Upgrading Lights

[Guest]

I want to upgrade from 175 watt Aqualine Busch to 250 watt MHs on my 100 gallon reef.

 

Is the Icecap/Iwasaki combo the best format?  What are some other options?

 

I plan to use the spider light reflectors and supplement with URI VHO Actinics

[dgasmd]

Choices are limitless here.You could actually go with 400 watt 20K bulbs on e-ballast, e-ballast 250 watt 10K or 6.5K, HQI, you name it. If you choose to go with the 20K bulbs in 400 watt, you won't need the VHO actinics. I don't know about the 250 watt 20K though. 10K you probably will want to supplement with actinics. As far as the VHO ballast, I personally think the icecaps are way overpriced compared to all the other choices. You could go with the hellolights ballast that comes with the endcaps as kits already for much less and get the same performance. Just my opinion.

 

Alberto

[Larry Grenier]

I don't know if you were at the last meeting but George had a tank with 1 250 watt 10KK coralife on a HelloLights ballast and it liiked great.  I've also heard great things about the 10KK Ushio and Aqualine Busch.  Just mt $.02

[ReefMon]

FWIW, I've had great sucess with 2-250W Iwasakisi's and 2 50/50 & 2 03 110W VHO's that I run on my 90.  I get great growth and fantastic coloring out of them.

 

My preferance is the PFO halide (not MV) ballasts and the Icecap 660's.  The Icecaps are electronic, so your electrisity useage is a bit less than a tar VHO ballast, plus you should get a longer life from your bulbs with the electrronic ballast.  

 

HTH

Glenn R

[pez]

You really do have a lot of choices.  If you want pure intensity, the Iwasaki lamps are your best bet.  If you want good color (from the lamp), AB 10K lamps are a good choice (or the Ushio).  I'm not sure what size your tank is (i.e., how deep), but the 250 watt double-ended HQI lamps are a really good choice too.  They will give you a lot of intensity while still being 250 watts.  Generally, the double-ended HQI lamps will outperform the mogul-base lamps (i.e., the standard MH lamps) on a watt/PAR basis.  However, your lamp choice is greatly limited with the double-ended setups and they are generally more expensive.  You have to balance quantity/quality verses total cost of ownership.

 

Sanjay has a new set of lamp analysis articles on Advanced Aquarist over the last two months.  You should check it out.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/

 

 

-Tom