150 watt Metal Halide on 80 gallon low boy

[UMALUM]

Even for LPS?

Absolutely

 

[UMALUM]

Years ago early 2000 I had a guy my reef 'guru" helping me on my maiden voyage into reefing. I learned a lot from him. I wish I remembered all that stuff. He had showed me that the reflectors used in mh lighting was 50% or more important than the bulbs or ballasts, ballasts being the next most important. You can accomplish a lot with different reflector configurations. I have no idea (I do, hard) how hard/easy different reflectors are to come by atm. Getting a "longer" multi surface reflector will give you better coverage, you'll still have a hot spot right under the bulb but will spread the light further. Getting a tighter square reflector will focus the light in a tighter area. My 150w mh could grow pretty much any coral with proper placement in my 20x20x20" cube after changing just the reflector/pendant from what it came with. Before I changed that I had issues with enough lighting front to back and depth this was mounted at the same height off the water surface also.

No doubt, I ran aqua medic 250s back then and they would blow any 400 on the market now out of the water. Growing chips in my sand at 30 with those monsters.

 

[Seancj]

Was it a mixed reef?

High light demanding anemones.

 

[twentyleagues]

I ran 2 250w on my 120 euphyllia dom reef years ago. It was perfect. I had massive colonies of torch, hammers, bubble corals they seemed to love the light. Also for years I ran 3 250w on my standard 125 sps reef also seemed like a gold standard set up. I used phoenix 14k lights I couldnt tell you the ballasts I used I think the name brand on the reflectors were radium (maybe) octogon shaped hammered metal look on the reflector surface, Great for the 120 but a little wide front to back on the 125 so some light bleed front to back. Could have probably used different reflectors on the 125 and had better light usage the light just looked so good using those reflectors definite upgrade from a standard reflector.

Not Radium thats a bulb, duh. Luminarc! it has been bothering me lol.

 

[Rocks reef]

Do you know how to dim the dimmable digital ballasts from Reef brite? Is there a specific controller besides going to Apex? I have a reef brite hybrid setup as well as PFO pendants and M80 blallasts. I know the M80 aren't dimmable and I wouldn't on those anyway.

 

[UMALUM]

Do you know how to dim the dimmable digital ballasts from Reef brite? Is there a specific controller besides going to Apex? I have a reef brite hybrid setup as well as PFO pendants and M80 blallasts. I know the M80 aren't dimmable and I wouldn't on those anyway.

If your talking about the ballast recognizing the particular bulb being used that's built in. As for dimming any 1-10 will work including apex.

 

[minus9]

I think duration/photo period is the other caveat here. Quality light for the right amount of time works just fine. Two 250w's for mixed is perfect, combined with great LED bars like Quantas and you're set. IMO, a lot of softies look awesome under halides and will take the intensity just fine, some preferring it.

 

[Rocks reef]

I agree! My 90 gallon is a mixed reef and it has two 250s over it, but it is 24" deep. They get 6 hours halide everyday and love it! Well, at least I think the corals do

 

[Rocks reef]

Three hours ramp up and down on either side of the halides with XHO LED bars. The LEDs turn way down when the halides are on