oflores Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Okay, so I have the via aqua 2X36W PC. I hear that the ballast suck. Is that true? I want to add an MH and was wondering what the light set up should be. If can keep the blue atinic and the daylight, should I get one 50/50 and one atinic, 2 atinics with the daylight? Also what should the spectrum and wattage? Link to comment
Seamus Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 The ballast on my ViaAqua fixture gave out a couple of times. Finally, I replaced the Via Aqua light fixture with a 150W HQI Metal Halide pendant. Using a 10K bulb I was not happy with the color so I switched to a 20K XM bulb - much nicer. I was also concerned with giving up the actinic light but with the 20K bulb I was very pleased with the flouresence of different corals. Heat is more of an issue - the tank runs around 82oF - and that is in an air conditioned room. Link to comment
oflores Posted August 10, 2004 Author Share Posted August 10, 2004 My tank right now is at 85F so I have try and cool it down every night. It runs at 81-82F when its not sooooo hot. I am thing of adding a type of chiller. Do you think a pendant MH would be the optimum distance for the MH. I was not sure of adding the 70W 10K or the 150W 10K. Link to comment
Seamus Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 Your tank is going to heat up with the MH. My tank was at 78-80F witht he original fixture - now its at 82-84. IMO - the 150 W watt is a much better choice for lighting requirements and flexibility, but the heat is the issue. Depending on the types of coral you plan to keep you could use the 70W and have less of problem with heat - I don't really know how much temp rise you would get. Raising the pendant is an option - but a better solution would be a chiller. I'm considering a chiller because I would really rather have the tank stable at 78 or so. Link to comment
oflores Posted August 11, 2004 Author Share Posted August 11, 2004 Yeah me too. I was looking at the micro chillers but I don't know if it is worth investing because it only brings it down 4-5 degrees. the jbj chillers are just too expensive. I did see a different chiller cannot recall who makes it. It runs around 250 and says it for 25G-75G. I saw at marinedepot website. Link to comment
defdawg03 Posted August 11, 2004 Share Posted August 11, 2004 i have a 15 gallon via aqua with a 70w mh in the stock hood and the temp. never rises above 81 degrees. Link to comment
oflores Posted August 11, 2004 Author Share Posted August 11, 2004 do you have one of the original pc's with it? Link to comment
oflores Posted August 14, 2004 Author Share Posted August 14, 2004 What about adding another 2X36W PC, to the tank? Or MH just the way to go? Link to comment
defdawg03 Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 i mounted the 70 watt mh next to the stock actinic bulb and i have no heat issues but i live in berkeley and it doesnt get too hot here Link to comment
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