choosing lights....

KrautBurner · Sep 9, 2011

choosing lights.... Please vote on MH's and CF's

I've decided it's time to replace my bulbs in my lighting fixture

I have an Odyssea 2x250mh / 4x65PC light fixture
(yes, I know this is a cheap fixture)

I will need 2 x 250w DE MH bulbs
as well as 4 x 65w CF's

I believe my fixture came with 15,000K MH bulbs
I was wondering if I should go with 20,000's or stay with 15,000's

as well, the CF's
it came with all 4 being Actinics
I was wondering if I should stay with all 4 being Actinics
or possibly replace 2 (or even all 4) with 50/50 bulbs

I'm kinda leaning towards going up to 20,000K MH's
and 50/50 CF's
is this a bad combo?

Edit:

KrautBurner said:
BTW,

my tank dosn't need the "most super awesome" lighting on the planet.

I have a bunch of softies, a couple LPS and a handfull of rescue/free sps frags
and a good sized RBTA

SoCaliReefin · Sep 9, 2011

I vote ditch the MH and PCs, Go T5HO! :wink:

KrautBurner · Sep 9, 2011

SoCaliReefin said:
I vote ditch the MH and PCs, Go T5HO! :wink:

first of all,
I'm not ditching anything,
there is nothing wrong with my fixture.

and why would I step down from MH's to T5's?
that dosn't make any sense at all

now, if I was looking for a new fixture
I'd probably go with T5/MH combo (instead of the CF's)

Saltgator · Sep 9, 2011

IMO, 15k MH and 2 50/50 and 2 actinic

SoCaliReefin · Sep 9, 2011

KrautBurner said:
first of all,
I'm not ditching anything,
there is nothing wrong with my fixture.

and why would I step down from MH's to T5's?
that dosn't make any sense at all

now, if I was looking for a new fixture
I'd probably go with T5/MH combo (instead of the CF's)

Sorry, didnt mean anything by what I said. I think some may agree that a nice T5HO fixture like a TekLight or ATI fixture with some high PAR bulbs is not a step down from your odyssea fixture. Alot less heat too. JMO.. :nerd:

KrautBurner · Sep 9, 2011

SoCaliReefin said:
Sorry, didnt mean anything by what I said. I think some may agree that a nice T5HO fixture like a TekLight or ATI fixture with some high PAR bulbs is not a step down from your odyssea fixture. Alot less heat too. JMO.. :nerd:

the question I asked was about the bulb combo.
I'm looking at spending $1-200 on bulbs, not $600 on a new lighting system + another $150 on bulbs

KrautBurner · Sep 9, 2011

BTW,

my tank dosn't need the "most super awesome" lighting on the planet.

I have a bunch of softies, a couple LPS and a handfull of rescue/free sps frags
and a good sized RBTA

Stinger · Sep 9, 2011

For me I have a deep 110 tank , you have no other choice but to go MH , to get needed PAR, unless the technology exist in T5's or LEDS

KrautBurner · Sep 10, 2011

Stinger said:
For me I have a deep 110 tank , you have no other choice but to go MH , to get needed PAR, unless the technology exist in T5's or LEDS

that's actually one of the main reasons I went with MH lighting.
I knew I wanted to go with a 90gal tank (possibly a 120+ if/when I move to a bigger house)

I really like the 110g tanks, but have been steered away from them by many sources
the height has amazing room presence (thats why I'm building my tank stand extra tall), but the depth is longer than my arm :0
and I don't wanna have to use goggles to reach the bottom of my tank

Stinger · Sep 12, 2011

right about the goggles, i had to rig up a lowering device to add a 25LB rock recently, so i would not drop it and break glass. All i need now is correct lighting, but the MH may make me purchase a chiller!!!

KrautBurner · Sep 15, 2011

bump to the top,

anyone else wanna give me some input?

swannyson7 · Sep 15, 2011

I prefer a blue spectrum in my tanks, so I'd go for 20k with 50/50 CFs. I had an Odyssea MH fixture over a frag tank several years ago and it served me well, but swapping out the ballasts for some galaxy ballasts made a world of difference. The stock ballasts on my old fixture wouldn't fire some bulbs that I tried and this may have changed on newer fixtures, but I'd do your research prior to dropping cash on bulbs to be sure they are compatible. Also, if your fixture has internal ballasts for the MH, be sure to keep an eye on the fixture. There were stories all over the net a couple years back about the fixtures catching fire on the models with internal ballasts.

KrautBurner · Sep 17, 2011

swannyson7 said:
I prefer a blue spectrum in my tanks, so I'd go for 20k with 50/50 CFs. I had an Odyssea MH fixture over a frag tank several years ago and it served me well, but swapping out the ballasts for some galaxy ballasts made a world of difference. The stock ballasts on my old fixture wouldn't fire some bulbs that I tried and this may have changed on newer fixtures, but I'd do your research prior to dropping cash on bulbs to be sure they are compatible. Also, if your fixture has internal ballasts for the MH, be sure to keep an eye on the fixture. There were stories all over the net a couple years back about the fixtures catching fire on the models with internal ballasts.

I'm leaning towards the 20K and 50/50's
my fixture has the external ballasts, reviews have been decent (except for the brand name)

KrautBurner · Oct 21, 2011

Bump,

I still havn't gotten my bulbs (need to, green hair algae is coming in, and water peramiters are fine)

anyone else wanna throw some input at me?

KrautBurner · Jan 3, 2012

well,

I just ordered my new bulbs

getting 20,000K MH's
and 50/50's (and a pair of actinics, so I can try different combos)

wish me luck

Chris L · Jan 7, 2012

I know at least for me MH is the way i go and will stay from now on. I tried Leds and there is just "something" missing. I cant explain it. I just got a 250 watt and am running a phoenix 14k. I like this bulb a lot. In the past i've used all different spectrum and wattages with my favorite being the 400 watt radium. This phoenix bulb is just a tad less blue than the radium.