New to Halides

rashr · 01-15-2007, 12:43 PM

Hello all....I have recently upgraded from my 55gal to a 90 gal. With this great deal I got the tank, hood, stand and lights. The lights are 2-250W (14000K) MH with 2-110W VHO actinics. I need to know if this too much lighting for LPSs or can I still continue on with what I have (frogspawn, Torch, long tentacle plate coral and some shrooms)? I have a friend that will be getting the old 55 gal when I break it down and move into my 90, but I need to know if I need to send the corals with him or can I keep them? I was already setup in my mind what coral I wanted next and the progression from there but with almost double the light wattage I don't know if I can continue on.....I am afraid of too much light, is there such a thing?

Diver_1298 · 01-15-2007, 12:53 PM

Yes, there is such a thing as too much light.
But, you will not have that problem with your new tank. A 90 gallon is 24 to 25 inches tall and even with 250 watt metal halides you can keep the full range of corals form softies to LPS and SPS in the mid to upper parts of your tank.
I have all of the above with a similar lighting configuration. Remember with sps corals the water quality is just as important as the lighting.

Jim

gosh7001 · 01-15-2007, 01:03 PM

Thanks for the reply as I am going through the same issues. I also have a 90 and was debating if 2 X 250 MH was too much paired with 2 X 110 Actinics. I do have another question. Is there a noticeable difference between using the magnetic ballasts versus the electronic ballast. IF one is prefered over the other, what suggestions can you make according to brand of ballast, bulb brand and type (double ended or mogul) , temperature, etc???? I am trying to upgrade and am trying to not break the bank. Any suggestions that anyone can offer would be great. There are other threads but nothing that goes into detail and gives suggestions based on actual use. A lot of information is out of date.

gosh7001 · 01-15-2007, 02:04 PM

Any information on my last post would be helpful

Diver_1298 · 01-15-2007, 03:07 PM

There is some information, and to me it was a little hard to find and I consider myself Web Savy

So here goes,
Most of what I have found the average person does not want to know, or has not been exposed to the technical terms so they have a harder time understanding what is being said. The best information I have found has come from one person. (Sanjay Joshi) He is also the greatest source of information on metal halides for the reef aquarium. You can quote me, even if I am wrong, here is all the information you should need to make an informed decision.

Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine - search

select one lamp and ballast
To simply answer some of your questions
1.)Magnetic vs Electronic - Electronic ballasts offer a better range of bulbs that they will light and keep lighting over the life of the bulb. They are also more energy efficient. They are not as common as they should be, as some manufacturers keep making the older style Magnetic ballast. There are also some lamp manufacturer's that make bulbs that will work on the electronic ballast but actually have a higher light output on a mag ballast. (XM is one example)
2.) Single ended or double ended? There used to be a misnomer about DE bulbs putting out more light than SE bulbs. Not true, as these research links will prove.
3.) Temperature. All halides put out high temperatures. I am not sure if anyone has done any research on it?
4.) what to buy - I have stayed with the name brand bulbs that most people in the hobby would recognize and they have not let me down yet. Ushio, XM etc.

Jim

P.S. I am not sure if we should have started a new thread for this or not? Sorry for the hijack Rashr

Birchell · 01-15-2007, 03:20 PM

I think that would be a great light to have. With the bulbs being 14k the intensity of the light will not be as great as say a 10k. And the VHO actinics are just going to add blue light, another less intense spectrum. Your tank will be bright dont get me wrong, but it will look great!! Just make sure you aclamate the low like corals like shrooms nice a slow, or they will bleach and die. But LPS, and most softies will work great in the tank. You could even keep an anemone happy for a while. Good luck with the new tank,

Michael

Jason McKenzie · 01-15-2007, 03:52 PM

I had a 75G tank with LPS and SPS it ran 2X250W MH and 2X110 VHO. Loved them

I know run 3X400W MH and 8X29W T5 I still have LPS and SPS and even a little softies.

I do not believe you can have too much light

J

rashr · 01-16-2007, 10:32 AM

Thanks to all.....I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep my Euphillias and I love my Euphillias. Don't get me wrong.....I love the look of the SPS but am scared to dabble there right now, I don't like getting into something I could kill with out better informatipon and I just don't feel comfortable with SPSs right now, THanks again!

coral reefer · 01-16-2007, 11:44 AM

Their are a few SPS' that are as hardy as Euphyllia and you can get by with the same lighting. These corals are good water quality monitors as failure to show good polyp extension means a problem with regards to your water parameters! They also show a sensitivity to soft corals, especially SINULARIA species! They will thrive in bright indirect light and a gentle water flow location in your tank.
If you placed the SPS' high up in your tank you would be able to keep some of the more hardy and less critical stonies...

rashr · 01-16-2007, 12:57 PM

Thanks Coral Reefer....I just posted a similar question under the "Corals" section....this helps alot. I love the SPS colors and shapes but I am really skeptical in mine and my tank's equipment to be able to have the SPS corals thrive....Karma!