Metal halide users

Saltgator · Jun 19, 2015

Just recently (purchased yesterday) bought 4 x 250 lumen reflectors with coralvue ballasts. I bought them used for a great price. Anyway, how did (if you switched to other lighting, dig up old pics,lol) or how are yours mounted? I don't know if these are the mini version or the max or bright or etc. Regardless, let's see some canopy or however in your build pics.

Also, as of this moment, I'm either going to run 3 of the reflectors with actinic support later or all 4 without actinic support. My reef is 8 feet (fyi). I feel like I can get away with 3 but want to hear y'alls opinion on it. 3 reflectors w/ actinic or all 4 without.

Obviously, I'm gonna run radium, but for my corals, I'm gonna run knock off for a few months (for acclimation) and then switch to radium full time.

Saltgator · Jun 20, 2015

Acrononomus · Jun 21, 2015

I used some aluminum and made a diy light rack with a rivit gun.... Came out sweet and has never gave me any issues

hybridazn · Jun 21, 2015

My canopy is still the temporary one lol. Ill eventually build my nice one.

As far as running the radiums to spec I'd consider using a different ballast. The coralvue will fire the bulb but will under drive it considerably and shorten the life of the bulb by half. Try to find a galaxy ballast (either hqi or select a watt) or find a m80 magnetic ballast which the radiums were designed to specifically run on.

d2mini · Jun 21, 2015

My reef is 7' long and I have 3 250w Radiums. I have the Hamilton Cebu Sun.
If you have large reflectors, 3 might do it... but if you can run 4 that would probably be better.
At least until you get some T5 or something to fill in the shadows.

I played around with a light rack before and made mine out of aluminum L bar from home depot.
Pics below.

Also, remember that to run 250w Radiums, you should be using M80 Ballasts. Using other ballasts will alter the color and bulb life.

Acrononomus · Jun 21, 2015

Great pic of rack mine is very similar!

Saltgator · Jun 21, 2015

I appreciate the responses y'all. Figures I'd be wrong on the ballast and radium mix. Any other preferred brands that would run off the coralvue ballast for now. My previous time with mh was only using plusrite and changing every 4-6 months.

WilRams · Jun 22, 2015

Finding M80 ballast was my hold up. After weeks of hunting a local reefer was willing to part with a blue wave 7. Now I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any 80 ballast for back ups.

Saltgator · Jun 22, 2015

Thanks. I'm going to try another top brand 1st with them and see how things go. If the other brands give me what I'm looking for, I might just stick it out. If not, m80 ballasts will be the next upgrade.

As far as the canopy or light rails, I haven't decided yet. I do know I want to probably add all 4 reflectors and get by without actinic. Gonna run 14k-20k, leaning towards 20k.

Acrononomus · Jun 22, 2015

I use lumatek ballasts and have for years now, unfortunately they quit making them, you would be lucky to find a galaxy or phantom ballast that would run them great for u

Saltgator · Jun 27, 2015

Hey fellas, any of yall run halides over a euro brace? While hanging the reflectors, at 12 inches above the top of the dt, it seems the euro brace gets hot. It's got me concerned, so figured I'd ask.

Saltgator · Jun 29, 2015

Bump on above thoughts on the euro brace and heat

d2mini · Jun 29, 2015

I have eurobracing and don't notice excessive heat.
No cross bracing but that shouldn't matter either.

Saltgator · Jun 29, 2015

Yeah, I'll s a a pic this evening but my brace is like a foot wide! It really gets in the way, but having one of the mh over it for hours got me concerned