To metal halide DIYers: Which brands do you use?

[richardhmc]

I'm thinking of setting up 2 175 watt metal halides over my 50 gallon tank and I don't know anything up retro kits and metal halides.

Which brands do you get for ballasts, reflectors, bulbs, etc?

Any tips would be appreciated! thanks!:grouphug:

 

[charliethetuna88]

Go with 250 watt with electronic ballast like lumenarc and for bill Def the radium

 

[Turbovr3six]

Lumatek 150W selectable ballast, Lumen Bright mini pendant, SE radium 20K

 

[ed4]

Lumatek 400W / 250W dimmable e-ballast & Radium 400W 20K.

 

[richardhmc]

looks like radium and lumatek are getting hits.. any specific reasons why?

 

[Turbovr3six]

I run the combo Ed listed and I have no complaints. I think Radium's are one of the best bulbs out, and I love the color. When it comes to the ballast, I've tried ice cap, sunpak, Hamilton, and galaxy and the Lumatek gives off the best color with the radium. Also with the selectable(dimmable) Lumatek's it's like getting two ballasts for the price of one.

 

[charliethetuna88]

So turbo is the ballast the 175 watt to 250 or the 250 to 400 watt type .I've heard the radiums rim best on a ballast that can be set to hqi output .I hbe my 250 radiums on ice cap but im wondering if the bulb is better on the hqi ballast .anyone notice a dif .I love my radiums awsome color

 

[Turbovr3six]

I have the 400/250. It goes 250, 275, 400, and HQI(~440). I run the 250's now, but I've overdriven a 400 radium to the HQI setting with great results.

 

[Alex]

before going LED I had a lumenarc mini mogul with a 250w icecap ballast and XM 20k bulbs. had great results.

 

[richardhmc]

Im thinking whether or not I should switch to halides or leds. Yeah leds are nice less heat and bill money but i'll nothing can imitate a halide. I feel corals respond much better to them
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[charliethetuna88]

So if I wanna run 250 hqi would i get the 175 watt to 250 or the 250 to 400 looks like from what u wrote the hqi setting is only for the 400 watt setting is that how it works I don't wanna run a 400 watt bulb

 

[Turbovr3six]

You would get the 150W selectable. That has 150, 175, 250, and "Super Lumens"(~290)

 

[lfsmarineguy]

The bulb is really up to you and what you like visually and what results you are looking for with your corals. I like Ushio bulbs because i think they give a far more natural look but the Radiums do create pretty awesome colors but are much bluer in appearance.

Lumatek is definitely the ballast I would go with too.

There are LED pendants from a few companies that easily replace halides at a fraction of the electrical draw. It just depends on what you are going for.

 

[richardhmc]

what is the proper amount of wattage halide i should get? 150, 175, 250?

Im going to have two over my 18 inch tall 50 gallon tank. and the lights are going to be about 6 inches above water

 

[richardhmc]

how are galaxy ballasts? any good?

 

[ed4]

Galaxy are excellent ballasts.

 

[duke62]

i dont know what you heard but my LED have very similar effect in my tank.you wouldnt know i was running LED lights

 

[ed4]

The look & quality of your lighting is top notch in my opinion & observation. It's very clean & has that same shimmer that halides give off.

 

[duke62]

thanks ed.but you need to be careful with which LED you chose.some give off a spotlight effect

 

[richardhmc]

what kind of leds do you run duke?