Reef Discussion

[Buddy]

Hey guys. I have been thinking lately about replacing my Cree LED lighting which has had a few different forms over the last 5-6 years. It is currently 2x 150mm heatsinks with approx 12-14 LEDs each in various 3w colours.
A few of the LEDs have died (mainly the UV) and I just think it is time for something different.

I put my energy cost meter on my LEDs and it is drawing 310w at 100% and about 100w during sunrise/sunset. Seems like a lot for such a small light.

Anyways I was thinking of swapping to a 250w metal halide but I need advice as I have never used one.
Tank size is Cade HL800 800(L) x 600 (W) x 550 (H)

I do like a sightly bluer light so would 14k or 20k be better? Which pendant/globe/ballast to use? What should I be paying?
Do they dim or just on/off? I will make a small LED with my typhon for sunrise/sunset anyway. I am also happy saving some money going second hand if that(keeping cost down is preferred!)

When it comes to livestock, will a 250w light on this tank size give me the options for sps and clams?
I have had a Magnifica anemone under my LEDs for the past couple of years an it seems happy but I wouldn't say its thriving.

I don't think heat will be an issue as I will be running evap cooling anyway.

 

[Sam Parker]

250w single ended radium 20k bulb would be the go. Magnetic ballast and a basic pendulum would be sweet.

I have a couple spare here (complete combos) if you wanted to try it out or make me an offer :)

Sam

 

[Buddy]

PM sent!

 

[macca_75]

Halides are great but don't dim very well from memory. Slow start up times, but I don't think this matters. Also, off is instant so you will need the LED's on before lights out.

I always went for a 12k - 14k bulb. I found the 20K a little to blue for me, however it's a personal thing.

 

[Sam Parker]

They don’t dim at all. Take about 5-10mins to warm up and do switch off completely.

Normally I’d say 20k is way too blue, but I don’t think the radiums are actually that colour, more like a 16-17k to my eye

 

[Buddy]

I will probably just make a string of blue and white LEDs on a little heatsink and plug it in to my typhon controller and that will be good enough for sunrise and sunset.
I don't mind a bluer look but I can always swap out the globe if its too much.

 

[RobbieMVFC]

I am sure that I will be out numbered here , But I love my Giesemann infiniti , it has 2x250 MH + 4 t5s.
I have added some led for moon light.
The MH are double ended witch is against the grain however I love these globes
.
https://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=5817&catID=66

While these globes are more expensive they have a 2.5 year life span apposed to 9 months
(correct me if I am wrong on the life span of other globes)

 

[RobbieMVFC]

I am sure that I will be out numbered here , But I love my Giesemann infiniti , it has 2x250 MH + 4 t5s.
I have added some led for moon light.
The MH are double ended witch is against the grain however I love these globes
.
https://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=5817&catID=66

While these globes are more expensive they have a 2.5 year life span apposed to 9 months
(correct me if I am wrong on the life span of other globes)

correction , according to this site its 3 years ... depends on how long you run them I guess

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/175-giesemann-megachrome-crystal-150-watt-de-halide-bulb.html

 

[Buddy]

I am sure that I will be out numbered here , But I love my Giesemann infiniti , it has 2x250 MH + 4 t5s.
I have added some led for moon light.
The MH are double ended witch is against the grain however I love these globes
.
https://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=5817&catID=66

While these globes are more expensive they have a 2.5 year life span apposed to 9 months
(correct me if I am wrong on the life span of other globes)

Those look great and I would LOVE a light like that but its so far beyond my budget that I can't even consider it unfortunately.

 

[RobbieMVFC]

Those look great and I would LOVE a light like that but its so far beyond my budget that I can't even consider it unfortunately.

If you spend the money you can grow sps frags on the sand bed to help fund it.
PS. I purchased my light second hand....[

 

[ReeferRob]

If you wanna see that Ritteri go frickin' nuts, slap a metal halide on there. Build a rock pinnacle in the tank and put a halide over it, it'll be in seventh heaven. I keep waiting for mine to split but it hasn't. there's a guy down in Baltimore and his splits 2 times a year. He and I both use the cheap 20k bulbs off Aliexpress. They're not super blue and everything grows under them, my Fiji green leathers have spawned twice now.

 

[Buddy]

Hey @ReeferRob , @Sam Parker sorted me out with a metal halide and I am hanging it over the tank this weekend. Has a Radium 250w 20k bulb. Its a nice colour, not too blue at all. Just need to figure out how high I need to hang it above the tank.
Just modding my LEDS to be sunrise/sunset only. I am already seeing some little yellow tips on the Ritteri that the LEDS didn't show!

 

[ReeferRob]

Hey @ReeferRob , @Sam Parker sorted me out with a metal halide and I am hanging it over the tank this weekend. Has a Radium 250w 20k bulb. Its a nice colour, not too blue at all. Just need to figure out how high I need to hang it above the tank.
Just modding my LEDS to be sunrise/sunset only. I am already seeing some little yellow tips on the Ritteri that the LEDS didn't show!

If you can, start a little higher and bring it down till you find the sweet spot. I have mine about 15cm off the tank, but I started about 25-30cm off the tank.

 

[Buddy]

I have it mounted about 500mm over the tank at the moment and I will slowly lower it from there.
150mm seems like it would cook the tank haha, the light bulb gets damn hot!

 

[Sam Parker]

Did you get some glass for the unit? If not, keep it high till you do, a little splash onto a piping hot bulb equals a large bang!

Glad you like it though, once I had setup a radium halide - I couldn't go back :)

 

[ReeferRob]

Like I said in my anemone write up, a ritteri would be happy in a washing machine on the surface of the sun. You can almost hear it saying nom nom nom, lol. I'm afraid of breaking the tank if I drop it down any lower or it would be down in the 100-120mm range.

 

[Buddy]

Did you get some glass for the unit? If not, keep it high till you do, a little splash onto a piping hot bulb equals a large bang!

Glad you like it though, once I had setup a radium halide - I couldn't go back :)

Yeah had a bit laying around that I cut to size, I think its 3 or 4mm thick

Like I said in my anemone write up, a ritteri would be happy in a washing machine on the surface of the sun. You can almost hear it saying nom nom nom, lol. I'm afraid of breaking the tank if I drop it down any lower or it would be down in the 100-120mm range.

Well my nem has certainly looked a lot more puffed up and "plump" looking since I put the new light on! I am also seeing some yellow tips on it that the LEDs didn't show.

 

[ReeferRob]

I've yet to see a ritteri do well under LED lighting. I've tried all sorts of spectrums and after a month, I move them back to a halide lit tank due to them shrinking. I've even tried a freshwater light over one of the tanks in the shop and same thing, they start to shrink down and generally look like shit.