Back to halides?

stephj03 · Jul 21, 2020

SeaDweller said:
So...You paid more money for lighting to slow down growth, instead of fragging And selling?

What the... Anthony?!

Yeah but with LED colors you get more for each frag I bet. I can't lie, with my halides on alone, I feel the same way about the level of color pop as I feel about the growth rate under LED alone. Good but not as good as I know it can be.

Didn't that use to be the cook & color RR/TGC recipe? Cook everything under halide for better growth and surviveability and then color up under LED to get top dollar when it's time to frag.

SeaDweller · Jul 21, 2020

stephj03 said:
Yeah but with LED colors you get more for each frag I bet. I can't lie, with my halides on alone, I feel the same way about the level of color pop as I feel about the growth rate under LED alone. Good but not as good as I know it can be.

Didn't that use to be the cook & color RR/TGC recipe? Cook everything under halide for better growth and surviveability and then color up under LED to get top dollar when it's time to frag.

Anthony scrapped his whole MH setup and is only running orphek now. I’ve seen his system personally, I’m just giving him a hard time for his “logic” on swapping.

Charlie’s Frags · Jul 21, 2020

SeaDweller said:
Anthony scrapped his whole MH setup and is only running orphek now. I’ve seen his system personally, I’m just giving him a hard time for his “logic” on swapping.

Defiantly sounds odd

SeaDweller · Jul 21, 2020

Chaswood79 said:
Defiantly sounds odd

IM DED.

Whasmack · Jul 21, 2020

Pedoconfuego said:
I am using two 400w ushio 14k in the round mini reflectors with electronic ballasts along with four or2 bars. Probably my favorite setup although I would rather the or2 bars have some white in two of the strips. I tried the daylight but the layout was bright on the ends and looked horrible.

I agree, it is VERY blue.
But this is good to know - thanks!

rc1626 · Jul 24, 2020

Old school halide user here. 3 x 250watt Radiums with UVL Super Actinic t12's and 2 Kessil a160's for sunrise and sunset. Radiums are run in modified Hamilton cayman sun reflectors (installed adjustable sockets to center bulb in reflector) on m80 ballasts.

Standard 180 started November 2019. Turned lights on in January initially using an ATI 8 bulb Sunpower. Ran that until about a month ago when I put my old Halides back on. Missed the shimmer.

Trying numerous lighting types over the years on a few different tanks and this is what I've always gone back to.

Are there any other single ended bulbs left worth trying that would work on an m80 ballast? Not ready to buy all new ballasts yet.

Whasmack · Jul 24, 2020

Giesemann says they are M80
Bulbs - well according to BRS anyway

naterealbig · Jul 24, 2020

newjack said:
I also believe halide is the best light source for growing sps. But, for color and pop you won’t beat LED. Like it or not, the hobby and lighting venders are all moving toward LED. Halide will soon be so hard to find like VHO T12’s. Enjoy them while you can, eventually reefers will have to move on.

Meh. You're statement isn't true. Folks have been saying this for literally decades, and the end is nowhere in sight. There is no legislature in place, and none coming down the pike. Based on what I have read on several reef forums and feedback from vendors, there is a shift away from LED to halide or/and t5.

rc1626 · Jul 25, 2020

Reefinity said:
Giesemann says they are M80
Bulbs - well according to BRS anyway

Thanks. Not sure I'd change at this point but definitely like knowing what my options are.

Om84 · Jul 25, 2020

I also run 250 W Radiums but with ATI T5s and Reef Breeders actinics. Very happy with this set up and color looks great.

I initially had Hamilton 20K bulbs and honestly cannot tell a difference from the Radiums except the lower price.

rc1626 said:
Old school halide user here. 3 x 250watt Radiums with UVL Super Actinic t12's and 2 Kessil a160's for sunrise and sunset. Radiums are run in modified Hamilton cayman sun reflectors (installed adjustable sockets to center bulb in reflector) on m80 ballasts.

Standard 180 started November 2019. Turned lights on in January initially using an ATI 8 bulb Sunpower. Ran that until about a month ago when I put my old Halides back on. Missed the shimmer.

Trying numerous lighting types over the years on a few different tanks and this is what I've always gone back to.

Are there any other single ended bulbs left worth trying that would work on an m80 ballast? Not ready to buy all new ballasts yet.

Reefanatik · Jul 25, 2020

I love my setup. I have 2 250W radiums and 6 Radion XR15s over my 180g 48x36x24 tank.

bobby.w.hodges · Jul 25, 2020

Reefanatik said:
I love my setup. I have 2 250W radiums and 6 Radion XR15s over my 180g 48x36x24 tank.

Got pics of inside tank with halides on? That's impressive....

Whasmack · Jul 25, 2020

Om84 said:
I also run 250 W Radiums but with ATI T5s and Reef Breeders actinics. Very happy with this set up and color looks great.

I initially had Hamilton 20K bulbs and honestly cannot tell a difference from the Radiums except the lower price.

I would assume a M80 250w Radium would put out a lot more PAR than the M58 20k Hamilton though. Just based on power usage alone.

Whasmack · Jul 25, 2020

Reefanatik said:
I love my setup. I have 2 250W radiums and 6 Radion XR15s over my 180g 48x36x24 tank.

That’s a sweet setup, for sure!

bobby.w.hodges · Jul 25, 2020

Well, I just put in my order. I'll be replacing 3 radions (2 g2, 1 g3p) with the 36" reef brite 2x 250w SE fixture. The fixture will be fitted in to my Aquatic life hybrid fixture. I'm getting more excited by the minute.

bobby.w.hodges · Jul 31, 2020

I'm starting to get anxious waiting for my new gear to arrive, but when I ordered the fixtures my contact told me that the fixtures are hand built so I will be getting top quality. I guess I can wait a little longer.

Reefanatik · Aug 1, 2020

bobby.w.hodges said:
Got pics of inside tank with halides on? That's impressive....

Top down always looks best but here are some side pics also. Tank looks clearer from sides but I can't take good pics I guess.

bobby.w.hodges · Aug 1, 2020

Reefanatik said:
Top down always looks best but here are some side pics also. Tank looks clearer from sides but I can't take good pics I guess.

Man, that's great looking, I am assuming you weren't using a filter with these pics. The colors look so real.

JPergamo · Aug 2, 2020

Recently went back to halides after giving all LED a shot for a few years. I like a lot of the benifits of LED, and had a lot of success with them. Then I recently redid my frag system a few months ago and got a great deal on a reefbrite 2x250 pendant with the XHOs.

Once I put the radiums back on there with the pop from the XHOs I bought a whole new reefbrite rig for my display. I now have 3x250 reefbrite pendants and 2x 60 inch XHOs inside of an aquatic life 4x80 hybrid fixture.

I havent used halides since about 2011 and all I can say is wow. The difference is pretty remarkable in coral health. It has been a few months now and couldnt be happier going back.

bobby.w.hodges · Aug 2, 2020

JPergamo said:
Recently went back to halides after giving all LED a shot for a few years. I like a lot of the benifits of LED, and had a lot of success with them. Then I recently redid my frag system a few months ago and got a great deal on a reefbrite 2x250 pendant with the XHOs.

Once I put the radiums back on there with the pop from the XHOs I bought a whole new reefbrite rig for my display. I now have 3x250 reefbrite pendants and 2x 60 inch XHOs inside of an aquatic life 4x80 hybrid fixture.

I havent used halides since about 2011 and all I can say is wow. The difference is pretty remarkable in coral health. It has been a few months now and couldnt be happier going back.

I'm assuming you got the 24" brackets for the hybrids, that's exactly what I want to do.