Which MH Reflectors for a 240g?

brewandreef · May 27, 2019

We are going to be moving into our new house next month and we are thinking of upgrading to a 8x2x2 tank . This will be my first large tank and I am already thinking of lighting [emoji4]. I have been a bit torn between running MH or T5, but I am leaning towards MH. I want this tank to have that WOW factor when it comes to growth and color.

Would it be better to run four of Hamilton's 250w smaller reflectors on M80 ballasts? Or the larger cozumel sun reflectors with 400w e-ballasts and radiums? It seems that reflector would create a very nice blanket of light, similar to T5. However, I am not sure what type of par numbers you could expect from it with a 400w bulb. That and I would imagine you would have to keep it pretty close to the water compared to the smaller ones, and then maybe need a chiller if evaporative cooling wouldn't suffice.

-Jonathan

jda · May 27, 2019

250s are enough to cover a 2x2 area, and cover it very well. I have some covering 27x27x24 and have the 16" lumen brites which have no dead or dull spots. Hamilton 12" Cayman should be awesome.

I have 250w Radiums on m80 with my 16" Lumen Brites and I have 1150+ a few inches below the water, 750 8-10 inches below and 400 over the whole bottom. The Radiums with m80 are more powerful that most 250w setups. I am hardcore into acropora or else I would use the new 20k Hamilton on 250w eballast which would probably be 30% less, or so. m80 only run 250w Radium, so if you choose these ballasts, then it is this bulb only.

I just use a Vornado blowing across the top of the tank. Keeps mine plenty cool.

Hamilton is very helpful if you have questions. Call them.

1000w and only 4 bulbs to change is pretty cheap for a 240g tank.

brewandreef · May 27, 2019

jda said:
250s are enough to cover a 2x2 area, and cover it very well. I have some covering 27x27x24 and have the 16" lumen brites which have no dead or dull spots. Hamilton 12" Cayman should be awesome.

I have 250w Radiums on m80 with my 16" Lumen Brites and I have 1150+ a few inches below the water, 750 8-10 inches below and 400 over the whole bottom. The Radiums with m80 are more powerful that most 250w setups. I am hardcore into acropora or else I would use the new 20k Hamilton on 250w eballast which would probably be 30% less, or so. m80 only run 250w Radium, so if you choose these ballasts, then it is this bulb only.

I just use a Vornado blowing across the top of the tank. Keeps mine plenty cool.

Hamilton is very helpful if you have questions. Call them.

1000w and only 4 bulbs to change is pretty cheap for a 240g tank.

Thanks jda. How high off the water are your pendants? Also, with M80, you could have more bulb options with DE, correct? I really like my Pheonix bulb, but options would be good if it ever went away. Which would you choose if you were investing in a brand new Hamilton setup? SE or DE?

jda · May 27, 2019

All DE use m80... so lots, but 14k Phoenix stands out well above the rest, IMO.

My Radiums are about 8" off the water.

I use both DE and SE. The DE are in fixtures like AquaMedic Ocean Lights... small reflectors only about 8x8, but think and allows for open top tank. In a hood, I use SE on larger fixtures and no glass.

brewandreef · May 27, 2019

jda said:
All DE use m80... so lots, but 14k Phoenix stands out well above the rest, IMO.

My Radiums are about 8" off the water.

I use both DE and SE. The DE are in fixtures like AquaMedic Ocean Lights... small reflectors only about 8x8, but think and allows for open top tank. In a hood, I use SE on larger fixtures and no glass.

Appreciate the reply. You've been very helpful.

leepink23 · May 27, 2019

jda said:
All DE use m80... so lots, but 14k Phoenix stands out well above the rest, IMO.

My Radiums are about 8" off the water.

I use both DE and SE. The DE are in fixtures like AquaMedic Ocean Lights... small reflectors only about 8x8, but think and allows for open top tank. In a hood, I use SE on larger fixtures and no glass.

I definitely agree that the Phoenix 14k de stands out! Love it’s color!!!

brewandreef · May 27, 2019

Love the Pheonix as well. Sadly, I've never seen radiums in person. I entered the hobby too late I guess.

DogsRule · May 28, 2019

Just to give you another option: I run three Hamilton 14K SE 250 wt bulbs on my 220 -30" high (ran a single on my previous tank & loved the color/growth rate, so just stuck with the same). They are on reeflux/ Icecap electronic ballasts & about 7" above water surface in reefoptix II spider reflectors in a canopy(getting hard to find these reflectors now). I don't use any supplemental blue light except for dawn/dusk. I have 2 Icecap variable speed fans for cooling & have left space in the stand for a chiller if needed (but so far fans are doing the job). HTH

brewandreef · May 28, 2019

@DogsRule Yes I've heard those Hamilton 14K's are pretty nice and run cooler than most with the electronic ballasts.

@jda So I didn't know this, but it looks like the Giesemann Megachrome SE bulbs work on M80 as well. I might just go SE then with Radiums. My only concern was if sometime in the future the Radiums would go out of production for whatever reason (which I doubt), I'd have to invest in E-ballasts for a different bulb. Figure it would be nice to have backup options if a bulb got retired. Visually how different are your Pheonix vs. your Radiums?

jda · May 28, 2019

You can use most SE bulbs with m80, but the color shifts (usually whiter) and the lifespan is cut in half, or so - people who want MEGA PAR use 10k like Hamilton on m80. They make megachrome DE which are HQI bulbs.

tnyr5 · May 28, 2019

If you can find them, the old diamond lumenarc III reflectors, or the big lumenmax reflectors (both of which are 20+in square), would light your tank beautifully. As for the off chance of needing to change ballasts in the future, 4 replacement halide ballasts, which can probably be found secondhand in good condition, shouldn't cost too much more than a set of replacement bulbs (and an absolute pittance compared to the cost of switching to led).

brewandreef · May 28, 2019

tnyr5 said:
If you can find them, the old diamond lumenarc III reflectors, or the big lumenmax reflectors (both of which are 20+in square), would light your tank beautifully. As for the off chance of needing to change ballasts in the future, 4 replacement halide ballasts, which can probably be found secondhand in good condition, shouldn't cost too much more than a set of replacement bulbs (and an absolute pittance compared to the cost of switching to led).

But those 20in ones would probably have to be run with 400w bulbs to get high par for acropora right?

Agree with the ballasts. People are practically giving them away.

tnyr5 · May 28, 2019

brewandreef said:
But those 20in ones would probably have to be run with 400w bulbs to get high par for acropora right?

Not necessarily. Don't forget that a 250w Radium overdriven on an M80 ballast is really more like a 320w Radium. You will get higher peak intensity (in other words, bright spots) with smaller reflectors vs. large ones, but the total amount of light going into your tank isn't changing much between the two options. I promise, four 250w halides is enough to light your tank no matter what reflector you use. ^_^.

jda · May 28, 2019

I would not use the 20x20 reflectors on a 24x24 area... they will spill too much and allow the light to get into the glass too much. Get some 12x12 to 16x16 reflectors which will perform better, IMO.