MH choice

[txg8gxp]

I'm still torn between led or Mh, I know what leds can do, that's nothing new to me...been there done that. I have a stripped biocube 29 that will need lights, if I don't go back to AI I want to try MH. If I do go Mh i'm torn between the JBJ k2 150w viper or the aquaticlife 150w pendant. I like the added cooling fan on the JBJ, but would rather have the light with the better ballast/reflector. Any opinions?

aquaticlife 12" 150w hqi
http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLife_12_Inch_150W_DE_HQI_Light_Fixture_Matt e_Black_Double_Ended_Metal_Halide_Pendants-AquaticLife-AK01208-FILTFIMHPDDE-vi.html

JBJ k2 150w hqi
http://www.aquacave.com/DELUXE-150W-K-2-Viper-HQI-Fixture-with-Fan-by-JBJ-P2109C256.aspx

[KING]

i like the cleaner look of the Aquaticlife ..

[randomfish]

i like the jbj cause the mount as the aquatic says it comes with a hanging kit

[reefreak]

i'd go with the aquatic life its cheaper lol

[350gt]

Speaking from experience..... Aquatic life has very good customer service.... I just picked up another fixture from them mostly because of that and the quality in there product...

[KING]

sorry didn't really read the info the 1st time.if ur going off what it gives. i have a change of mine..ill go with the jbj.. easy side mounts,fan an leds on the track.. an the other is just a lite..lol...

[350gt]

Yes cause the aquatic life doesn't need a fan, just like there fixtures..... Why? Cause of the quality of the build, which should matter over some little night lights and a fan that looks like a cheap dollar store fan...... That would never be put on a tank of mine... I prefer the clean look...

[CoryDude]

Never cared much for JBJ's imports. Their customer support is terrible too. Speaking from experience on that.

All biases aside, the aquatic life looks way better.

[txg8gxp]

I too like the simple look of the aquaticlife pendant, plus after hearing that their customer service is good and jbj's isn't looks like I would go with the aquaticlife setup.

[350gt]

And I wasn't, being biased on purpose....

I have never used jbj, so i really can't talk down on them.... But I know about the quality of AL and when I had a small problem with a bulb they more than fixed the problem, no questions asked...

[kkiel02]

The only thing I would worry about is the heat that small of a tank would get from a mh bulb. I love mh especially for large tank but they put off some serious heat. I run 2 250w Lumenbrite pendants and 200watts of t5 over 500 gallons of water and see a 1-2 degree spike in temp when the halides are on. So on a smaller tank I think it would be worse.

Have you looked into a full spectrum led fixture? Its only ~$400 for that mazarra fixture which isn't much more than the pendants.

[txg8gxp]

Don't they still need a power supply and controller? that would put it over $600

The only thing I would worry about is the heat that small of a tank would get from a mh bulb. I love mh especially for large tank but they put off some serious heat. I run 2 250w Lumenbrite pendants and 200watts of t5 over 500 gallons of water and see a 1-2 degree spike in temp when the halides are on. So on a smaller tank I think it would be worse.

Have you looked into a full spectrum led fixture? Its only ~$400 for that mazarra fixture which isn't much more than the pendants.

[350gt]

DP.... Sorry

[350gt]

http://www.marinedepot.com/Maxspect_Mazarra_P_Series_MZ_P01_Complete_LED_Ligh ting_System_Pre_Order_Aquarium_LED_Light_Fixtures-Maxspect-0M11111-FILTFILDPO-vi.html

$699 to be exact..

I love everything about the maxspect, except the price:(

[kkiel02]

Oh yall are right. That changes things for me as well.

[txg8gxp]

You don't need the controller, but do need the powersupply ($99) and a mount, too much money, I would rather have a AI module with some extra uv leds added.

[txg8gxp]

How much extra heat do you mh folks really think it would add, it will be a 150w mh 10" or so over a open top biocube 29 w/sump. If needed I could always add a cooling fan over the sump, or add some into the stand

[350gt]

It's not even close but 2 150 MH don't do much to my 110... And they are about 10" above the water as well...

[350gt]

Oh yall are right. That changes things for me as well.

I know what you mean. I wanted LEDs over my frag tank but couldn't justify the price with the unsurity that it would be enough light. So I went T5s......... Will add some LEDs for shimmer and for that color pop later....

[txg8gxp]

Ok, so I think I'm going to order the aquaticlife 150w pendant. The pendant use the aquaticlife 150w HID bulbs, not HQI bulbs. Is that really a big deal? They offer the bulbs in 10k, 14k and 20k. Before I click the buy button I just wanted to make sure the HID bulbs/fixtures didn't suck
http://www.marinedepot.com/Double_Ended_Halide-AquaticLife-AK01208-FILTFIMHPDDE-vi.html
I know it says HQI, but if you read the discription and look at their website you will see it is HID not HQI

[350gt]

It's says they are hqi?....

[350gt]

It's says double ended hid, the one you probably don't want is the single ended G12... Which I have. Not that it's bad but not many or any companies make the g12. Ushio is the only one that I think does, been looking into them..

[350gt]

This might help. http://www.marinedepot.com/150_Watt_10000K_R7S_HID_Metal_Halide_Bulb_AquaticL ife_Double_Ended_150_Watt_Double_Ended_Metal_Halid e_Light_Bulbs-AquaticLife-MB2464-FILTBUMHDEHW-vi.html


Thats the replacement bulb..

[txg8gxp]

Ok I got a email back from marinedepot, the fixture does use the standard double ended HQI bulbs. The fixture come with a 10k bulb, but I'm sure I will want something around the 14/15k range. What would be a good bulb? I don't want anything too crazy expensive, something in the $50-70 range...none of those crazy $100+ bulbs.

[CoryDude]

Dude, I swear by the Phoenix 14K's. Perfect blue/white combo and they are usually in that price range. I'm going on 4 years of using them and don't expect to stop anytime soon.

[Goofball310]

If you're using halides by themselves here is a little comparison:

6500k - Yellow coloration but the "BEST" coral growth and most corals will turn yellow or brown
10k - Crisp white w/ good color growth and moderate coloration in corals
12k-15k - Hint of blue w/ moderately good coral growth and good coloration
20k - Very blue w/ slow coral growth but excellent coloration

Bulbs will vary in color depending on manufacturer and ballast.

If you want a top notch fixture for you tank you should check out ebay, RC, R2R, and NR. I've seen a few 150w Sfiligoi and Geisemann units go up for sale in the past 2 months. People tend to be shying away from halides because of the price of bulbs, wattage consumption, and heat transfer, and offering up top dollar fixtures for cheap. Just last month I was thinking of purchasing a Geisemann 150w unit that was on ebay that sold for around $130 and it was relisted 2 or 3 times.