Metal Halides are the bomb

[A. grandis]

my only worry is they stop producing bulbs....our options are limited as is haha

That’s not going to happen unless , the government outlaws halide bulbs

I don't think they will ban halides from being produced, generally speaking.
They must have other more important issues in this world to worry about before they step into small stuff like that. Besides, the market in general has taken a strong path towards LEDs, with the majority of the population, including business', using them. That is what the government sees.
Some good brands, including Ushio, have backed up from the aggressive LED market, so we will probably loose some quality bulbs. Shame on them! That's part of the game. We just have to hope other better options will come in the near future. Many already know that halides are coming back in this hobby, and that is a good thing! Quality light will produce healthier corals. Healthier corals will last longer and reproduce faster. That is a plus in this hobby! Less loss! Less and less wild collected specimens. What the aquarium market won't like is that we will be able to grow them faster and share more, like back in the day, and consequently they will sell less/ prices will drop. They started jacking up the prices with the cartoon names, which was a smart and very profitable strong marketing strategy that most people still can't see. The aquarium trade doesn't like the idea of selling one halide fixture and ballast to last "forever"! They want the upgrades of LEDs, like iphones! That's why some stores are pushing their halide stocks and trying to get them out of our minds! Shame on them!!! In the end, and specially at this time, the aquarium trade is all about money! That's the sad part.
We are loosing the essence of reefing!!!

 

[martinphillip03]

I will be starting a ewww tank by the end of Spring. I am looking at the Red Sea Reefer XL425. I wish to run 400 MH lights. What MH light fixture choices do I have?

Marty

 

[Backreefing]

Two 400 watt halides on that aquarium is overkill 250 DE bulbs will be plenty. Get Double ended bulbs , because they are more powerful watt to watt and have a better light spread. Two fixtures or one combo will be enough for maybe 300 par on the gravel +or - a bit . BRS has some good videos to help with choosing what lights to get. And get Phoenix bulbs they have a pleasant blue/white color .

 

[martinphillip03]

Two 400 watt halides on that aquarium is overkill 250 DE bulbs will be plenty. Get Double ended bulbs , because they are more powerful watt to watt and have a better light spread. Two fixtures or one combo will be enough for maybe 300 par on the gravel +or - a bit . BRS has some good videos to help with choosing what lights to get. And get Phoenix bulbs they have a pleasant blue/white color .

Checked BRS and at the moment they don't carry MH fixtures. I had no idea that DE bulbs gave out more light than a Single ended. Besides that, which is huge, are there any other differences?
Just checked Aquarium Specialty, They have a Hamilton Cebu sun combo fixture, with the MH and T5

 

[zalick]

Checked BRS and at the moment they don't carry MH fixtures. I had no idea that DE bulbs gave out more light than a Single ended. Besides that, which is huge, are there any other differences?

If you get a DE fixture you are locked in to that wattage. If you get a SE, you can change wattages if necessary using a selectable ballast.

DE are more difficult to change and easily break. It's not a question of if, but rather when, you will break the ceramic on the bulb. I've changed 3 bulbs on my DE and broke one.

You can find used reflectors if you look, and Hamilton makes new ones that are very good.

 

[Backreefing]

If you get a DE fixture you are locked in to that wattage. If you get a SE, you can change wattages if necessary using a selectable ballast.

DE are more difficult to change and easily break. It's not a question of if, but rather when, you will break the ceramic on the bulb. I've changed 3 bulbs on my DE and broke one.

You can find used reflectors if you look, and Hamilton makes new ones that are very good.

With double ended bulbs. If you change ceramic mounts you can choose between 150,250,400 watt bulbs . The 150,175(hard to find) use one mount. While 250,400 use another type of mount. Hamilton sells them for maybe $15 per mount.
As far as breaking the bulbs don’t be a gorilla forcing the bulbs in . I change 250 watt bulbs easy peasy. The trick is to gently rock the bulb or turn the bulb back and forth and they just settle in without a fight. If I wasn’t so busy selling my house I’d make a video. Once you do it it’s like what’s everyone ******** about.
For performance a double end bulb wins every time. But ease hose to the screw in mounts . There is a video on BRS where they compare DE vs single end bulbs. They mythbust the saying that a 250 DE bulb is as strong as a single end 400 bulb . It’s gets busted the 400 se is stronger. Buy the 250de bulb is surprisingly close . About 20% difference in PAR . Shop around and hit Facebook, offerup, Craigslist. There there . People are dumping metal halides for LEDs . The guy that sold me a pair of 250w de caymans with ballasts for $120 said he regretted it, “halides grow the coral better “ for him . LEDs are sleak and colorful. .

 

[zalick]

With double ended bulbs. If you change ceramic mounts you can choose between 150,250,400 watt bulbs . The 150,175(hard to find) use one mount. While 250,400 use another type of mount. Hamilton sells them for maybe $15 per mount.
As far as breaking the bulbs don’t be a gorilla forcing the bulbs in . I change 250 watt bulbs easy peasy. The trick is to gently rock the bulb or turn the bulb back and forth and they just settle in without a fight. If I wasn’t so busy selling my house I’d make a video. Once you do it it’s like what’s everyone ******** about.
For performance a double end bulb wins every time. But ease hose to the screw in mounts . There is a video on BRS where they compare DE vs single end bulbs. They mythbust the saying that a 250 DE bulb is as strong as a single end 400 bulb . It’s gets busted the 400 se is stronger. Buy the 250de bulb is surprisingly close . About 20% difference in PAR . Shop around and hit Facebook, offerup, Craigslist. There there . People are dumping metal halides for LEDs . The guy that sold me a pair of 250w de caymans with ballasts for $120 said he regretted it, “halides grow the coral better “ for him . LEDs are sleak and colorful. .

Maybe I need more practice. I've only changed those 3 DE bulbs. I have a full set of SE and DE reflectors.

I had no idea you could modify the DE to accept 250 or 400!

I chose to use the SE and the DE are in my attic just in case I wanted to use 400w. Maybe next weekend the DE will go in the canopy!


I ran Halides/T5 for years. I gave LED a good 6 year run (kessil and Mitras LX7) but they really don't come close to Halides in terms of growth and health IMO.

 

[martinphillip03]

If you get a DE fixture you are locked in to that wattage. If you get a SE, you can change wattages if necessary using a selectable ballast.

DE are more difficult to change and easily break. It's not a question of if, but rather when, you will break the ceramic on the bulb. I've changed 3 bulbs on my DE and broke one.

You can find used reflectors if you look, and Hamilton makes new ones that are very

With double ended bulbs. If you change ceramic mounts you can choose between 150,250,400 watt bulbs . The 150,175(hard to find) use one mount. While 250,400 use another type of mount. Hamilton sells them for maybe $15 per mount.
As far as breaking the bulbs don’t be a gorilla forcing the bulbs in . I change 250 watt bulbs easy peasy. The trick is to gently rock the bulb or turn the bulb back and forth and they just settle in without a fight. If I wasn’t so busy selling my house I’d make a video. Once you do it it’s like what’s everyone ******** about.
For performance a double end bulb wins every time. But ease hose to the screw in mounts . There is a video on BRS where they compare DE vs single end bulbs. They mythbust the saying that a 250 DE bulb is as strong as a single end 400 bulb . It’s gets busted the 400 se is stronger. Buy the 250de bulb is surprisingly close . About 20% difference in PAR . Shop around and hit Facebook, offerup, Craigslist. There there . People are dumping metal halides for LEDs . The guy that sold me a pair of 250w de caymans with ballasts for $120 said he regretted it, “halides grow the coral better “ for him . LEDs are sleak and colorful. .

Good information, Thank you

 

[infinite0180]

I just started back in the reefing last year with a 60 cube and a black box, never could get over the disco effect and found a used Giesemann Infiniti for 200 bucks with good bulbs still.....I had to grab it. all i had ever used was halides before and loved how it looked. now that i'm moving over to a 120 I found myself a Giesemann Spectra 2-250w with T5.....was going to switch to LED and T5 but it would cost the same as the spectra....and if a bulb burns out in it....I can replace....unlike a LED system

Plus Giesemann's are just sexy....

Hey, is your infinity a 24” model?

 

[Snowman82]

Hey, is your infinity a 24” model?

Yes it is

 

[infinite0180]

Yes it is

Pm’d

 

[G Santana]

Halides are great until the summer rolls in!!!

 

[A. grandis]

Halides are great until the summer rolls in!!!

Then winter comes and you will need heaters.

 

[martinphillip03]

Halides are great until the summer rolls in!!!

What happens if you have air conditioning, and keep it at 73 degrees? Not trying to be a smart butt.

Marty

 

[infinite0180]

I recently switched to all T5 and so far love it. Now im considering a MH/T5 fixture for even more punch and faster growing acros! My tank is in my basement and its always nice and cool in the summer. If i end up with a DE bulb set up can anybody recommend a bulb that would be close to what i currently have going on with my T5 as far as color is concerned. Im currently running 3 B+ and 3 C+ in my ATi.

 

[TerraFerma]

I recently switched to all T5 and so far love it. Now im considering a MH/T5 fixture for even more punch and faster growing acros! My tank is in my basement and its always nice and cool in the summer. If i end up with a DE bulb set up can anybody recommend a bulb that would be close to what i currently have going on with my T5 as far as color is concerned. Im currently running 3 B+ and 3 C+ in my AT

I used to run that setup and now run a Phoenix 14k. I’d say the Phoenix is about the same look as a Coral plus. So Phoenix with some blue plus supps should get you there

 

[infinite0180]

I used to run that setup and now run a Phoenix 14k. I’d say the Phoenix is about the same look as a Coral plus. So Phoenix with some blue plus supps should get you there

Thanks! The Coral plus is deff too white for my taste by itself. I think the 50/50 blend of C+ and B+ is a nice sweet spot. Do you think 4 B+ bulbs with the Phoenix would be good? I see that Ushio makes a Aqualite 20k DE bulb. Maybe thats more my taste? My tank is only 16” deep so i imagine par will not be a concern with a 250 watt...

 

[TerraFerma]

Thanks! The Coral plus is deff too white for my taste by itself. I think the 50/50 blend of C+ and B+ is a nice sweet spot. Do you think 4 B+ bulbs with the Phoenix would be good? I see that Ushio makes a Aqualite 20k DE bulb. Maybe thats more my taste? My tank is only 16” deep so i imagine par will not be a concern with a 250 watt...

That would be a very nice setup and tick the color boxes you want. Of note: if you have lps or softies that you frag and sell - people will want pics under blue LEDs. I’m mostly SPS but grow a few high end softies. I shoehorned on a Kessil 360 on for just that and to blue up the Phoenix. I really like the ATI actinic T5 but you have to run a bunch of them to really notice the pop. That said my corals responded really well when I added them.

 

[A. grandis]

What happens if you have air conditioning, and keep it at 73 degrees? Not trying to be a smart butt.

Marty

Your tank could still be at about 77°-78°F. Depending on the size of the tank, halide wattage, outside temperature, humidity and photoperiod, you would still need a chiller, if you don't use the fan between the fixtures and water surface. But your corals would look amazing!!!

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Love my Spectra! It has a very nice coverage and looks great!!! Best solution if the system fits it well. You are on the right path! Enjoy the ride!

Can you still buy Spectras ? i tried to find a fixture but came up empty...in Canada

kick myself for not buying the last 24” fixture BRS had, last year