Upgrading my Lighting

Gujustud · #1 06-12-2004, 06:38 AM

So I've been running my 1x96w 50/50 since I started my tank, but as you know, it ain't bright enough.

I picked up 2x 175w Bulbs, and a Custom Sea Life ballast to run them from Lostmind (feel free to chime in here, if I mentioned the wrong stuff!).

I want to add actinic's as well. The setup will be 48" long. A quick stop by JL, and I was recommended to go with:

Hagen GloMat 2 Electronic Double Fluorescent / 40W Dual Bulb Electronic Ballast Kit

And for bulbs, the Philips, 48" - 40W Actinic Fluorescent Bulbs.

Think that should be good enough? I doubt I would go with anything more than the 175w in the future (however don't quote me on that

). I will most likely be building my own hanging canopy that is about 3-5" above the surface of the water.

Aquattro · #2 06-12-2004, 07:02 AM

I think you'll be happy with that for actinics and MH. Should be enough for most corals you'll want to keep.

Gujustud · #3 06-15-2004, 03:00 AM

Well after speaking with Jack and Jason at OA yesterday, I think I may go VHO for my actinics.

What is recommended for this setup?

smokinreefer · #4 06-15-2004, 05:16 AM

what type of light coloration are you after?
straight white?
tint of blue?
bluish?

what kelvin MH bulb do you plan on running?

sorry for a ll the questions, but it'll help me, to help you!

Gujustud · #5 06-15-2004, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokinreefer

what type of light coloration are you after?
straight white?
tint of blue?
bluish?

what kelvin MH bulb do you plan on running?

sorry for a ll the questions, but it'll help me, to help you!

Looking moreso for a tint of blue. I'm not sure what MH bulb I currently have, maybe Shane will know, I'll ask him which ones he gave me.

smokinreefer · #6 06-15-2004, 07:16 AM

well i'd recommend 10k with VHO actinic
or 14k with NO actinic or NO?VHO 10k depending on how blue the 14k are.

Gujustud · #7 06-15-2004, 07:30 AM

Just found out the bulbs I have are 10k

LostMind · #8 06-15-2004, 07:37 AM

yup, shoudl be 10k's.

Listen to Jack, go VHO!

Gujustud · #9 06-15-2004, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostMind

yup, shoudl be 10k's.

Listen to Jack, go VHO!

But what to buy? ballasts? bulbs? I'm a newb to lighting...

Doug · #10 06-15-2004, 01:00 PM

Has nobody else ever used Hagen Marine Glo actinics. I run them on my Hagen Glo mat ballasts and/or just a shop fixture. We were amazed at this bulb. We even put it beside a vho super actinic and it was hard to tell the difference, although I imagine the 110w was more intense.

I have run the Philips actinics for 15 yrs. Good cheap actinic bulbs, but the Hagen drowns it out.

Not sure on actual colour of the Marine Glo. It certainly is brighter. Perhaps it has some other spectrum in it. Like I said, it more closely resembles light from vho actinic than other 40w actinics.

If I was going vho super actinics, I would use an Icecap 430 ballast and two 110w actinic bulbs. They really bring out the colour of your corals, esp. if your using 10K or less for a colour temp in your halides.