Which is the best choice of MH combination

[7thheaven]

Hi~

I have plan to install a new tank in my house.

and Now I have a 100 net gallon of SPS tank and am using a BLV in Center

2 AC 14K bulb in both side. All bulbs are DE(250w) and use PFO mini pendant.

I read thread about blv named "14000K/10000K bulbs (Pages 1 2 )"

I love BLV and look of AC but I am a little suspicious whether AC is good...

so I am not sure which is the best choice about MH in my future tank..

Here is what I am thinking.

1. BLV10K(1ea)+20K bulb(2ea)

2. BLV10K(2ea)+20K bulb(1ea)

3. BLV10K(1ea)+14K AC or phoenix(2ea)

4. BLV10K(2ea)+14K AC or phoenix(1ea)

5. BLV10K(2ea)+VHO super actinic

6. BLV10K(2ea)+T5 super actinic

which is the best choice I can use?

[AlfaRomeo]

Vince, I would go for 3xBLV10K with T5 Actinics. Will give you all the PAR you need and the Actinics will cancel off the yellowness from the bulbs and you can use the actinics for dawn and dusk effects.

[hamannbmw]

agree with Alfa, BLV10K is still better than any 14K.

[scarab]

Go all 10000K for MH and supplement with blue T5s (not actinics). Actinics not strong enough to balance the yellow tint of the 10000K. Unless you find the light too blue then convert one or two tubes to actinics.

[AlfaRomeo]

Scarab, which blue tubes are you using now?

[scarab]

Scarab, which blue tubes are you using now?

Wait so long for ATI still never come........ ........ so now I use Aqualight.

[AlfaRomeo]

The ATI shipment must wait long2 liao.. hehehe

[7thheaven]

Thanks for reply~

If I install T5 bulb, How many should I have?

and the height of T5 installation is the same as that of pendant?

Cause if I install the T5 close to water surface, is there any possibility that MH light are

interfered by T5 kits? Should I make canopy for them?

wow..there's so many questions...so sorry..

[7thheaven]

How about 250w 20K (center) + BLV 250w (both side) or

400w 20K (center) + BLV 250w (both side) ?

Does it look like yellow?

If I choose, I should buy the T5 sets in addition. I have 3 pendants, so I wanna

install only MH as possible as I can...

How about your opinion?

Only T5 supplement is the best way?

[scarab]

If you are only using MH, my opinion is 400W 20k centre and 250W 10k both sides. Might still be a bit yellow though. You might need maybe 4 T5, 2 in front 2 at the back. Change the T5 bulbs to 1 blue and 1 white if it's too blue with all blue T5s.

I place my T5s the same height as my MH, using 54W T5s so intensity better than the 3ft or 2 ft version. I have no canopy, pendant MH with 3x250W BLV 10k and DIY T5s sets front and back.

[jd_n]

Give the choice, i would still stick to 6.5k in the middle and 20k on both side.

[tineng]

Give the choice, i would still stick to 6.5k in the middle and 20k on both side.

was this your old setup????? quite like your old lighting arrangements.....was thinking for following.....

[7thheaven]

If you are only using MH, my opinion is 400W 20k centre and 250W 10k both sides. Might still be a bit yellow though. You might need maybe 4 T5, 2 in front 2 at the back. Change the T5 bulbs to 1 blue and 1 white if it's too blue with all blue T5s.

I place my T5s the same height as my MH, using 54W T5s so intensity better than the 3ft or 2 ft version. I have no canopy, pendant MH with 3x250W BLV 10k and DIY T5s sets front and back.

wow~ thanks..

Do you have a pic about your Pendant and T5 combination?

Could you show me the pic?

[scarab]

Here's the photo. Hope it helps.

[jd_n]

was this your old setup????? quite like your old lighting arrangements.....was thinking for following.....

yup....tats my old setup config. If can...will probably squeeze in 3 again for my new tank.

[firestream]

Here's the photo. Hope it helps.

woo .. isn't that very hard when it come to feeling time ?

[scarab]

woo .. isn't that very hard when it come to feeling time ?

Errr.......what are you feeling for ah???

[IanJ]

At the moment i have 2 x 250w BLV 10000K at either end and a hamilton 250W 14000K in the middle supplimented with 2 x 54wT5's Aquaz actinics.

I have also used Phoenix(AC) in the middle. These combo's work ok, but i have to lower the middle pendant to compensate for the lower PAR

If i use 3 x 10000K, then the 2 T5's are not enough to hide the yellow tint, as yet i have not found a way to fit extra T5's

So if you can fit 4 T5's, 2 infront and 2 behind then go with 3 x 10000k's if not then the 2 x 10000k and 1 x 14000k in the middle works.

[firestream]

Errr.......what are you feeling for ah???

sorry . typo.

I mean very hard to feed .... as the light blocking the whole tank .

[scarab]

sorry . typo.

I mean very hard to feed .... as the light blocking the whole tank .

When feeding move the T5 aside to create a gap lor. Then can feed already. When you need to put your hand in the tank, lift up the T5 and put it aside. I prefer to have more space for light than to worry about whether can feed or not coz you don't need to feed continuously but continuous light will definitely benefit your coral.

[sunnymau]

may i know what is the product code of the BLV 10k?

is it BLV224426? just fired up a BLV buld 250watt, suppose to be 10k but look blue to me leh.

[7thheaven]

Which is better for coloration? (not growth)

1. 24inch VHO super actinic(75w 2ea)+Iwasaki 250w 65K

2. 400W BLV 10K

Both are the same 400watt...

MH Bulb choice is a very hard work...