150 Watt Metal Halide Light

[Phoenixfish]

Hello Reefers,

I picked up an second hand Aqua one MG600 (150 DE + 2 x 24 power compact) which was going to fit on my butchered Cayman 70 tank (2ft, 70ltr ish tank) to replace the bodge job i did there into something more respectable.
But recently i moved in with my dad (yeah I'm 18 and yes I'm going to Uni in September) and instead of even contemplating moving my tank with me to Uni, I'm going to set up a tank that can run itself for at worse 5 days at a time (my uni is very close to home and so is work, in fact my work at the hospital is 7 minutes walk)

So after all that my first question is

What is the maximum light spread for a 150 watt MG600 so that i can plan my max tank size?

I'm considering a 2.5ft or 3ft Custom made. something like a 2.5/3ft x 18" x 12/15/18" (LxHxD) (ideally the 18 for depth)
I think i read somewhere that a single 150watt will cover roughly a 2-2.5ftx 2-2.5 ft square with a max depth penetration around 18" but my mind could have made those figures up.

the reason i don't go 250 or double fixture is because my dad wants this to be as low energy costing as possible so 150 metal halide was a compromise for metal halides over my current rubbish lighting rig.

Second question is how the hell do you take the halide bulbs out?

i cant twist the bulb into an unlock position like a florescent tube, i can push the bulb about Cm ether way but i cant sort of push the bulb back and part the connection from the other end if that makes sense?!

Finally seeing as i have never owned a metal halide I'm unsure what bulb to go for the current fittings is an X month old metal halide bulb (thats looking quite black where the electricity arcs (so i assume needs replacing) that i cant see a name on, maybe the other side) and a single 24 "Chinese blue" that came with the fittings the other bulb has blown.

Can any body suggest some good ish bulbs? i reckon around the 14K mark (if using the power compacts to supplement) maybe even a 10K depending on how blue it is when my Triton moon arrives to replace the bulb. i know that its largely down to personal taste but i still would like some ideas on branding etc.unfortunately i couldn't find out if it is an electronic ballast or a magnetic without opening it but i dont have time tonight

Best regards

Luke

 

[SkiFletch]

I think i read somewhere that a single 150watt will cover roughly a 2-2.5ftx 2-2.5 ft square with a max depth penetration around 18" but my mind could have made those figures up.

That's pretty accurate

Not sure about removing them to be honest... Some fixtures are a little different than others, but they SHOULD just pull straight out with a bit of force.

As for the bulb type, something in the 14k range will probably look most pleasing. Not sure what's available in the UK for me to reccomend but I'm pretty sure Hamilton makes a 14K that you can get over there

 

[Phoenixfish]

Hey Skifletch,
Thanks for the second voice on the light penetration.
Ill have a fiddle with the bulb again later tonight probably to see if it will fit,

Recon i could get away with a 3ft tank on 150? and have a central rock mountain, reef fringe? im just trying to max out my tank size without changing the equipment over(yes it will have a sump as well to increase it further),

Does anybody have any photos of a 3ft tank with a single 150 watt metal halide, i understand i would be severely limited to what i put at the outer edges but its not a problem my previous lighting is pitiful so im sure ill be okay. (come on im going custom built if i can afford it, so i might as well get the max to begin with)

I also saw the Gieseman 12.5K bulbs when coupled with 48 watts of actinic it might look okay. (i was going to buy a new Gieseman infinti before my dad said 150 max and i couldn’t justify the cost if i wasn’t getting double fixture, but i still might at a later date.they sure look hot)

but then again the brand hamilton has cropped up often. i want something that that keeps its intensity for at least 9 months preferably 12 (so no osrams that need changing every 6 months) but give a good PAR etc im basically after the best bulb available in the uk, i think £60/$120 is about my max for a very good bulb but preferably less,

(on a separate note i just brought a Tunze Osmolator, its like the standard model but has a skimmer attachment thing off ebay and a Deltec FR 509 FLUIDIZING REACTOR, now i just need to replace my Red sea Max for something that actually skims...mmmmm deltec)

Best regards
Your reefer in arms
Phoenixfish

 

[SkiFletch]

You CAN get away with a 150 over a 3' tank, but you're definitely going to struggle at the edges to keep anything alive. I did a 3' with a 175watt halide and it wasn't enough, had to go twin to really be satisfied. I didn't like being severely limited by where I could place high-light loving organisms that I loved (clams, SPS, and some LPS. I suppose it more matters the type of organisms you want to keep than anything else.

Geismann makes great lamps, a little on the yellow side of things if you ask me.

 

[Phoenixfish]

hmmmm conundrum lol,
if i get the 3ft then i always have the option at a later date to add a duel fixture ill just have to be very careful of my coral placement plus the 6" ether side would make interesting swimming room for the fish etc.

I really do like a large variety of corals
i love Ric's and shrooms, Zoa's, Leathers,Acro's,Montipora's, Euphyllia and plates to name a few .... yes i know thats quite a mix and chemical warfare would be a potential nightmare if i were to have all even if i could support them on a 150.

well ill look into the Hamilton's and the Gieseman bulbs plus what ever else i can find really I'm sure ill come up with something

Thank you

Quick google search and it doenst show any stores based in the UK for hamiltons? anybody have any likes or sugestions?

 

[SkiFletch]

At the risk of throwing him under the bus, you might want to try contacting Matthew5564 as he always seemed to be able to source good halide bulbs...

 

[Musho3210]

im using a 250 on a 3 ft tank, it penetrated to the bottom (its a 22" deep tank i think) but it doesnt get to the corners well, there is light there, but very dim. Im gonna need to add some fluorescents because of that.

 

[Phoenixfish]

im using a 250 on a 3 ft tank, it penetrated to the bottom (its a 22" deep tank i think) but it doesnt get to the corners well, there is light there, but very dim. Im gonna need to add some fluorescents because of that.

To Skifletch, Laugh ill contact matthew5564 see if he has any luck,

TO Musho3210, Hmm thats useful information thank you, my light fixture has built in 24 watt Power compacts (that reminds me i need to pick that bulb up tomorrow)

To give you some idea heres what the light looks like when in a darkened room, the tape measure is 3ft and the light is roughly in the middle of the tape measure to help see the spread,

First is 150 watt 14K bulb (if its the origional which i assume it is) plus a single 24 watt "blue" power compact (the seconds bust and needs replacing)

The second is just a single 24 watt power compact

the third is just metal halide (notice little difference between first and 3rd, that and how out of focus it is... hey it was a quick shot)

and finally for kicks the under belly of the light.

just a point my carpet is a light colour not that **** tastic colour in the photos =D

You can see that when on full power (oh these bulbs also handnt had a chance to warm up properly i just flicked them on straight a way) the light dramatically drops off at around the 2-2.5ft (note the unit itself is only 2ft long) but its "light enough" for fish not coral. plus there is the light in the room
Right then now to contact Keith once i've made some diagrams etc.