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This is so great!
There are so many MH lovers coming with their experiences and tips.
I found good info here!
Hi BoomCorals:
I'm not an expert in any way, so this will be only what I've seen and read.
And I have no MHs at home for more than 15 years, so...
I decided to answer your PM here so people could also correct me if I'm wrong, or maybe others would add to my suggestions...
I would avoid the Current USA fixture though and the SE Cayman Sun. I also would think you should get the best you could afford now, so you wouldn't have to change anything in the near future, or have a so so experience with the halides. Besides, as a professional, it's an investment for your business.
I would think that you didn't think about saving when you got your LEDs to your systems, so the same should be applied with MHs. Quality is more important in the long run.
The Current USA isn't the best quality system you can offer and the SE Cayman, as Jeremy Luke posted (see BRS video below), has an awkward distribution because of the position of the center of the bulb that normally fits towards the side of the fixture instead in the very center, so the spread is compromised that way. I don't like the so called HQI (DE) fixtures because of the risk of braking the ceramic ends (they show that in the video below too). That is known since the 90's. They do a great job reflecting though, with superb PAR. I also like to have the outer jacket of the SE bulbs made of UV absorbing glass, besides the lens to protect the bulb, so SE bulbs/fixture is what I like.
The Cebu comes ready to use and it's not that expensive. Besides the T5s will give you the best combination to grow your corals because you can have the halides for like 6 hours and the T5s for 8 hours a day. All in one package!
You can use Radiums 20K with 2 ATI Blue Plus on the extremes and 2 ATI Coral Plus close to the halide bulbs in that fixture. But will that spread the light like the Lumen Bright or the Cozumel Sun?
In your case, because the corals will be ~6" below the water surface, and the tank is 4' X 2', I would definitely get the Coral Vue Lumen Bright or the Cozumel Sun for it's uniformity in distribution.
The Lumen Bright has adjustable socket and is 16" X 16" and the Cozumel Sun gives also a great spread and it's 20 X20. That way, the light will be well distributed. Quality, quality, quality!
I personally like DE bulbs and would get Radium with 2 X Lumen Bright or 2 X Cozumel Sun reflector with the LuXcore ballasts.
Cozumel Sun:
OR Lumen Bright:
LuXcore ballast:
Here is the video for you:
Hope that helps!
Aloha,
Grandis.
There are so many MH lovers coming with their experiences and tips.
I found good info here!
Hi BoomCorals:
I'm not an expert in any way, so this will be only what I've seen and read.
And I have no MHs at home for more than 15 years, so...
I decided to answer your PM here so people could also correct me if I'm wrong, or maybe others would add to my suggestions...
I would avoid the Current USA fixture though and the SE Cayman Sun. I also would think you should get the best you could afford now, so you wouldn't have to change anything in the near future, or have a so so experience with the halides. Besides, as a professional, it's an investment for your business.
I would think that you didn't think about saving when you got your LEDs to your systems, so the same should be applied with MHs. Quality is more important in the long run.
The Current USA isn't the best quality system you can offer and the SE Cayman, as Jeremy Luke posted (see BRS video below), has an awkward distribution because of the position of the center of the bulb that normally fits towards the side of the fixture instead in the very center, so the spread is compromised that way. I don't like the so called HQI (DE) fixtures because of the risk of braking the ceramic ends (they show that in the video below too). That is known since the 90's. They do a great job reflecting though, with superb PAR. I also like to have the outer jacket of the SE bulbs made of UV absorbing glass, besides the lens to protect the bulb, so SE bulbs/fixture is what I like.
The Cebu comes ready to use and it's not that expensive. Besides the T5s will give you the best combination to grow your corals because you can have the halides for like 6 hours and the T5s for 8 hours a day. All in one package!
You can use Radiums 20K with 2 ATI Blue Plus on the extremes and 2 ATI Coral Plus close to the halide bulbs in that fixture. But will that spread the light like the Lumen Bright or the Cozumel Sun?
In your case, because the corals will be ~6" below the water surface, and the tank is 4' X 2', I would definitely get the Coral Vue Lumen Bright or the Cozumel Sun for it's uniformity in distribution.
The Lumen Bright has adjustable socket and is 16" X 16" and the Cozumel Sun gives also a great spread and it's 20 X20. That way, the light will be well distributed. Quality, quality, quality!
I personally like DE bulbs and would get Radium with 2 X Lumen Bright or 2 X Cozumel Sun reflector with the LuXcore ballasts.
Cozumel Sun:
OR Lumen Bright:
LuXcore ballast:
Here is the video for you:
Hope that helps!
Aloha,
Grandis.
Last edited: