SPS Cube tank lighting thought

[workn4frags]

I have my cube up and running ( 48x48x18 ), rock has been cycling for 3 mo. with no lights. Its time to get the lights, here is what I am thinking.

4-250W DE 14K Pheonix on Electronic Ballast
or
4-250W SE 20K Radium/10K Ushio 2 ea on Electronic Ballast

Thoughts???

I want to stay with an E-ballast and would prefer not to supplement with T5 or VHO. Please give my your thoughts.

 

[workn4frags]

Oh all will be on LumenMax Reflectors

DE is 11x11
SE is 22x22

leaning towards the SE bulbs just because the reflectors are larger.
thanks for the help

 

[143gadgets]

I would do four 250w Radiums on the 22x22 reflectors. You will have perfect spread and the color of the radiums on an icecap ballast is nice. I am using a single 250w radium on a full-size lumenarc reflector with no actinics. My tank is 30x30 and I get a pretty good spread.

 

[grgdnh]

Sounds like it will be sweet tank. Sorry I cant help with light choice I've only used vhos t5s. I am looking to setup 30" cube myself, was also thinking of using a LumenMax Relector Cant wait to see pics

Greg

 

[workn4frags]

Anyone know where I can find the par ratings for the different bulbs and ballast? I've seen Sanjays but didn't see the par ratings.

I am leaning towards a spread like this

20K - 20K

20K - 10K
front
I am thinking of puttting some of the higher light SPS under the 10K, unless you all think the 20Ks all around would be fine.
Thanks for the help.
Vince

 

[surfn]

i dont know the par ratings off the top of my head, but if you do a search i've listed them in a bunch of past threads.

but here is what it boiled down to on an electronic ballast, in the 14k-20k range of SE bulbs

#1 bulb: Aquaconnect 14k (PAR monster!)
#2 bulb: Hamilton 14k
#3 bulb: Radium 20k (signicfant drop off of PAR from the #2)

then theres always driving the Radium 20k on an HQI ballast to boost up the PAR closer to #1. but it decreases bulb life profoundly.

4x250w ligths is gonna be a heck of allot of heat, i hope you have a chiller, not to mention expensive changing all of those bulbs.

 

[workn4frags]

Hey Surfn
got the chiller, Ca Reactor and skimmer up and running for the last 3-4 months curing the rock that was already cured.

I have 6 HQI 14K running my soft corals and the heat is not much of a problem. fans over the tank keeps things pretty well in check.

I just order the lights 250W Radiums 20K with LumenArc reflectors on E-Ballast, if I don't feel I have enough I will change out the ballast off my soft system and put the HQI ballast over the new cube, or I can change them to 10K. I have options, just hated to spend that chunk of change all in one shot.

I will get pics next weekend when its up. thanks for all the help.

 

[surfn]

i really don't think the radiums will cut it on electronic ballasts if you want an sps tank.

i currently run a 250w radium on HQI ballast over my 50g cube (24x24x20). colors are great, but theres a HUGE drop off in par and a spectrum change at the 4month mark (i only run the bulb 8hrs a day).

i can only imagine how much a pain that will be to change 4 bulbs at once every ~4-5months.

i've seen the aquaconnect 14k's on twon8's tank....and they are absolutely stunning with coral colors. when i get the funds, i'm definitely going to swith to that with an icecap ballast. those bulbs will last a year or longer.

the only thing that prevented me from going that route before, was the availability of aquaconnects were slim to none, but just in the last couple of months a bunch of places have got them in stock.

i can't remember off the top of my head, but i'm pretty sure aquaconnects on electronic still have a higher PAR rating than radium's on HQI.

 

[workn4frags]

surfn
are the aquaconnects SE or DE? and do you have a link? I have 4 PFO HQI ballast but don't like the pendents (to narrow) I can always switch bulbs/ballast once I get everything up and see how they look.

thanks for the help.

 

[surfn]

they are SE bulbs, here they are at PremiumAquatics
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...oduct_Code=14K-250SE-AC&Category_Code=mh-250w

they also have them on FragFarmer I believe.

here is a website that shows the PAR of some bulbs
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

on icecap electronic ballasts:
AC14k: 406 PAR
HM14k: 352 PAR
Radium: 330 PAR

on HQI ballast:
Radium: 395 PAR

 

[143gadgets]

Thanks for the info Al. I think I may try out that bulb. I get wholesale at the LFS near me. I had no idea they had that much par. I was thinking about switching to a 400watter (XM 20K) since I only have one bulb, but this might be better than i think.

 

[surfn]

Thanks for the info Al. I think I may try out that bulb. I get wholesale at the LFS near me. I had no idea they had that much par. I was thinking about switching to a 400watter (XM 20K) since I only have one bulb, but this might be better than i think.

duuuuude!!! if you are able to get whole sale.....i think twon8 and I need to have a talk with you....lol

you'll need to purchase a couple of bulbs in order to stock up for a while....hint hint.

 

[143gadgets]

duuuuude!!! if you are able to get whole sale.....i think twon8 and I need to have a talk with you....lol

you'll need to purchase a couple of bulbs in order to stock up for a while....hint hint.

Sorry Workn4frags PM sent Al.

 

[workn4frags]

Thanks surfn for the link to the par ratings. It looks like I may be switching the new e-ballast for the hqi I have on my soft corals.

 

[surfn]

Thanks surfn for the link to the par ratings. It looks like I may be switching the new e-ballast for the hqi I have on my soft corals.

what do you mean?

what bulb/ballast combo are you going to go with for the sps tank?

 

[143gadgets]

I think he is saying he will be running four 250w Radiums on HQI ballasts.

 

[workn4frags]

Yea,
I have 4 HQI ballast running 14K Pheonix bulbs on my soft coral tank, I will just switch the new ballast to the softs and take the HQI's over to my SPS cube. I may possibly play with some other bulbs on the e-ballast later when I find some more money...

 

[143gadgets]

Sounds like a plan. Only downside I see is replacing bulbs every 6 months. You should get some sick colours though.