lighting scheme

[dandy7200]

I would go with 2ea luminarcs with XM20k bulbs running 400w m59 magnetic ballast. You will have PLENTY of light like this. Personally, if I was running 20k bulbs I wouldn't even bother with the actinics to start, you might be happy without them.

 

For a picture of what the L3's can do as far as spread combined with the above combo I suggested:

 

 

Yes, you truly will get a usable 3' spread and since your tank is only 6' I don't see why you need 3 bulbs.

[bigJPDC]

since your tank is only 6'

 

[jamal]

how did you get to change your title above your avatar!!!!!

 

click on your name and then hit edit your profile. and change custom member title

[jamal]

man with just 2 i could save a butt load of money on the upgrade. i was thinking that as well but i wasnt sure. where is a good place to buy these items? also isnt a magnetic ballast not as good? do you guys recommend mogul or de hqi?

 

is this the same as the lumenarcs that i need?

 

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1474

Edited September 24, 2007 by jamal

[bigJPDC]

click on your name and then hit edit your profile. and change custom member title

 

you rock!

[jamal]

no problem

[dandy7200]

man with just 2 i could save a butt load of money on the upgrade. i was thinking that as well but i wasnt sure. where is a good place to buy these items? also isnt a magnetic ballast not as good? do you guys recommend mogul or de hqi?

 

is this the same as the lumenarcs that i need?

 

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageA...amp;ProdID=1474

 

 

Magnetic ballast not good? When you come by next week I'll show you how it looks. If you want to pick up a 400w 20k xm bulb we can fire it up and you can see what the combo looks like. I like the moguls and full size L3's although I nevr tried the mini.

[jamal]

that would be great i need some visuals. i was told that electronic ballasts are more efficient and are better quality in general. as you can tell i dont know alot about lights. the more i read the more questions i have

[davelin315]

that would be great i need some visuals. i was told that electronic ballasts are more efficient and are better quality in general. as you can tell i dont know alot about lights. the more i read the more questions i have

 

Everything depends on the brand of the bulb and ballast. For instance, if you take an inferior bulb and run it on a cheapo magnetic ballast and then compare that to an awesome bulb run on an electronic ballast you could get a very different result. From what I have experienced and what I have seen with others is that the electronic ballasts tend to have a shorter life than other ballasts. I have seen several posts where people say their blue wave e-ballasts have gone out and I have had ARO electronic ballasts go out on me as well as other brands. I have yet to have a magnetic ballast go out on me, although I have had it where they don't fire up the bulbs as well or get very loud. With the magnetic ballast, though, you can typically change a part whereas the electronic ballasts you have to change the ballast outright. HQI are, I believe, a magnetic ballast, too. They are for a different type of bulb and in the US for 400W bulbs at least they are not true HQI ballasts, instead they are actually, if I remember correctly, sodium vapor ballasts that are rated above the 400W you need. They are something like 435W from what I was told. They are designed to run DE bulbs but can also run SE bulbs very well.

 

For bulbs, I have seen comparisons and from what I understand at the 20,000K spectrum you have three basic bulbs to choose from and get high quality at 400W. The Helios, which I use, the Radium, and the XM. I have never used Radium or XM but I can tell you that based on reviews and what the online sellers that I think offer some of the nicer looking corals use the Helios were my choice. I run them off of the 400W PFO HQI ballasts and I think that's what you'd run a Radium off of, too. I think that the XM can be run off of any of the ballasts and be effective. In the DE it's not worth the money still to buy a 400W bulb. In the 250W they have bulbs that perform like a 400W SE but the 400W DE are not there yet, nor are there superior reflectors yet. I looked into the 400W SE vs DE awhile back and opted for the 400W SE because of the poor reviews on most DE bulbs and reflectors. In the 250W you have a lot more choices because those bulbs are better quality and they have superior reflectors available as well (such as the Lumenarcs). If you want, you can also bring your bulbs by my place and see how they run off of an HQI ballast after you run by Dan's. If you do, let me know before you go to Dan's because I've been trying to get out there all summer (now it's fall!) and I have to not only pay him but pick up a tank from him as well, so if you do end up wanting to see both I'll ask you to pick up the tank and I'll paypal him.