Fishneedit lighting thoughts

[Myka]

bandit: Depends what types of SPS and clams you want to keep. If you want higher light demanding ones, then you're better off with a 250w, if you're happy with things like montis, birdnest, and derasa or squamosa clams then 150w should be sufficient to keep nice colors and growth (of course light isn't the only ingredient in the recipe as I'm sure you know). If you want stags and Crocea clams then I would suggest you go for the 250w.

I haven't looked at the Fishneedit fixtures too closely, but if they have electronic ballasts, then they should be able to put out good PAR still, as according to Sanjay most (if not all?) electronic mh ballasts perform within a very small window of performance. Where you will lose out is the reflectors. You get what you pay for there. It doesn't sound like a bit of a loss of PAR will be an issue for you as it doesn't sound like you will be keeping very light demanding species. In a way it is a waste of electricity though. In your case, I think the Fishneedit fixtures would probably be well suitable.

[banditpowdercoat]

I think I just bought a couple 175W pendants. SE bulbs, but magnetic ballasts. Used. Atleast it will get me started. I do have a Crocea clam. Up high on my rock, about 4" from surface right now.

And the Fishneedit lights are Electronic ballasts. DE bulbs, looks like just a flat hammertone reflector though, so that would be lacking there