Changing lighting, your thoughts

tommyp · 12-20-2003, 03:26 PM

Hi all,

I have a 3' 65AGA and I am running one 250 iwaski halide on MV in the center and 200 watts of actinic over my tank (workhose 7). I am trying to find a way to make the tank as effiecent and best looking as possible.

Due to the crossbrace I want to run another halide. I am contemplating two 250 hamilton 14k's to replace both the iwaski and the VHO actinics with. I figure I would run electronic ballasts and end up using 510 or so watts with this setup.

If I add another iwaski I would probablly have to add more actinics as well pushing total tank watts around 1000. too much for my electric bill. I love the growth from the iwaski but think coloration could be a bit better. Do you think that I will lose much growth going to the lower par hamiltons? and no actinics? what would you do?

Thanks

Tom

tommyp · 12-20-2003, 03:52 PM

Got this of cnidarian reef site and did some photoshoping I don't think my iwasaki looks that yellow but that is supposed to be a picture of iwasakis with actinics and hamilton 14k's w/o

mnreefman · 12-20-2003, 04:20 PM

on my 55 gal sps i have 2- 175w xm 20k's with 2 55w pc actinics

tommyp · 12-20-2003, 04:52 PM

mnrm-Thanks! Why are you running the actinics for dawn dusk or do you run them all the time for your corals?

TP

captivereefs · 12-20-2003, 05:09 PM

I love the 14k's. they look awesome with no actinics. I just switched over to AB 10k's i have no actinics an really miss the color. Only reason i switched over was to experiment with another bulb.

Maxx · 12-20-2003, 05:58 PM

Tommy,
I liked the look of the Coral Vue 15K's, but I also really liked the look of the CV 10K's.
Nick

Edit...I just jumped back onto Cnidarian reef to see the PAR ratings of the Hamiltons vs the CV's...CV 10 K is higher than the Hamilton, but 15k is not. I would reccomend the Hamilton over the CV 15k.

tommyp · 12-20-2003, 06:22 PM

I guess I am set on the switch but I hate going to a bulb with less par. I don't know how much the actinics put out. but I imagine adding the second halide will get me a little more than equal light as the single halide w/sup act. I imagine it will be quite the change in color for me to get used to.

CR- The 14's do look real good. do you know anything about there lifespan? I expect a year. You will be hearing from me before years out.

Maxx- yeah a 10k would give a bit more par but I would probably have to run some supplimentation. actually just checked the site and it looks pretty good.

I like mogul halides for Diy projects because with a spiderlight they are bulletproof and easy to install. With my Vho's the endcaps always scare me a bit because the endcaps have to be the perfect length apart. Though I am using depot endcaps and not waterproof jobs.

I just like the security of a screwed in bulb. Being able to run two with some sort of dawn dusk light would simplify my lighting a little.

Thanks

Tom

mnreefman · 12-20-2003, 06:33 PM

i recently just started to use the actinics again.. i didnt for a long time... but they come on 1 hr prior to the mh.. stay on till the mh come on then 20 min before the halides go off the pcs comback on then go off 45 min after the mh go off..

12-20-2003, 03:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Changing lighting, your thoughts Hi all, I have a 3' 65AGA and I am running one 250 iwaski halide on MV in the center and 200 watts of actinic over my tank (workhose 7). I am trying to find a way to make the tank as effiecent and best looking as possible. Due to the crossbrace I want to run another halide. I am contemplating two 250 hamilton 14k's to replace both the iwaski and the VHO actinics with. I figure I would run electronic ballasts and end up using 510 or so watts with this setup. If I add another iwaski I would probablly have to add more actinics as well pushing total tank watts around 1000. too much for my electric bill. I love the growth from the iwaski but think coloration could be a bit better. Do you think that I will lose much growth going to the lower par hamiltons? and no actinics? what would you do? Thanks Tom Last edited by tommyp : 12-20-2003 at 03:43 PM.

12-20-2003, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 660 View Gallery Karma Komment	pic of iwasaki vs hamiltons Got this of cnidarian reef site and did some photoshoping I don't think my iwasaki looks that yellow but that is supposed to be a picture of iwasakis with actinics and hamilton 14k's w/o __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

12-20-2003, 04:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
mnreefman Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,393 View Gallery Karma Komment	on my 55 gal sps i have 2- 175w xm 20k's with 2 55w pc actinics __________________ http://reefrock.com

12-20-2003, 04:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 660 View Gallery Karma Komment	mnrm-Thanks! Why are you running the actinics for dawn dusk or do you run them all the time for your corals? TP __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here!

12-20-2003, 05:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
captivereefs Sponsor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: WI Posts: 215 View Gallery Karma Komment	I love the 14k's. they look awesome with no actinics. I just switched over to AB 10k's i have no actinics an really miss the color. Only reason i switched over was to experiment with another bulb. __________________ credit repair magic credit repair milwaukee mortgage rates self credit repair milwaukee realtors

12-20-2003, 05:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,080 View Gallery Karma Komment	Tommy, I liked the look of the Coral Vue 15K's, but I also really liked the look of the CV 10K's. Nick Edit...I just jumped back onto Cnidarian reef to see the PAR ratings of the Hamiltons vs the CV's...CV 10 K is higher than the Hamilton, but 15k is not. I would reccomend the Hamilton over the CV 15k. __________________ "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!) Last edited by Maxx : 12-20-2003 at 06:01 PM.

12-20-2003, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
tommyp Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: VT Posts: 660 View Gallery Karma Komment	I guess I am set on the switch but I hate going to a bulb with less par. I don't know how much the actinics put out. but I imagine adding the second halide will get me a little more than equal light as the single halide w/sup act. I imagine it will be quite the change in color for me to get used to. CR- The 14's do look real good. do you know anything about there lifespan? I expect a year. You will be hearing from me before years out. Maxx- yeah a 10k would give a bit more par but I would probably have to run some supplimentation. actually just checked the site and it looks pretty good. I like mogul halides for Diy projects because with a spiderlight they are bulletproof and easy to install. With my Vho's the endcaps always scare me a bit because the endcaps have to be the perfect length apart. Though I am using depot endcaps and not waterproof jobs. I just like the security of a screwed in bulb. Being able to run two with some sort of dawn dusk light would simplify my lighting a little. Thanks Tom __________________ "I think that you can start the bombs of oceanrunner. They are good bombs for a rollback." 190g (60x30x25) upgrade in progress, 90g basement sump Check it out here! Last edited by tommyp : 12-20-2003 at 06:34 PM.

12-20-2003, 06:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
mnreefman Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,393 View Gallery Karma Komment	i recently just started to use the actinics again.. i didnt for a long time... but they come on 1 hr prior to the mh.. stay on till the mh come on then 20 min before the halides go off the pcs comback on then go off 45 min after the mh go off.. __________________ http://reefrock.com

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