Switching back to metal halide

[A. grandis]

Thanks! Almost forgot about Geisemann.

You can special order Spectra or Infinity directly from Germany.
Many have done that lately.
2 X 250W Hamilton 20K + 4 X 54W T5s

 

[A. grandis]

What is the tank size? Also, you want open too with a sleek fixture, pendants to go into a hood or behind a wall or otherwise do not care about aesthetics? Mixed reef or high light specific stuff?

Recommendations will be different for each of these answers.

Agreed! Measurements means everything when choosing the right fixture!

 

[minus9]

Agreed! Measurements means everything when choosing the right fixture!

Tank is 36x36x16. I have a semi open floating canopy (if that's even a thing?) and the tank is in my living room, but I don't mind a little light spill, as I have that now with my current setup. Acropora, acropora and more acropora. I'm actually setting up a smaller system that I'll move my blasto/micromussa rock to, so the only things non sps/acropora will be a couple goni's on the perimeter and my duncan in the front corner. I also have 3 clams, two maximas and one noae. My ultimate goal is to have acropora on the rocks and clams (on flat rocks) on the sand bed. Just going form memory of my Tahiti trip.

 

[minus9]

Part of me just wants to have gemmifera, humilis, spaths and clams, then call it a day. But I just love smooth skins too much, so it'll be a mix of acropora.

 

[sdreef]

If you’re into aesthetics, check out Giesemann. If you don’t mind bulky/ugly or want some bolt-on LEDs, reefbriteis an option. Btw the icecap ballasts are triple switchable, reefbrite is only double. Also not sure if you can get reefbrite everywhere, seems like only the USA, which leaves out the other 159 countries…

A 6500k bulb will look very yellow. 14k I’m most brands looks crisp white. (Phoenix 14k appears somewhat violet). 20ks are similar to your typical led look (any color you want, as long as it’s blue…).

I bought and tried almost every led there is on the market, including a lot of stuff that’s not available in the USA that I haven’t seen here on this forum. My conclusion? Metal halide.

Giesemann spectra + two reefbrite XHO strips.

I attached two 72" reefbrite XHO strips using black mending plates using the connector bolts to the side panel of the fixture.

I have the ice cap selectable ballasts set at 250 HQI, 3x 250 W Radiums, 4 x 80 W ATI Blue Plus, and the Reefbrite XHOs. The fixture is 12" from the water surface. 72" fixture over an 84 x 34 x 27 " tank.

 

[bobnicaragua]

That's cool, I know it makes taking and sharing photos a lot easier and I would probably use it myself, but it seems like the "new" led on the block uses it as a major selling point, kinda funny where we've come in this hobby (and society), but I know social media is here to stay and I've totally embraced it, but there's something lost in the process.
I'm torn between sticking to 6500k or the twin arc bulb 10/20k. Splitting the time from 10k first, then 20k. It's kinda what I'm doing with my Kessil's, peak hours get the whiter look, then slowly ramp down to blue. If I can do halide / kessil I'd be very happy with that look.

I tried running the 10/20k twin arc bulbs. I have 3 fixtures on a 6' tank and the colors often didn't match up. They don't always start white and then turn blue with a restart. I couldn't live with different parts of the tank being different colors.

 

[minus9]

I tried running the 10/20k twin arc bulbs. I have 3 fixtures on a 6' tank and the colors often didn't match up. They don't always start white and then turn blue with a restart. I couldn't live with different parts of the tank being different colors.

Good to know. I would probably go with 14k or 20k, but leaning more towards 14k. It's funny, I remember when 10k bulbs came out, they were so blue compared to the 6500k bulbs. Crazy what we accept over time.

 

[Kfactor]

It would be interesting to contact Tullio about sending ReefBtite equipment directly to anyone's doors worldwide. That might be a possibility.

that would be amazing

 

[Kfactor]

Giesemann spectra + two reefbrite XHO strips.

I attached two 72" reefbrite XHO strips using black mending plates using the connector bolts to the side panel of the fixture.

I have the ice cap selectable ballasts set at 250 HQI, 3x 250 W Radiums, 4 x 80 W ATI Blue Plus, and the Reefbrite XHOs. The fixture is 12" from the water surface. 72" fixture over an 84 x 34 x 27 " tank.

that is a sexy fixure lol

 

[Bpb]

Good to know. I would probably go with 14k or 20k, but leaning more towards 14k. It's funny, I remember when 10k bulbs came out, they were so blue compared to the 6500k bulbs. Crazy what we accept over time.

I came from the world of planted tanks before this and believe it or not, many 6500k t5 tubes back then (at least among the hobby) were referred to as “blue”. Just funny what our eyes adjust to

 

[A. grandis]

Tank is 36x36x16. I have a semi open floating canopy (if that's even a thing?) and the tank is in my living room, but I don't mind a little light spill, as I have that now with my current setup. Acropora, acropora and more acropora. I'm actually setting up a smaller system that I'll move my blasto/micromussa rock to, so the only things non sps/acropora will be a couple goni's on the perimeter and my duncan in the front corner. I also have 3 clams, two maximas and one noae. My ultimate goal is to have acropora on the rocks and clams (on flat rocks) on the sand bed. Just going form memory of my Tahiti trip.

If you want to use one fixture you can get the Cozumel, 20" X 20" X 9.5", with 400W bulb placing the corals strategically on the center.
German 250W bulb on M80 with a longer photoperiod would also work.
I just love the spread of the Cozumel.

Cozumel Sun Pendant System

 

[A. grandis]

Part of me just wants to have gemmifera, humilis, spaths and clams, then call it a day. But I just love smooth skins too much, so it'll be a mix of acropora.

Can you guys get gemmifera and humilis? Lovely!

 

[A. grandis]

I tried running the 10/20k twin arc bulbs. I have 3 fixtures on a 6' tank and the colors often didn't match up. They don't always start white and then turn blue with a restart. I couldn't live with different parts of the tank being different colors.

That is weird.

 

[A. grandis]

I came from the world of planted tanks before this and believe it or not, many 6500k t5 tubes back then (at least among the hobby) were referred to as “blue”. Just funny what our eyes adjust to

When you use 6500K with plants your eyes "feel comfortable" because the majority of the plants are green and your eye accept the green very well. Besides, that is the best spectrum for the plants/algae.
I used the 6000K Mid Day and Aquaflora from Giesemann for planted tanks in the past.

 

[minus9]

Can you guys get gemmifera and humilis? Lovely!

I see humilis pop up from time to time. I had a very cool colony in my 22g, but sadly lost it to heavy metals when I moved to the 90g. Gemmifera I haven't seen since I worked on the coral farm in the late 90's.

Here's my 22g and the humilis bottom center. It really thinned out because I only had two Tunze 6040's and way too many colonies in there. The pic is pre filter days.

 

[minus9]

If you want to use one fixture you can get the Cozumel, 20" X 20" X 9.5", with 400W bulb placing the corals strategically on the center.
German 250W bulb on M80 with a longer photoperiod would also work.
I just love the spread of the Cozumel.

Cozumel Sun Pendant System

Thanks! But I may have to use two smaller fixtures. If I had an in-wall tank or closed canopy, then I wouldn't care as much.

 

[MartinM]

Giesemann spectra + two reefbrite XHO strips.

I attached two 72" reefbrite XHO strips using black mending plates using the connector bolts to the side panel of the fixture.

I have the ice cap selectable ballasts set at 250 HQI, 3x 250 W Radiums, 4 x 80 W ATI Blue Plus, and the Reefbrite XHOs. The fixture is 12" from the water surface. 72" fixture over an 84 x 34 x 27 " tank.

Nice looking fixture, but why add the LEDs?

 

[sdreef]

Nice looking fixture, but why add the LEDs?

Mainly for aesthetics. The reefbrite XHOs bring out a fluorescence in many of the corals that I enjoy. I don't know how to quantify what they might add in terms of coral growth and health. I believe there would be good growth and coral health without them, but they certainly reveal some stunning colors and fluorescence you would miss otherwise. I have a 12 hour photoperiod. The first and last hour are reefbrites only and it's some of my favorite viewing.

I run the T5s for 10 hours and the halides for 3.5 hours currently. I'm not sure where I should end up with the halides in terms of photoperiod. I was thinking 4-5 hours, but currently everything is doing well, so I haven't increased the duration of the halide photoperiod.

 

[minus9]

Btw, BRS has some open box metal halide stuff up for grabs. I think most of the fixtures where DE.

 

[A. grandis]

I see humilis pop up from time to time. I had a very cool colony in my 22g, but sadly lost it to heavy metals when I moved to the 90g. Gemmifera I haven't seen since I worked on the coral farm in the late 90's.

Here's my 22g and the humilis bottom center. It really thinned out because I only had two Tunze 6040's and way too many colonies in there. The pic is pre filter days.

So nice!!! Do you have pictures with "white" light? Close ups, please?

I think to have corals like A. humilis and A. gemmifera would be great if you plan the strategic spot you will place them since the beginning and they would have to have to be the center of the attention in terms of flow and light, so they could develop structure/colors similar to it's nature formation. The pictures we see online that shows them very compact in the ocean are the ones found in heavy wave action. They are the prime corals to me as well as some other tables. Surge device with many small pumps would be the best to reproduce the need in regards to current. Then get those Lumenarc spaceships with some 14K halides/Blue Plus tubes over them and a calcium reactor to boost it's glory!!! Oh man!!!

love all tables. I loose breath when I see some of the pictures online!!!! I also love stags to death and the echinata group. I love them all!!!!! LOL!
Thanks for sharing the pictures!!!
This is what I can share found online:

A. gemmifera:

Acropora humilis - Marine Savers

marinesavers.com

This is an example of how hard is to get the A. humilis to grow like they do in their natural habitat:
The A. humilis in the video above was probably from a mariculture facility and even though the light might be great (not sure how turbid that particular area could be), because of lack of proper current it has it's shape totally different than we would want.

A. humilis:

Acropora humilis - Marine Savers

marinesavers.com

Acropora humilis - Marine Savers

marinesavers.com

Acropora humilis - Marine Savers

marinesavers.com

Best example of A. humilis:

Acropora humilis - Marine Savers

marinesavers.com

acropora humilis - Google Search

www.google.com

OUCH!!!!
A. echinata:

“True” Australian Acropora echinata being imported in reasonable numbers, fair prices | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Australian Acropora echinata has to be one of the most iconic Acro and SPS corals of all time. Every die hard small polyp stony coral junky at one time or another has caught the site of one of these…

reefbuilders.com

SPS - ORA Hawkins Echinata Acropora

Truly a classic coral that has withstood the test of time! Hardy - check! Neat growth pattern - check! Beautiful blue-green color - check! Regular sized frags will be 3/4" or larger Large frags are 1 1/2 or chunky

boomcorals.com

And this is what stops my heart!! Hope Greg still has it!

The tale of the Ultimate Efflo tabling acropora | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Few other coral in our hobby captures the image we have about massively plating coral like Acropora efflorescens. We have seen tabling corals such as Acropora granulosa or Acropora millepora but in…

reefbuilders.com

I better stop dreaming!
Sorry, I've got carried away in my thoughts... Back to lighting!