What would you do for lighting? 150w? 250w? LED?

[JonT]

Just went through this myself. Had a bulb burn out too soon.

After looking at everything, I am keeping the halides. I will be changing up the ballasts to something newer, and smaller than the one I have. I might change from SE to DE bulbs (still looking at this) I am also adding a few T5HO to the tank (almost went all T5)

Here is how I looked at it...

I like the halides. I like the shimmer, the intensity, everything! So, to justify the cost, I bought some more corals. I then cut them into frags. I am going to grow them out. By the time I need to buy new bulbs, I will sell the frags (should be small colonies by then) and use that money to cover the bulbs.

Reality is, I will likely sell them before the bulbs are needed. Then buy beer, or other corals, or tank toys with the money, but hell, the wife is buying into the idea so far.

[Milad]

What is this shimmer everyone is talking about with MH? is it the rays i see sometimes in my tank? i hate that.

im super leaning towards the LEDs now, its probably going to be 3 36LED modules and "maybe" ill run 4 T5 super actinics for some pop.

[JonT]

Originally Posted by Milad

What is this shimmer everyone is talking about with MH? is it the rays i see sometimes in my tank? i hate that.

im super leaning towards the LEDs now, its probably going to be 3 36LED modules and "maybe" ill run 4 T5 super actinics for some pop.

Yes, the "shadows" that come from the water ripples at the top of the tank.

LED's will give the same shimmer. Any point source light will. T5's won't.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by JonT

Yes, the "shadows" that come from the water ripples at the top of the tank.

LED's will give the same shimmer. Any point source light will. T5's won't.

thsi whole time i thought when I saw those ripples it meant my water was cloudy! doh!

[lastlight]

I'll pretend you didn't knock the shimmer. I'm also curious what bulbs are setting you back $500 for 3?! And don't most here replace bulbs more like every 9 months? Is this where you are getting that hefty number?

Just to mess you up...Dez uses $20 cheap bulbs off ebay. He's certainly not suffering! To be fair he also has a lot more light from his tubes.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by lastlight

I'll pretend you didn't knock the shimmer.

You gotta have the shimmer. Shimmer is the shizzle!

[reefwars]

I hate tanks that don't have the shimmer I'm halides all the way baby , 4x250w going on my new tank with 2x22000k and 2x14000k plus 24 LEDs

[Milad]

Originally Posted by lastlight

I'll pretend you didn't knock the shimmer. I'm also curious what bulbs are setting you back $500 for 3?! And don't most here replace bulbs more like every 9 months? Is this where you are getting that hefty number?

Just to mess you up...Dez uses $20 cheap bulbs off ebay. He's certainly not suffering! To be fair he also has a lot more light from his tubes.

500 is for:
3x
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/lb...ble-Ended.html

4x
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/lb...are+-Pin).html

thats 83*4 + 37*4 + taxes = 547ish

[lastlight]

I guess with the fixture you are stuck with those compacts. Too bad as T5s would do far better.

There's no way around some big costs to change it up I guess. Try and find a nice 3x250w retro used? Sell the fixture?