Why I love my Metal Halide

RedneckReefer68 · Jan 9, 2016

I don't want to create a"This light is better than this light " debate posting this. I'm just stating and going with what works for me. I started this 40b with an ati 6x24 t5 powermodule. Before that I had it over a smaller jbj20L frag tank till I transferred over to my current tank and I was happy with it on that tank. I had good colors and everything i read said that the ati would be plenty of light for my current 40b tank. But being me, i just couldn't make it work, so i went back to a 250w radium.
This pic was taken on Dec 18 2015 under the ati

This pic 5 days later under the radium

I couldn't believe the change in 5 days

spspirate · Jan 9, 2016

Hey nice color on that stag! I've been running halides for over a decade and despite the LED fan base/craze I'll stick with Radiums too. I do have to admit I use ReefBrite Blue LED's for supplementation and wouldn't trade them in for nothing. To see the florescence on some of those corals when just the ReefBrites are on is priceless. So a friend of mine has Radions and yes he can trip out just about any coral you throw in there but the thing I like about halide is that shimmer you get! I love that!........Color pigment seems to react differently with LED's IMO than under halides too.

Tegridy Reef · Jan 9, 2016

Switched my whole tank to halides wow the difference it's so awsome

jetmaker · Jan 9, 2016

Halides all the way

RedneckReefer68 · Jan 9, 2016

Thank you. I've tried Kessils on my other tank, but I couldn't get them dialed in at all... I envy anyone that can get LEDs to work for them,I wish I could buy I didn't have the patience.

I want to add some kind of supplements to my radium, but I'm not sure how I'm going to implement them yet or what I'm going to use.

Rob.D · Jan 9, 2016

That's an awesome color change....I'm going to MH/T5 fixture when I upgrade in a couple months....

RedneckReefer68 · Jan 9, 2016

Thanks..I'm still amazed I got that color change so fast.. If I remember the pics were 4 or 5 days apart

MOPAR · Jan 9, 2016

I'm a huge halide fan, but I do like my power module and kessil combo. I just couldn't justify the heat even though I prefer the look halides provide.

RedneckReefer68 · Jan 9, 2016

I went with a lumenbright mini so I could raise it higher to counter any heat . I ran t5 and a Kessil over my old tank for a bit.. I loved the look

jetmaker · Jan 9, 2016

MOPAR said:
I'm a huge halide fan, but I do like my power module and kessil combo. I just couldn't justify the heat even though I prefer the look halides provide.

If you are worried about heat go with the 150 watt halides in 20 k what I have and not much heat may have to run a fan.

TNT32D · Jan 9, 2016

I will have to get second job because I'm back to MH. LED & T5 for me not the same?

jayjigga · Jan 11, 2016

As cold as it is in Chicago, I'm glad my stick tank has MH over it! I think my heater is on double-time because it is COLD today. MH has always been my fave lighting.

Tegridy Reef · Jan 11, 2016

Lost my pump yesterday pretty sure that what kept my tank warm enough cause heater is in sump

Harry_Y · Jan 11, 2016

I went to MH about 3 months ago, The growth and colors I have been having are surprising

Reefloco760 · Jan 11, 2016

I switched from my leds to t5 hm combo and in a matter of about a week I am digging the change!

Pete polyp · Jan 11, 2016

I was afraid that I would have issues with heat if I used mh on my 40. I finally decided to go that route and much to my surprise 2x 250 and 4x39w t5 at 5" above the water didn't heat the tank up with 2 6" desktop fans. It's nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be to justify using led.

RedneckReefer68 · Jan 11, 2016

Pete, do you have 2 bulbs over a 40b? I have just the one and an not happy with the coverage on the sides. I don't have a par meter but I'm sure it's lore outside of my reflector edges from what I read about lumenbrights so far

Pete polyp · Jan 11, 2016

Yes. I have a Hamilton cebu sun with 2 ushio 20k and 4x39w t5

McMullen · Jan 11, 2016

I've tried it all. Well not all, but MH, t5, and LED. They all work. Currently have four black box LEDs on a 4ft x 2ft tank with light cranked up and getting wicked growth and color!! I don't have par or pur meter btw. Growth is as good as when I had 400watt with radium. That all being said, sps love it but everything else bleaches and dies. Someone's gonna ask....center two units are white 65-70%, blue 35-40%. Outer units tilted at angle toward middle with whites 75% blues 100%. Get a nice 15k look. I seem to run my whites higher than most, i do start at the bottom of tank for acclimation.

Oh and my tank is much cooler minus the MH

Anthony kolodziej · Jan 11, 2016

I debated switching to LED for a year . i bought a black box to try out in my fish room frag tank . and though things did grow it seemed something was missing . LPS didn't seem to like it at all . so I stuck with halides and added a couple T5's to get a little better coverage . I love it