How many MH fixture?

sticksreef · Aug 15, 2020

Hi.

can someone guide me to move to mh? 36” long.

how many fixture do i need? What fixture do you guys recommend to hang from the ceiling?

Ballast? Bulbs? Full sps tank.

thank you!

tankstudy · Aug 15, 2020

When I was using halides, I preferred 1 unit for 24" and hung them 12- 24 inches off the water. Too close and water evaporates like mad.

36" tanks were right in the middle. I'd do 2 units just to make sure you have plenty of coverage but if hung high enough you could get away with one.

C. Eymann · Aug 15, 2020

Back in 2005-2008 I had 2x250w halides over a 36"×18×20" 58 gallon sps tank with decent results.

I was using radium bulbs and using M80 pulse
start magnetic ballasts to run them. Got decent results despite being a college kid and neglecting it.

However, In 2001 while I was in highschool I kept a crocea clam and a few acros and porites, montipora in a mixed reef with a single 175w 10,000k ushio over the same tank pictured below

If i was doing a 36" sps dominant tank looking to run only metal halides-> 2×250 watt fixtures in luminarc mini reflectors running radium bulbs with m80 magnetic pulse start ballasts, if you are set on using electronic ballasts (more efficient) then do two double ended halide bulb fixtures and use phoenix 14k bulbs with PFO mag ballasts.

Just my .02

jda · Aug 15, 2020

2x 150w HQI on m81 ballast with 14k Phoenix bulb.

sticksreef · Aug 15, 2020

tankstudy said:
When I was using halides, I preferred 1 unit for 24" and hung them 12- 24 inches off the water. Too close and water evaporates like mad.

36" tanks were right in the middle. I'd do 2 units just to make sure you have plenty of coverage but if hung high enough you could get away with one.

Thank you for the info. I prefer going 2 to provide better light .

C. Eymann said:
Back in 2005-2008 I had 2x250w halides over a 36"×18×20" 58 gallon sps tank with decent results.

I was using radium bulbs and using M80 pulse
start magnetic ballasts to run them. Got decent results despite being a college kid and neglecting it.

However, In 2001 while I was in highschool I kept a crocea clam and a few acros and porites, montipora in a mixed reef with a single 175w 10,000k ushio over the same tank pictured below

If i was doing a 36" sps dominant tank looking to run only metal halides-> 2×250 watt fixtures in luminarc mini reflectors running radium bulbs with m80 magnetic pulse start ballasts, if you are set on using electronic ballasts (more efficient) then do two double ended halide bulb fixtures and use phoenix 14k bulbs with PFO mag ballasts.

Just my .02