400watt MH for a 75gallon?

[TexasState]

One light over a 75 will work too, but it's going to look uneven.

http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/55g...-september.jpg
http://www.swt.edu/~xp42012/2001/55g...-september.jpg
You can keep one 400W MH on the right for the SPS, then keep the soft, lower light corals on the right with your current VHO.

[Brett Wilson]

I'm waiting for you to give up first, so I can have a matched pair.

Vinh, you arent kidding anyone. Name one light setup you kept for over one year..... yeah I thought so. hahahaha all in good fun.

:-p

-Brett

[newtosa]

My 75g (album is in gallery) has 1 400w mh on the right, and 1 175w mh on the left. Four 32w actinics add good color but not much else. It's been that way for about 3 years now, and what follows is just some random things I've learned:
- The 175 Aqualine and Ushio 10k bulbs (doesn't matter which) have put out much more than the 1/2 you would expect next to the 400 (tried Ushio 10k, then ALS 12k). Visually, there's not even really that much difference after the first month (never tried anything more scientific).
- Traditional mh ballast gives up very *little* intensity to electonic ballast in the 175w range, and very *much* intensity in the 400w range. (I tried the Champion Blue Line - POS.)

(next post)....

[captexas]

Thanks for everyones input, much more than I expected to get!

I think I am going to order one Iwasaki bulb and give it a try on my 58gallon first. See how I like it with the actinics. It may be awhile before I can get the 75 setup as I will need to get rid of the livestock and will need to find a bigger skimmer for it as I only have an Aqua C Remora on the 58.

Thanks again!

Chris

[Tim Marvin]

You won't like the Iwasaki. The corals tend to change to dark greens and browns, although they grow corals very well they don't have the look you want unless you suppliment a bunch of actinic. Radiums have been getting good reviews and Dr. Mac, which everyone seems to like uses them on his tanks. The commercial ballast will overdrive the bulbs and make them more white than the yellow, but I would still run the radium. One light will work placed over the middle and the shaded areas on the sides can be used for brains, mushrooms, and other corals needing less light.

[kjswift]

Can anyone tell me a good place to order MH bulbs from? Thanks

[dow]

I've heard very good things about Ocean Encounter, but I haven't ordered anything from them. Their prices look to be pretty good, though.

[dow]

I've heard very good things about Ocean Encounter, but I haven't ordered anything from them. Their prices look to be pretty good, though.


OOPS! Duplicate post.

[Janice]

I've heard very good things about Ocean Encounter, but I haven't ordered anything from them. Their prices look to be pretty good, though.

The bulb I am most interested in is $3.oo less at OE.com than at hellolights.com.

justletmein - I would be interested in what you can get the 175w Ushio 10K for from hellolights.com wholesale site.

[Brett Wilson]

Josh,

I might be interested in some NO/VHO bulbs when you place your order.
Just let me know when, please.

Thanks,
-Brett