Time to revamp the lights and I need some advice

[Speckled Grouper]

This is my current setup over my 180 g:

3 x 175W pulse start MH, two long and one bubble shaped on a 3 in one ballast

2 x 48" Coralife 40W 03 actinics

I have had the tank since April 1st and have no history on the bulbs, so I assume it's time to change.

I would like to increase the light without having to change the existing ballast, so I am thinking of adding two VHO's or alternatively replacing the the Coralifes aswell thus adding 4 VHO's.

I currently do not have any SPS and I am not planning of concentrating on them either, maybe a few of the hardier species in the future.

What are the suggestions to do this without spending an arm and a leg??? I do not like the yellowish tint my bulbs have at this time, I'd rather have crisp white and blue. Also, is there an advantage having the bubble shaped buld versus the skinny ones?

I found these http://www.insidesun.com/index.php?...=14&prevstart=0 $ 30.00 and free shipping, anyone has any experience with them?

Thank you for any help and suggestions[/url]

 

[Anonymous]

You dont say what type of bulbs you run now, so it's hard to say what will be less yellow.

The link you provided does not seem like the one you intended to provide, it's a link to a used 400w halide setup for plants, for 80 $

 

[Speckled Grouper]

One of the bulbs say Hamilton 175W the other two have no writing at all

Sorry about the link http://www.insidesun.com/index.php?action=item&id=364

 

[Anonymous]

10,000 k bulbs will be white, to me they look yellow-white

I prefer 12-20,000 k bulbs, more blue in those

bulbs look different to everybody, lighting color has alot to do with the individual preferences.

If your current bulb has no label it's probably low k, like 4000 or 5000k

Personally, on a 180g I would run 3x400w 10kk's with vho actinics, that's quite a bit of depth to deal with

I dont know the bulb colors in 175w sizes enough to recomend one over another, I've always ran 250-400w bulbs.