Back to halides?

[JPergamo]

I'm assuming you got the 24" brackets for the hybrids, that's exactly what I want to do.

Yes exactly. It took a little bit of configuration changes and some diy but settled on those. I originally had the XHOs mounted to the outside of the hybrid fixture but they hung down and I wasn't crazy about that. So now they are next to pendants on the inside of the space between T5s.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Yes exactly. It took a little bit of configuration changes and some diy but settled on those. I originally had the XHOs mounted to the outside of the hybrid fixture but they hung down and I wasn't crazy about that. So now they are next to pendants on the inside of the space between T5s.

I have mine hanging under the fixture currently, I don't like it. I am glad to see your fixture setup how I wanted. I'm going to have to track down some brackets, they are discontinued.

 

[xiaoxiy]

I'm late to the party, but I went from a Gieseman Infinity (2x Coral Plus, 2x Blue Plus and 1x Pheonix 14k on a M80 Ballast) to pure LED (Reefi Extreme) with absolutely no difference in growth. The coloration has improved since I went LED though. I'm in now in the group that believes that lighting doesn't really matter that much as long as you can minimize shading and hotspots.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

I want to give a big shout out to @ScottW for helping me with my purchases! My fixture arrived today so I got to get my have dirty when I got home, I cleaned up my hybrid fixture and removed the radions. I adjusted my brackets to better fit the new fixture. While trying to adjust my DIY brackets ft or my xho units I broke a bracket, oops. I'll go to home depot tonight.

Old setup

New setup minus xho blue

Anyone care to share their light schedule with MH, T5, & LED??

 

[naterealbig]

I want to give a big shout out to @ScottW for helping me with my purchases! My fixture arrived today so I got to get my have dirty when I got home, I cleaned up my hybrid fixture and removed the radions. I adjusted my brackets to better fit the new fixture. While trying to adjust my DIY brackets ft or my xho units I broke a bracket, oops. I'll go to home depot tonight.

Old setup

New setup minus xho blue

Anyone care to share their light schedule with MH, T5, & LED??

Looks great! Which MH bulbs are you using?

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Looks great! Which MH bulbs are you using?

Radium 250w 20k

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

My photos look more clear now and I see a lot more detail with my eyes.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

I got my XHOs mounted back to my fixture, it's a lot of light when it's all on. I love the clarity of the halide, it didn't take me long to adjust my eyes to it. It was a really hot day today and my temp topped out at 82.1, with my wife and I home all day today in going that I'm not going to battle too much heat in the future.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

I had my PAR tested Monday, benefits of the local reef club, most of the tank is 300-450, the old setup gave me hot spots of up to 700, I was happy to see a more uniform spread.

Im currently only running the halides for 4 hours and plan on going up to 6 hours after next week. All corals are responding very well to the changes.

 

[alton]

During the hot summer months I only ran my MH 3 to 4 hours a day. In the winter 8. Never ran a heater.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

During the hot summer months I only ran my MH 3 to 4 hours a day. In the winter 8. Never ran a heater.

Mine currently come on at 6pm and air off at 10pm. I did add a portable 14k btu air conditioner to my basement where the sump is located. After the install, my tank temp went down and the heater actually kicked on a few times.

 

[SeaDweller]

Oh boy! Looks great, with all 3 types of lighting going on, you’re gonna see some real health, growth, and phenomenal coloration. Congrats, please post monthly.

 

[Ike]

If you can handle the extra heat and don't mind paying for bulbs and a little more electricity it doesn't get much better than Radiums for a great balance of growth and more natural color. The only reason I switched is away from MH was a move and the tank being in a room that generally gets warmer than the rest of the house.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

So..... This happened I've reached out to the company for a warranty bulb, might try to find one locally to keep on hand.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

I've been running the new lights for about a month and all I have to say is WOW! I have had some frags that were stuck in limbo, not anymore, everything is growing, and my color is looking great too.

As for my schedule, I'm currently running the halides for 5 hours, but going to 6 hours next week with all (halide, T5, & xho blue) lights on for 5 hours at once. 12 hours total in the schedule with T5 early and XHOs in the evening.

I got a local reef club member to bring over the par meter and give me a reading, most colonies I have are getting 300-400 par and 300 par on the sand in the front center.

Colony pics at time of install

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Current colony shots (some have been trimmed) pretty decent growth for one month.

 

[Dr. Jim]

Which halide fixtures did you settle on? Any comments about them?
Thanks.

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Which halide fixtures did you settle on? Any comments about them?
Thanks.

I am using the 36" dual single ended bulb fixture from reef brite. I love how this fixture is quite sleek looking and simple to use. Currently using 250w radium 20k bulbs with reef brite ballasts.

 

[Superlightman]

What you have now still with the halides, what was the results?

 

[FurrierTransform]

When I used metal halide bulbs, I needed to get an aquarium chiller.