Metal Halides????

[DeletedAccount]

OK, I am going to break down and get a MH for the small tank (29 gal). The 4 PC bulbs will not fit in the hood. (Do I hear an 'I told you so' out there?) If I had no skimmer or anything I would be fine, but....

So an ugly hanging pendant here I come. I am guessing that I would need a 250 MH for this tank. Am I correct? I do not want ANY more restrictions on critters! If I want a clam with beautiful colors I want to be able to get it. I want my hard corals to not die. (Yes, another "I told you so" from a few meeting goers, but I had to get one hard coral and try.)

So my questions....

Would a 250 be my best bet? Could a 175 work? What would be my best K rating? I will not have the room with this small tank to get any other bulbs in. I think the pendant will be it. The 175 has a lens or something on it, the others do not. Why do I want or not want a lens? If I hang this do I want to get rid of the glass on the top of the tank, or keep it? How high from the water do I hang one of these? Since I have a skimmer and filter that hang on the back of the tank, would the MH cause a problem? I know that most folks do not put them over plastic braces, so....

I have decided that this has to happen NOW, so any help would be great!!!!

Thanks, y'all!

[TexasState]

You have a plastic brace on a 29 galllon tank? Have you though about moving up to a 40/45 gallons breeder?
36X18X16

I don't know about ugly. If you got the dough, you can take the pendant to an auto Collision & Body shop and have it finish looking like the paint from a Lexus or Mercedes. The Sunlight look pretty shiny in jet black. I don't know how long that last.

Check out the Gieseman Pendant, their finish are said to be automotive quality.
http://www.inlandreef.net/giesmethalfi.html

[Triggerman]

hey misti,

since this is going to be your only bulb i would also go with the 250 watt and you for sure won't have any restrictions and in case you decide to upgrade to a bigger tank which tends to happen. there're so many choices for bulbs, but i really like the 10k ushios it's a nice crisp white and you get moderate coral growth. i also like the 20k but it has alot more blue in it and you don't get as good of a coral growth. as far as pendants go you have alot to choose from also i would go for a lens cover so it protects the bulb from any accidental water splashing which could shatter the bulb and if you have the money spend the extra to get the HQI double ended fixture and bulb.

ray

[DeletedAccount]

I am hoping to stick to the 29gal. I already have it and I really like the stand a lot. I have the big tank for other things, but want a small area that I can do the more difficult items in.

I do not have a brace on the tank, I was wondering if the heat would damage the filter and skimmer since they are made of plastic (like the braces that everyone is careful of).

Those G lights are gorgeous! I was looking at the CS lights from Hellolights. (They are not pretty.) The blue one.... Huh, just painted the office blue....

What are the differences in ballasts?

[TexasState]

I have a white one ( not for sale) that I was thinking about letting you borrow for several days to try out. I figure that the white pendant would blend into your white wall. I guess not. The steel cable might stand out against the blue wall. But over time, it should turn gray.

I have a 29 gallons tank b4 too. Over time, the black ring on the tank might get dry and crack. I had a NO hood under my tank that just slowly melted under it.

I had a Prizm on the side of the 29 gallon tank too, and I didn't see any damage. You bought it cheap, and it melt, Oh well. As long as it don't catch on fire. Have you though about drilling the tank?

If you're doing SPS, you'll need lot of calcium and water flows too. Hook a SCWD wave device to your return.

There's a store in Austin that specilize in selling Gieseman HQI. You should call ahead and make sure they're in stock.

[DeletedAccount]

Thanks, Vihn.

I was thinking that it would be a waste of money to drill the tank. It is quite a cheapy. I was playing with the idea of setting a slightly smaller tank in the corner behind it (djdubdub style) as a refugium. Maybe I could steal my daughters 12 gallon next for that project.......

[TexasState]

You might be able to buy a cheap custom tank from Aquatrend, and have them drill it for you. I don't know what your stand look like. If you can fit it, then use your current tank for a sump. If not, many other reefer would be happy to trade your 29 for their 20/25/15 gallons.

http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/68rr-02.jpg

Don't ask me to vouch for the quality of Aquatrend. I sold/traded my custom Aquatrend off b4 I even use it. It took a whole week of staining and varnishing the stand for me to realize that it doesn't fit my application. Paid $450 for the thing, and trade/sold it off for $200 plus a hex tank/stand/canopy.

[dow]

I havea an aquatrend tank. I believe them to be a good company.
It's a tank, it holds water, it doesn't leak. Fish live in there.
What more can you say? :D :-D :grin: :) :D :-D :grin: :)

[DeletedAccount]

150 DE HQI??? Huh???

[Hammer]

Not to push selling, but I have a 250 HQI setup. It is a DIY job, but the bulb only has a DAY of burn time. If you come to Austin a bit, you can try it out. This is NOT something you want to be out in the open by itself. It is in a simple flood light housing from Home Depot.
But it could give you a great idea on what the light could do for you.
It has a 10K Ushio bulb. Double ended of course.

[TexasState]

The 150 DE bulb supposedly is about the same or a little better intensity as a 250w mogul bulb.

http://www.froadin.com/thereef/images/trey_cannon/
The pictures above is of Trey Cannon's 37( just a bit taller then the 29G) gallons tank. He uses 10K BLV 150Watts DE HQI pendant & actinics light. Ed didn't take a picture of his equipment, but he spend a lot of money on circulations, and other devices.

[Hammer]

Yeah, I kind of forgot to take pictures of the entire setup, and just spent my time taking individual pictures.
I might be able to find OLD pictures of the entire setup, I think Brett had taken some at some point in time.

[Tim Marvin]

I would definately go with the 250 rather than the 150. I have not had great success with the 150-175 watt range Halides. I am watching great success with the 250watt AB double ended reef optix that I got from Vinh. Actually probably better than the 400 watts in the propagation tank. I may change the bulbs in that system.

[Jimnorris]

Tim,
I will take you old 400 watters.
Jim

[Tim Marvin]

the bulbs?

[DeletedAccount]

the 250watt AB double ended reef optix

I think that I have that narrowed down. Definately the 250. I have looked at a few brands of set-ups. I need to find one that is NOT DIY. I would mess it up or never finish the project. We must all know our personal limits. :)

What does the AB stand for? Any idea where I can look find these types of lights on the web? Or in person (store wise)?

I wish more LFS would carry these in stock. I am a looker. I want to see, touch, say wow, all that fun stuff before I plunck down the $$$$!

[Tim Marvin]

AB is for Aqualine. Check www.hellolights.com. I run mine on an icecap electronic ballast.

[dow]

I'm not sure how they compare to the other systems you're looking at, but Ocean Encounter (http://www.oceanencounter.com/) has good prices. Here's a link to their 250 HQI setup:
250Watt HQI Metal Halide System (http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=OE&Product_Code =2HMHS&Category_Code=ICMH)

Standard disclaimers apply. My only experience with them is that I just ordered a new bulb from them. UPS still has it, so I'll know more when it gets here on the 18th.

Considering their prices, if I didn't already have lighting, I'd be tempted to order this system.

Good luck!

[Tim Marvin]

This is, in my opinion, the best set-up for the bucks! Works unbeleivable well on small tanks, and corner tanks. You would need a couple on longer tanks, but this has a pretty goood spread on the light. Much better than the Giessman I was running.

[reefer]

i purchased a 150w hqi w/ 10k and currently have it over a 46 bf/aga. it should be just right for a 29gl, at 5+watts per gallon. that's plenty of light for soft and hard corals. i've seen those guissemann fixtures, and they are very trick setup! but a bit $$$. i came across this vendor site (http://www.petsupplyliquidator.com/htm/mnu_ahoods.htm), and i am quite satisified with the lamp. i saved about 25~30% the cost of a guissemann fixture.
8)

[DeletedAccount]

Thanks for all the input, guys! With some help from Jim, I finally narrowed down and ordered my lighting system. I got a PFO Mini-250 Watt DE HQI Pendant System. I am looking forward to actually getting it in!