halide light ?'s

[tinkerman]

I am thinking about getting 3 150 watt halide lights for my 125 gal planted tank. I have 4 3 ft t5ho lights I want to run most of the day but want to be able to add the intensity of halides to the tank. Not really sure what I need as far as ballasts and wattage if 3x 150 or 3x 250 would be better. I am hopping to have enough to get a par meter also. Can some of you shed some more light on this so I can make a better pick on the light I get. Is there a difference between hqi and mogel halides? Thanks in advance.
Lyle

 

[Tom Barr]

I'd stick with 3x 150HQI, the Water grass bulbs seem pretty good and cheap also.

The hQI will be much smaller hoods.

I'd go with them if you are going to spend the $

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[tinkerman]

Thanks for the response Tom. the 3x 150 hqi's is what I was thinking of getting, but is there a difference between the two halides other than the bulbs and ballasts they use? I did notice that the hqi's had a smaller reflecter as its bulb is smaller. What is a water grass bulb? do you know K rating, brand, or link would be great. These are the 2 that I had been looking at Catalina Aquarium

Catalina Aquarium

Anyone with these or dealing with this web site have any coments would be great also. Or comment on the quality or crap of what I was thinking of getting would be great.

 

[Tom Barr]

So you are using these in a retro hood? Eg you have a hood/canopy and are bolting this in?

If so, go with the HQI, 6500K or a 10K bulb(if you have to get them from Cat aq)
You will need a fan!!
Vent the hood and fan should be running anytime a MH's is used

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[tinkerman]

Yes Tom I have a hood I made out of wood that I have 4x 39watt t5ho and 2x 96 watt cf in at the moment. I had a jbj4x 96 watt cf fixture but 2 of the ballasts stopped working and the other 2 work when they want to, so I have the 2 that work yet in the middle of the hood and the 4 t5ho's on the outside edge. I took the 6 fans out of the jbj light also and have 3 on each end, 3 blowing in and 3 blowing out (fans all have 1 1/2 in holes). Cat Aq is the cheapest I found never ordered from them before so if the ballasts are not that good I figured I could upgrade the ballasts at a later date. Which is why I would like to have some light shed on this as if I can't change the brand of the ballast at a later time then I will look some where else for a light, I noticed that some lights say they have quick connecters so if I cant' do this please let me know. Is icecap the best of the best or are their other brands that are really good also for when and if I can upgrade the ballasts? Thank you for your help Tom.
Lyle

 

[Tom Barr]

Move the T5's as far apart as you can in the hood, so that you have a pair on each end(front to back) of the tank, so either 2 (or 4) on the front of the hood and another 2(or 4) at the rear.

Then place the HQI's in the middle, you will want about 12" or so high for the MH', the T5 can be placed at 4" or so above the water, use a 2x2" wood spacer etc to lower them or chain hooks etc if possible.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[tinkerman]

Yes tom that is how it is set up so 2 of the 4 are in the front and the other 2 are in the back and th cf are run down the middle so the cf will get taken out and add the halides in their place. Anyone have links for par meters and anything that needs to go with them?