Metal Halide on 90 Gallon?

madlos123

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So im building my 90 gallon as of now. I already have Black box Led and 2 bulb T5 Retro fit.
I am thinking of switching to Metal Halide from LED.
Where do you guys buy them, BRS dont sell any. What brand to get?

I went to hamilton website and i saw these 13x13x5 Cayman Sun
I might go for 2 for 250 watt?
what bulb color 14k or 20k? 10k?

Ballast?

I made a canopy that is 12 inch from the water surface.

i could go for the 20x20 pendant but the aquarium is only 18" and I also have a retrofit t5 on the inside top of the canopy.

Any advice?
Thanks
 

Bpb

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Don’t do the 20” pendants. The overhang will just be wasted wattage. If it were my tank I’d actually be picking up the reef brite halide system. They seem to have a very even gentle spread from reviews I’ve seen. If not, get the smaller Hamilton’s and hang them 12” off the water or so. 20k bulbs if you’re doing 250 watts.
 
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madlos123

madlos123

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Yeah good idea. My canopy is already 12 inch high lol.
 
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madlos123

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Is hamilton 20k more blue but does that turn to whitish overtime? I really like the slight blue color like the ocean floor. Whats difference between 14k?
 
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madlos123

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I like it also some white color but not the deep blue actinic.
 

Bpb

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If you’ve not used metal halides before, you’ll find 20k is not nearly as blue as you might think. I don’t like an overly blue tank either. I do like the look of Hamilton 14k but it is a brutal amount of par. My ham 14k was throwing like 500+ par on the sandbed on my 90 gallon
 
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madlos123

madlos123

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If you’ve not used metal halides before, you’ll find 20k is not nearly as blue as you might think. I don’t like an overly blue tank either. I do like the look of Hamilton 14k but it is a brutal amount of par. My ham 14k was throwing like 500+ par on the sandbed on my 90 gallon
Never used metal halide.
Ive seen them in the fish store and it looks great with the yellowish shimmer.
I guess ill just get the package they have with the ballast and bulb included in the hamilton website.
Does it matter electronic or magnetic ballast?
 

rtparty

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Love it! You will love the halides.

I would get Reef Brite stuff personally. Tullio and company are top notch. I run their 250w single end pendants with their electronic ballasts. They run a lot cooler than halides of old. I can leave my hand on the reflector housing and not be burnt. My tank hasn't raised a single degree since going back to halides. The room they are in isn't any hotter either. Benefits of a 66F basement.

I do run the Hamilton 20k bulbs though. They were made to match the Radium bulbs. My tank has gone crazy since leaving LEDs and going back to halides. I had to be super careful though since a lot of my LPS didn't like all the light at first. Now they are absoutely love it and my one blasto is sitting in 350 PAR and growing too fast.

20k halides are not nearly as blue as one would think. I prefer a whiter tank but the Reef Brite 14k bulbs were a little too white for me.
 
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madlos123

madlos123

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Where do you buy reef brite metal halide. Their website just show them. I contacted them/email them thou, so just waiting on their reply.
 

xtian

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Almost embarrassed to post this pic. Don’t mind the new/dirty tank but that’s 14k Hamilton only in a Cebu fixture on Hamilton e ballasts. Pic looks pretty much spot on to IRL. Thinking of switching to 10k on this one.
 

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madlos123

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Almost embarrassed to post this pic. Don’t mind the new/dirty tank but that’s 14k Hamilton only in a Cebu fixture on Hamilton e ballasts. Pic looks pretty much spot on to IRL. Thinking of switching to 10k on this one.
Why switch? Too blue? Or bland?
 

zalick

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I prefer the look of Hamilton 14k over the 20k. Xtian pic above is spot on.
 

xtian

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I like em all and already have something else running 14k too. So I guess yeah, for a yellowish look. Too bad xm isn't around anymore. Their 10k was fire.
 

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