Metal halide kessil mix

FishOkay

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 16, 2021
Messages
347
Reaction score
310
Location
UK
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Might Sound a bit silly but I had an idea of replacing the hydra 26s with 2 smaller metal halide units on either side of the kessil A500x. I really want to try metal halide haha. But would it be to much?

3ft cube 30" deep

20220306_132838.jpg
 

Chrisv.

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 17, 2012
Messages
3,202
Reaction score
3,810
Location
United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm never going to discourage someone from using metal halide! This does seem like a bit of an odd configuration though. Have you thought about what wattage you would use? Is it 30x30x30?
 

mdb_talon

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 6, 2010
Messages
4,938
Reaction score
7,753
Location
Illinois
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It does sound like a lot of light yes. To have a fixture on either side it seems you would need the mh pendants set much closer to surface than what u have the a500 a500x(or have a whole lot of light spill out the sides). If i were going to try it i would try 150w double ended bulbs. Two of those with the a500 is going to be a lot of light though.

I do like the halides....if i were going to use on a 30x30x36 i think i would use a 250w large center pendant with 24" led bars to supplement. Then you could send the a500x to me :)
 

Chrisv.

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 17, 2012
Messages
3,202
Reaction score
3,810
Location
United States
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It does sound like a lot of light yes. To have a fixture on either side it seems you would need the mh pendants set much closer to surface than what u have the a500 a500x(or have a whole lot of light spill out the sides). If i were going to try it i would try 150w double ended bulbs. Two of those with the a500 is going to be a lot of light though.

I do like the halides....if i were going to use on a 30x30x36 i think i would use a 250w large center pendant with 24" led bars to supplement. Then you could send the a500x to me :)

I bet a 400w radium metal halide in a lumenarc 3 reflector with xho led bars around the sides would be incredible on a 36x36x 30 tank. On a 30 inch deep tank I would go with a single 400 in the middle. I used dual 400s with vho actinic on a 90 back in the day.
 

Smite

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 17, 2015
Messages
2,749
Reaction score
4,030
Location
Garden Grove
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
This combo was my goal. I was going to use older 360we just to extend the photoperiod and give me some blues. Very bummed I just couldn't make it work aesthetically, I think it would be a killer combo.

Some pendants are known to be more penetrating with smaller footprints. That would let you run them higher and help with any heat difference if you want to keep your layout similar to what it is now. I'll say a cozumel sun reflector would cover that with 1 pendant and save you some heat/energy. Add a second kessil for one on each side angled in and you're golden.

That looks like some decent eurobracing on top, take that into consideration with your footprint so you aren't wasting light.

Cool dims! Acro dominant?
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 66 51.6%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 67 52.3%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 32 25.0%
  • None.

    Votes: 29 22.7%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 7.0%
Back
Top