250 watt MH HQI bulbs on a 180

[21chip21]

Iv had just 4 four ft. VHO on my tank. there was two whites and two blues on it and i really liked the look it gave me. I what to go to MH. I bought one Hamilton 250 watt. MH HQI. with 10,000 k bulb its to white for me i lost all my cool green glows on my corals. Any ideas on how to get the same color that that VHOs had. Two blues and two whites. This is what i have now. PIC.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Looks like you have the MH on the right side of the tank (viewer's right). You can try to see if you can get a 250W at 20,000K, but my guess is that you will still be disappointed at the color temperature. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice a little in appearance, I guess... Sorry can't be any more helpful.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 150, a foot shorter than your tank I believe, and to get lighting that I am happy takes, 2 250 DE 10K's, 2 250 DE 20K's, and 3 46 inch VHO super actinics (two in front, one in back).

Oy.

 

[Len]

To be honest, I don't think any MH lighting, even 20KK, will meet your preferences. Only true actinics (~420nm) will produce the irridescent green glow that you're looking for. But using actinics alone, unfortunately, is a very ineffective way of providing light. Who knows: maybe the whiter look will grow on ya I'm a sucker for actinics too, but I also like the crisp white look.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
You can try get some gel filter (use in camera and cinema) and see if you want to filter the light from the MH. IMO, people are too concern about the look of the tank instead of truly concern about the health of the coral. White and lower color temp. MH is a better light for the coral than a blue tank with tons of florescence corals.

 

[jimbo327]

IMO, the right side looks so natural and much better. Get 2 more 250W for the center and left. Then keep 2 of the VHO to get some actinics 03 type. You will have a killer combination. Trust me

Jim