Advice? How many guys still use MH

I do and I prefer lumenbright pendents

 

I run halides. But I haven't used the coral vue pendants yet.

 

I have been using a 250w radium w m80 ballast in a Hamilton reflector.

Moving my tank upstairs and want to hide the lighting in cannopy so I snagged a 12 bulb t5. Also, when tank was in the basement the heat from the halide balanced the cool air, heater rarely kicked in.

Hands down radium halide produces the most beautiful tanks. Downside is heat. Toast your arm just working under one. I'm keeping mine, going to make a 4x4 tank with partician. half QT half grow out / whatever. The halide will light 4x4 no problem.

 

I'd love to go back to halides. They look so much better IMO.

 

I supplement the 20k radiums with 4 t5 and 2 reef Brite strips.

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I run 250 watt 20k Radiums. I guess depends on look your going for on bulb you use. Do you have the double end bulb or single?For single end, Radiums are hard to beat in my opinion. Double end I would do 14k Pheonix. But you could do the 10k and crank up the blue led. Find the halide bulb you like and tweak the look by adjusting your leds. that should work good.

 

I would say any water depth 24 inches or less I would do 250 watt. I suppose any less than 16 inches or so 175 watt or 150 would be fine. You can use 400 shallower than 24 inches but its a waste in my opinion. plus the extra heat produced.

 

I run 400w Radiums but my tank is 31 deep and pendents at 16in off the water.

 

I have a Aqua Medic (fixture) 250w that I will be running over my 40 breeder.

 

I had an aqua medic 250 pendant over my 45 gallon and it was awesome. I ran a 14k bulb and got great color and growth.