these are going on a 90 gallon that I am resetting up after a move, so there are no coral and no fish right now... just getting started again!!!!

08-11-2004, 10:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 21,676 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	MH are on for 8 hours, actinics are on for 11. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~29 gal QT/Hospital tank~* *~3 gal Pico~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MH, dual Actinic t5s,AquaController III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

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