Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I want to change from a T5 HO setup to a metal halide setup for better light. I want a nice setup but i don't want to piece everything together. I was looking at this light system but i have a few questions. I have a 46G bow front... would i need two of these? Anyone have experience with these lights? Any better options? Im not sure where to start (nutty) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 You'd need a 250w Halide, but one should be more than enough, the viper is nice, but then again, there's lots of nice pendants out there, which is all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I run a k-2 viper 150w with a 14k phoenix over my nano cube.. and I still think I need more light! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 there's lots of nice pendants out there' date=' which is all you need.[/quote'] What do you mean by "pendants"? Im really open to suggestions... the viper just seems the easiest for a newbie like me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 A pendant is a completely enclosed fixture that you either hang or mount over the tank, similar to the Viper but without the clamps lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 Ah ok. Thanks for the clarification. I will get the lingo one of these days. Would two 250W lights be to much for a 46G tank be to much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 That'd be WAYYYYYYY!!!!!! too much dude, 2 250's is enough light for a 4' 75g tank, you only need 1 250 for a 46g bowfront lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyInside Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I like a lot of life... I think 1 400w 20k radium would be perfect for that tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 LOL You better get a chiller if you put a 400w MH over that 46g bowfront LOL An Matt, that 150w is more than enough light for your cube LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 My tank is a middle plastic bar in the middle top (i assume for support). Does that have any affect on the light if its in the middle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Hmmmmmmmm, that is a quandary..... 2x250 is way too much, but, a 2x150 would be more than enough, especially if you spend the money for a good fixture, no cheap(no offense Brad) Ebay fixtures, you want something that's got good reflectors in it....How wide(long) is your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 3ft edge to edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Then a 3' 2x150w MH with T5 actinic fixture would be perfect for you man, you'll have to shop around some, an if you'd like I'll look around an see what I can find, if you don't wanna put it up here, PM me with how much you're wanting to spend an I'll see what I can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 Ive been looking at MH+T5 fixures but most 36" are 1 MH. Only 2MH+T5 i found was over $800 (cant remember brand, came up on a google search). I was hoping for something around 500ish. I found the K-2 Viper because 2 of those at around $180 is less than $400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Im not sure on the dimensions but if my memory serves me right you could very easily do 2 vipers on that tank. It would not only look good but also make things fairly easy when it comes to putting corals n whatnot in the tank since youd only have to flip one up instead of shifting a fixture lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 If i do dual vipers would i miss the actinic color i have now with my T5's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 If I were in your shoes, I'd surf this palce; http://www.reefshops.com/lighting/metal-halide-hqi/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Not if you get the right bulb, with a 150w HQI, get a Phoenix 14k bulb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Here's your light: http://www.reefshops.com/metal-halide-lighting-900mm-mh-900-2x150wt5ho-2x39w-.html 36" 2x150w MH with 2x39wT5HO actinics for 240 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I would look around, there are always some good Mh/T5 for sale around here. I have a Viper 150w I bought to use over a small frag tank, instead i ended up using it over my fuge section of the sump. Its a good quality fixture but the par for the light is really low. Current USA and many others makes some nice combo fixtures, the link you listed for one 250 is 399.00 and you wouldnt have any actinics or moon/led's (for night looks), again I'd look around for a combo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Hmmmmmmmm, that is a quandary..... 2x250 is way too much, but, a 2x150 would be more than enough, especially if you spend the money for a good fixture, no cheap(no offense Brad) Ebay fixtures, you want something that's got good reflectors in it....How wide(long) is your tank? No offense taken, I got to disagree though, I ran an odyssey fixture for nearly 2 years and would do it all over again, I think my corals did not look to shabby-but I am biased, besides I sell name brand corals so I support "buying a name brand"-LOL which ever way (brand you go) I would think dual 150MH w T5 actinices to supplement would be great, if you get a fixture with compacts you can convert to T5's for like 10.00 (minus bulbs of course) VIVA LA EBAY I think that link has some 36" inchers LMAO EBAY EBAY EBAY (spoken with a spanish accent) Picture of pissed of tank with odyssey fixture; Sorry had to search for an OLD photo- Part of it is about the husbandry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Link doesn't work Brad LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trautman Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 for 399 you could buy a nice used setup off of the forum/craigslist... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefnjunkie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Link doesn't work Brad LOL BIG LOL-try again and then I'm done; http://www.reefshops.com/lighting/metal-halide-hqi/ Now bulbs are a whole seperate issue-I always swapped them out 1st thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Oh that link LOL I already checked it out an founda a NICE 36" 2x150w MH fixture on it for 240 LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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