Lighting advice

[MikeP]

I am currently running 4 VHO , 2 URI Actinic, one 10k and one Aquasun on my 75 gallon. Color is ok and intensity seems good and growth was reasonable on my old tank. I am thinking of going to a dual HQI setup and wanted to run these options by you all.

Option 1 - 2x Reefoptix 3 HQI Pendant/Reflectors
Dual 250 Watt HQI ballast - probably Blueline
2x Ushio 10k HQI Bulbs

Cost about 650 or so.

Option 2 - 2x Geissman 250W HQI Pendants/Ballast with Bulb
Cost about 800 bucks

Obviously the geismann pendants are a bit more but I fiddled around with one and they are really really well made. The Sunlight Supply stuff seems ok but the reflectors are ugly and clunky by comparison to the german pendants. I was going to go with a 48" hood but thinking about it a good full spectrum bulb should negate the need for actinic supplemtnation and pendants would allow me more flexibitly when I move to a 6 foot or greater tank.

Feedback appreciated - basically down to aesthetics/quality versus price at the moment.

-Mike

[Tim Marvin]

The reef optix BLOWS the geissmann away! I have run both! Reef optixs has better spread of the light and better growth. I am currently running both an AB bulb on one of my tanks with outstanding growth. It also colors them up better than the Geissmann 10k.

[MikeP]

Hmm, thanks for feedback guys - I think I may just end up going with the sunlight setup that about eats up all my tax return - the Geismann would entail burning up the plastic some more.



Josh if you still have that dual ballast I will take it off your hands just PM me.

[Tim Marvin]

Oh yeh, I run the icecaps also.

[MikeP]

Well I am buying Josh's ballast and ordering 2 bulbs and 2 pendants from premium aquatics On Friday. Am I overlooking anything? They come standard with 15' cords with the quick disconnect?

I think I'm going to keep my 660 and wire it up to drive 2 48" bulbs - I think 4 Actinics would be overkill.

Also any opinions on the AqualineBuschke versus the Ushio? Been reading Ushio has better PAR but AB has nicer color - anyone know?

[Hammer]

Just a note on the 4 actinics thought.
URI actinic is pretty weak for intensity. Perfect color spectrum though.
Might want to think about adding a 3rd or 4th bulb being something more blue rather then purple, like a T8 Osram blue. VERY VERY VERY bright blue. And as I was running before, they are a great complement to the URI actinic.
Of course I had 400w radiums, so I only ran one URI and one Osram, mainly for dawn/dusk.
As for Ushio vs AB, make sure the Ushio results weren't the ones without the lens.
And the AB is going to be slightly bluer then the Ushio, which tends slightly towards yellow. Both are white, they just lean different ways. Or at least mine, and ones I have seen.