metal halide help!

[coral reefer]

Phoenix is also a very good bulb though a bit more expensive as for DE HQI halides IMO!!

[monkey]

well as for the params. my tank is fine.
nitrites 0
nitrates 0-10 max
calcium 450
amonia 0
ph 8.2

lights are where i get the shakes, because i have never run a m/h and i want to for the new tank.
thank you reefer
jon

so as for the other link there, am i on the right track?

[Diver_1298]

Like I said if you want to be a DIY guy and can handle it then go for it!!
Here's another link I believe they are even one of our sponsors
eBay: METAL HALIDE RETRO KIT 250W with Electronic Ballast (item 7756442856 end time Feb-26-07 16:59:46 PST)

Jim
250W SE MH Retro KIts - AquaCave
Another link. Heck there are a million of them

[Tangster]

Hey Diver I really don't have a dog in this fight (: But I have heard and also read about the X-M 1500K's lacking in the PAR values But I ran a 15,000 K on one end of the little sps tank we had and then a Ushio and then a X-M 10,000 K to see how that bore out. All I can say is on the 15,000 side the corals rocked and colored up way better then on the 10,000 side with either Brand and the 15,000 held its own even at 10 months when the new 10,000 Ushio went in. We had less algae issues and far far better coloration of the sps and the few LPS I wanted .

Then on another site I hit there was a guy who was told the same thing and he went to the X-M 15,000 and loves them on his 180 set up . But I just fired up the 400 's on our 180 a few weeks ago and we had several brands at the shop i took a bulb I never heard of before a SPS South Pacific Sun at 14,000K and the corals are looking much deeper in the blue and red colors in just 3 weeks. I think I like these bulbs even better then the X-M's the 20,000 in any are to deep dark for my liking really though. its far more to it then PAR values. I'd rather have a bulb that is more true in the K then one that drove the wrong Spectrum deeper into the water.

[Birchell]

Hey man, I know im alittle late, but I love the color of a 14k bulb. I dont run them, but ive seen three setups with them and the color looks just like the ocean. Not bright white like the 10k and not super blue like the 20k, but right in the middle, hehe. 14k is the look im going for with my t-5's. Good luck with the new setup, and keep us up to date!!

Michael

[monkey]

i will. im in the process of drinking myself into ordering a mh right now. i think im going to get something in like an hour or two. but im not sure as what to order as of yet....

[Birchell]

Ha, sounds good. I wish I could join you!! Ill let you know how my t-5's are when they come in. They are comming ground, so some time next week. Check out my new frag tooooo, hehehe.

[pshootr]

Monkey, For the 15 gallon? Or for another tank?

[monkey]

37 in going with. im going to break the 15 gallon down and maybe make a 15 galo refuge. im not sure yet

[pshootr]

Oh sweet. I was thinking of doing a 37 gallon reef as I already have a stand for the 37's footprint. Look forward to seeing how you set it up. Which halide you looking at?