Why I love my Metal Halide

[McMullen]

Understand. The four black box I are two different companies using different amts of different spectrums. I think that's the key.

 

[RedneckReefer68]

What about reef brites? Any one supplement with them and get better par readings outside of your reflectors?

 

[timkenagy]

I have better luck with LEDs.. But halides served me about as well.. Just cost too much to justify personally.. Anyone around Illinois need a sweet MH setup for pretty cheap? :)

 

[timkenagy]

Lost my pump yesterday pretty sure that what kept my tank warm enough cause heater is in sump

You know how this all works right?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just like arc lamps. I understand how its done and what it does for spectrum and why it does it. leds are coming along and they will take over.
I dream of a day when the MH led combo come out. Probably looks cooler than the one I built. MMM Maxspec twin 150w MH Led combo they make sexy stuff MMMMM

and Beta was a better format.:p it was.

 

[klesel]

Love my kessil but mh is my favorite going to put over my 150 frag tank can't wait to get some huge growth

 

[mcarroll]

Thank you. I've tried Kessils on my other tank, but I couldn't get them dialed in at all... I envy anyone that can get LEDs to work for them,I wish I could buy I didn't have the patience.

I want to add some kind of supplements to my radium, but I'm not sure how I'm going to implement them yet or what I'm going to use.

A lux meter goes a long way in helping you to set up any light. I would definitely pick one up. [emoji106]

The mixed success people have with LEDs and halides and even T5s are almost all attributable to a lack of a meter. It's wonderful to use a PAR meter if you have one but absolutely pick up a lux meter if you cannot afford a PAR meter. For this use, a lux meter works perfectly. [emoji6]

 

[jetmaker]

I just like arc lamps. I understand how its done and what it does for spectrum and why it does it. leds are coming along and they will take over.
I dream of a day when the MH led combo come out. Probably looks cooler than the one I built. MMM Maxspec twin 150w MH Led combo they make sexy stuff MMMMM

and Beta was a better format.:p it was.

I don't think led will take over I see the halides coming back and reasons being Led can match kelv but not the uv or the benafits halides offer.

 

[jetmaker]

I looked at a friends kessils and they had some shimmer but it was on the walls and the ceiling lol also.

 

[RedneckReefer68]

A lux meter goes a long way in helping you to set up any light. I would definitely pick one up. [emoji106]

The mixed success people have with LEDs and halides and even T5s are almost all attributable to a lack of a meter. It's wonderful to use a PAR meter if you have one but absolutely pick up a lux meter if you cannot afford a PAR meter. For this use, a lux meter works perfectly. [emoji6]

I've seen mixed reviews on lux meters while researching.. Some say they are useful and some say they don't provide the info we need.. I might have more research to do it seems

 

[FL_Reefer]

MH 4 LIFE! Lol and a reefbrite of course too.

 

[FMF0331]

Yes. I have a Hamilton cebu sun with 2 ushio 20k and 4x39w t5

i just got the hamilton cebu 250 watts hamilton 14k and 4 / 24 watts t5.
i'm kind of depressed, thought it would be better...maybe the bulb needs a break in period ?
also found out i can't run the radium because my ballast is not an M80 ballast.

 

[jetmaker]

I don't think led will take over I see the halides coming back and reasons being Led can match kelv but not the uv or the benafits halides offer.

The reason I say this is halides are the closest match to the sun and it takes care of the health of the ocean.

 

[jackson6745]

Giesemann Spectra, 4 t5, Lumatek adjustable ballast 400w SL setting, 400w Aqua Connect (usually use radium bulb).
All Halide setups are not created equal. I personally hate most MH bulbs and find 175 SE bulbs completely useless. I don't like the spread of DE bulbs, or the bulb selection. It would cost me a fortune to light my tank with LED so that is not an option.
DSC_0009 by rich colombo, on Flickr

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

Love my kessil but mh is my favorite going to put over my 150 frag tank can't wait to get some huge growth

I'm in the same boat. I have a kessil on my biocube, and I love it, but a new tank is . On the way and I'm going back to Mh-t5 combo.

 

[jetmaker]

I think they charge for led tecnolagy so it will be cheaper to run if I was worried about my electric bill I probably wouldn't be in this but I'm fairly sure my hot tub cost more lol.

 

[McMullen]

@jetmaker

 

[McMullen]

LEDs are better every year. MH are great, don't get me wrong, but are not the future.

 

[jetmaker]

LEDs are better every year. MH are great, don't get me wrong, but are not the future.

How long you been doing this.

 

[Pfisherman]

How long you been doing this.

That is the key question, folks that just get their feet wet in reefing don't realize where the hobby has been. LED is the future, but it will be by those who have no desire to go back to tried and true methods. The techy kids will figure out less, not me.