Hey folks, new to Maast. have mh bulb quest.

[cpreefguy]

hmmm
hello lights had sweet deals on the 14k 150w Phoenix at MACNA...

[TexasTodd]

Phoenix doesn't make a 400wSE bulb.

The AquaConnects are supposed to be great bulbs. Hard to find and they cost about $150 each.

Best bulb out there IMO is Reeflux 400w SE 10kk on 400w HQI ballast.

Todd

[matt]

I got mine at Premium aquatics. If you're going for maximum PAR, I'd consider an XM10K in a lumenarc overdriven with a 400W "HQI" ballast...it's in quotes because I've heard from a fairly reliable source that the ballasts sold in this hobby as 400W HQI are not actual HQI ballasts, but they mimick the effect that HQI ballasts have on bulbs. The guy that makes the lumenarcs is not a fan of these ballasts; he claims the good old M59 is the best for the bulbs. Lots of people love the reeflux bulbs.

Regarding the coverage, the lummenarc's claim to fame is that it focuses the light over a very clean square pattern. Since your tank is like 2 squares next to each other, if you want perfect even light distribution across your whole tank, your best bet is two lumenarcs. If you do that, you could get the smaller "mini" lumenarcs which would give you room for some T5 actinics, and you could easily bump down to 250W which would allow you to get the true HQI ballast, or even just M58, and have PLENTY of light.

There, I just spent several hundred $ of your money.....sorry!!!

[acrofreak]

Thanks Matt, now I'm broke.

[TexasTodd]

Matt, true.............the "HQI" ballasts at the 400w level are actually 430w HPS ballasts. High pressure sodium. They do overdrive most bulbs, but the affect is also usually very desirable.

The Reeflux 10kk goes from like 100PPFD to 170PPFD between a standard Mag and an "hqi".

Much agree on "the perfect set up!

T

[acrofreak]

Matt & texastodd, Don't you guys think that 2 x 250w with t5 is a little over kill. With a t5ho setup alone you can cook you acros if your not careful with acclimation. I'm not trying to argue I'm just thinking holy macrel that's a lot of light. I do want good light over my tank but what your suggesting is around $800 compared to $350 for 1 400w setup. There is someone here on maast who says they have a 2x250w setup with lumenarc for sale, pm'ed him no response yet.

[TexasTodd]

250's will work fine too.

Todd

[matt]

1 400W will work fine, don't worry. Your tank will be brighter in the middle than at the ends, but so what? On my old 45 breeder, a 36"X18" tank, I used 2 175W bulbs and the light was outstanding. If you do go with 250W bulbs, the only reason I brought up the T5s was for actinic support, i.e color. If you wanted to avoid any actinics, I'd suggest 2 phoenix 14k DE bulbs, and get the lumenarc DE reflectors

[acrofreak]

1 400W will work fine, don't worry. Your tank will be brighter in the middle than at the ends, but so what? On my old 45 breeder, a 36"X18" tank, I used 2 175W bulbs and the light was outstanding. If you do go with 250W bulbs, the only reason I brought up the T5s was for actinic support, i.e color. If you wanted to avoid any actinics, I'd suggest 2 phoenix 14k DE bulbs, and get the lumenarc DE reflectors

Thanks Matt, I'm not to worried about the light at the ends. I plan to keep some lower light stuff on the outer edges anyway. I plan to go with the 400w 14k aquaconnect bulb. Found them a www.aquaristics.com. A little pricey but they're the only true hqi se bulb out there and are designed to run on hqi ballast without worry of short life or loss of kelvin. Sanjay on rc testet them and they had best rating of all 400w bulbs.