Ext 112 ushio 400 wat MH System.

[Rocks reef]

I bought 2 of these "new in box" coralife 175 watt units.
One of the de was fried on one fixture and the bulb was broke on the other. I was refunded for both and they did not want them back.
I still had a cheap $10 20k to test it.
It has been on for a few hours.
Would be cool on a nano.

Sven, where did you get those? Ive been looking for some of those

 

[X-37B]

Sven, where did you get those? Ive been looking for some of those

They were on ebay.

 

[X-37B]

Are you going SPS?

Sps growout is the current plan.
I want to see what same corals look and grow like compared to my led systems vs halides.

 

[Tinklez]

What an awesome build! What’s your total gallon for that size system, and what size heater are you getting? I’m setting up a 50 gallon right now, do you think 300 W heater would be too much? Or should I just go with the 200 W PRS?

 

[spsick]

didn’t you take a break from the hobby??

 

[X-37B]

What an awesome build! What’s your total gallon for that size system, and what size heater are you getting? I’m setting up a 50 gallon right now, do you think 300 W heater would be too much? Or should I just go with the 200 W PRS?

At 7" in the sump total g's are right around 100.
My ext 50 runs a 150 watt.

 

[X-37B]

didn’t you take a break from the hobby??

I moved 150 miles.
All new systems in the house I retired in.

 

[X-37B]

Tank arrived today. They have improved packaging since my last system.

 

[X-37B]

Stands up. It came with a leveling frame that the tank sits on.
I am not going to use it as the tank just sits on it. Reason is its 5" off the ground and not sure if I want to risk it due to possible earthquakes.
No shimming needed as the floor is level.

 

[X-37B]

Pic from the kitchen of my IM tank room, lol.

 

[X-37B]

So I measured the stand and it's off by 3/8"+ on one side. I sent IM a message when I registered it.
It only goes together 1 way.
Side panels are pre-assembled.
It sits 35.5 on one side and 36 on the other.

 

[X-37B]

One of the pre-assembled door panels must be off. It almost a 1/2" off.

 

[X-37B]

Found the problem door panels come preassembled. Left side one support was on upside down.
I flipped the post on the top
and I am good to go now.

 

[X-37B]

Pic for the new year. Still sitting on pallet. Waiting on some 8020 for the back and light fixture.
Sweep and MOW-22.

 

[X-37B]

Couple pics.
Using stock return since I have 3.
Return
9430dc just fits with no room to spare.

 

[X-37B]

Ready to put the tank in place and plumb. Fixture is 15.5" from the water surface to start.

 

[X-37B]

Got the lights going.
15.5" from the surface looks like a good starting point.
Radium 20K on digital ballast.
Center 320 par
180 par on the edge
Withe edge at 75% on manual
520 par
300 par on the edges
I will try different ballasts and bulbs but this is a start.
The edge bars even out the par across the system and add substantial par.
Once water is in I will get some more readings.

 

[X-37B]

Just the edge's at 75%.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Looking good! I've been considering a frag/growout tank down in the basement tied into my living room system(basement sump) and thought it'd be cool to try mh. I got a buddy with a bunch of grow fixtures that were given to them. Is a mh fixture in general going to work if it isnt a "reef light" model? Or is it not really worth it if it isnt the right type of light?

 

[X-37B]

Looking good! I've been considering a frag/growout tank down in the basement tied into my living room system(basement sump) and thought it'd be cool to try mh. I got a buddy with a bunch of grow fixtures that were given to them. Is a mh fixture in general going to work if it isnt a "reef light" model? Or is it not really worth it if it isnt the right type of light?

Any metal halide fixture will work.
Fixtures like lunembright and lumenmax that I have put down more par than grow lights due to their angled reflectors.
The Reef Brite is the only new one in the US marketed for reef tanks.
Only way to tell is try them.
You won't be disappointed either way.