Metal halide SPS growth rate

[bobnicaragua]

The meridians and 6500k halides give me the perfect “10k daylight” look. Colors look amazing under them and seem to love the full spectrum and par

Acro pics please!

 

[bobnicaragua]

I’m running 175 watt 20K bulbs with 4 rows of orpheks and a couple ReeFi UNOs.

It’s been less than a month with this setup, but the acro coloration is looking promising.

 

[Troylee]

Come back to the light side see what I did there

I got plenty of room up top lol…

 

[Dibi]

6500k bulbs are by far the best for growth.

why? nice fixture :)

 

[bubbgee]

why? nice fixture :)

Something to do with spectrum that LEDs can't seem to be able to replicate (YET). It's in the wavelength within the spectrum in LEDs. At least that's the assumption.

 

[Dibi]

Something to do with spectrum that LEDs can't seem to be able to replicate (YET). It's in the wavelength within the spectrum in LEDs. At least that's the assumption.

where did you buy your fixturs and ballasts ?

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

Giving this a bump

 

[CBonito]

I got plenty of room up top lol…

Perfect setup. It's like when you mess something up, you just rotate the stool over to the bar and "head a different direction".

 

[ImGoingCoastal]

I am also having trouble finding MH fixtures. I understand why they are less popular, but feel like they might be able to make a comeback with "old heads" like myself. The old $H1TTAY Odyssea MH fixtures were one of my favorites. Sure they might burn down my house, but as a noob, my tank looked pretty great.

 

[djf91]

For me it’s the blanket of uniform light that is produced by metal halides and T5s. This is due to a strong full spectrum point source light that is then reflected in all directions by an efficient reflector. All corals under this reflector are receiving the same uniform spectrum (but obviously varying PAR).

For LED fixtures, because it’s multiple, different colored LEDs, what spectrum one coral gets is going to be different than what another coral is getting based on which color LED(s) they’re mounted under.

 

[bsaltzgiver]

The meridians and 6500k halides give me the perfect “10k daylight” look. Colors look amazing under them and seem to love the full spectrum and par

What 6500k bulb are those? Did you have iwasakis on hand, or are they reef brite, Aqua bright, or horticulture bulbs?

 

[A. grandis]

Metal halides have the best representation of natural sunlight over reef tanks and is the best light, gathering the optimal qualities of a very rich complete spectrum, light distribution, powerful constant intensity, and photon delivery. They are the technology that best represents the full spectrum. Full spectrum is basically what the sun emits, from UV-B to infra red and in between, in that specific color temperature. Because of the variations in spectrum composition from bulb to bulb, with the Kelvin numbers for each halide brand, we are starting to say that metal halides have a "complete spectrum". The closest representation of the full spectrum (the sun) is a 6500K metal halide lamp.
T5s are the second best technology for reefs, but it's major limitation is depth, best used over systems up to 24" deep. The very best results, not only for SPS corals, but for any organism in a reef tank, is to use the metal halides with T5s for the health of the system and the aesthetics IMO, when pursuing a natural visual scenario, and to achieve the results those organisms show in nature, as far as I observed so far. The more is the natural approach, the best for the organisms.
In the majority of cases, LEDs have a very artificial look, constant strobe action, lack in spectrum, unidirectional limited emission, and in many cases will deform colonies in respect to their coloration (protein production is responsive to spectrum far from the natural original colors) and colony structure. That's why many times their growth is weird, comparing to what we find in the ocean, or under halides/T5s. To achieve similar results we can achieve with halides/ T5s, we need to spend much more money with fixtures and often more electricity for proper coverage. It will still be different!
Many people are starting to understand those points and realize how much this hobby is loosing with LEDs. How much more money and efforts is needed to get what in the 90's was the normal under the best lights? LED propaganda has strategies to make you feel good buying their products. They will come with the green ideas and the bans for halides and T5s as the fastest way to exclude. All to sell their products. Metal halides and T5s are under the category of specialized lighting and will not be banned. Plastic is the worse product for the environment, if you think. Online stores will indeed make videos to make you feel good and boost your confirmation bias to the roof about the LEDs they sold to you. They are in fact preparing the soil of your heart to the next LED model. When you get a halide or T5 system you just need to buy the bubs. The fixtures will last longer than you in this world! They also removed halides from their inventory and published rumors on videos about the ban of halides and T5s, saying they don't have shelf room, etc. Since more than a decade they are still trying.. Another strategy was to sell the tiny frags under blue lights for the profits. LEDs were the best to do that. They are selling those pictures/colors, not a coral.
There is a new American company, Aqua Bright Solutions, that sells all metal halide bulbs. ReefBrite also sells brand new fixtures, bulbs and ballasts. Giesemann, in Germany, will send you their amazing SE halide/ T5 Spectra fixture, lamps and ballasts. Radium 20K bulbs, both 250W and 400W, had once stopped their production, but came back full power due to the high demand that is growing! Radium is one of the best German metal halide bulbs ever made!!! Aqua Brite Solutions, Premium Aquatics, Champion Lighting and Supply, and Aquarium Specialty sells the 20000K lamp. We used to have a great variety of metal halide gear, but after the big companies decided to take them out of their inventory and publish those videos hoping to finish with them forever and favor LEDs, they became harder to find.
The demand for metal halides is growing every day, though. It's not impossible for new companies to imerge with new halide technology and new gear.
Generally speaking, halides will grow your corals faster and healthier than any LED. They will provide the right rich spectrum for their functions in the long run. They are powerful but at the same time gentle on the corals. They have a constant emission and uniform distribution with the right reflector and wattage. There is absolutely no other light in this world better to grow corals in all aspects than metal halides. If you can add T5s, you will get the optimal results.
The halides represent the sunlight and the T5s represent the sky light.

Giant clams also LOVE metal halide!!!!!!!

All above is just my opinion and personal experience for more than 30 years.
Serious lights for serious hobbyists! Halide POWER!
I do not work nor am sponsored by any company. I'm just a hobbyist!

If you don't believe me... watch this:

 

[SpSDrew]

What 6500k bulb are those? Did you have iwasakis on hand, or are they reef brite, Aqua bright, or horticulture bulbs?

Iwasaki I had on hand. Once these burn out I’ll use aqua bright. Probably slowly start buying 4 a month to build up a stockpile.

 

[bsaltzgiver]

Iwasaki I had on hand. Once these burn out I’ll use aqua bright. Probably slowly start buying 4 a month to build up a stockpile.

Has anyone tried the 6500k from Aqua Bright or Reef Brite? The MT-250DL iwasakis always seemed rather white for that Kelvin temperature. I still have 3 250 watt ‘sakis left, but have often wondered what the above mentioned 6500k look like on a reef tank (without having to buy them first that is

 

[Rocks reef]

Interesting I wanted to try halides. I have led/t5 combo right now. My issue is I know nothing about halides and when I search for a fixture online I can’t find any

There are plenty. Reef Brite still sells them. Plus, you have an unlimited supply in the horticulture side.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Interesting I wanted to try halides. I have led/t5 combo right now. My issue is I know nothing about halides and when I search for a fixture online I can’t find any

There are plenty. Reef Brite still sells them. Plus, you have an unlimited supply in the horticulture side.

I’ve been trying to find a smaller fixture to fit between my radions, but most of the smaller ones are t made anymore. I’ve been looking for used ones

 

[Rocks reef]

I was looking for a way to sell all this extra sun tan lotion I have laying around

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...-new-96x36x25-peninsula.1065335/post-12999874

WOW! Seriously...holy

 

[Rocks reef]

What a setup and the results really shows how much success you’re having with growth. Followed you on ig

What's his IG? I'll follow

 

[Rocks reef]

6500k bulbs are by far the best for growth.

 

[Rocks reef]

Stop it! you’re making me wanna put my halides back on in rhe center like this.. they’re collecting dust after I switched 4 months ago!

Do it!