70W MH retro/PC or actinic

[Sugar Magnolia]

I've been tossing this idea around in my brain for a while, and have decided to go for it. My 2.5 is in bad shape due to an overabundance of vermetid snails and I'm now dealing with a hydroid invasion so I'm going to upgrade to a 5.5 gallon. I plan on going with this 70W MH retro from www.illumig.com

KIT INCLUDES: New style Aromat Metal halide electronic ballast, with junction box. Choice of lamp, H.Q.I. socket, Reflector, Cords. Kit comes fully assembled to install inside your hood. (FREE SHIPPING)

I'm afraid a 20K bulb will look too blue over such a small tank so I think I'll go with a 10K and supplement it with some actinic or PC. This is where I need the help. I have no supplement to my 250W 14K Phoenix on my 30 cube so I have no idea what would be the best for supplementatin for this tank. Any and all suggestion are appreciated. Also, will this need a UV shield? My PFO pendant came with one already installed.

Oh, and I'll also need a couple of fans for the canopy. I'll have my husband build the canopy once I get the retro in.

 

[leaffish75]

the link isnt working. i wanted to check this out.

 

[Kris]

http://www.illuming.com/

 

[Kris]

Yes you will most definently need a shield.

A 20k would be perfect over a 5.5 since 20k's are "dimmer" than their 10k counterparts. I have run both of these bulbs. If you want bright light, get a 10k. If you want moderate with actinic, do the 20k. There is a thread floating around on NR about somone finding a 15k 70w. I looked through 10 pages and could not find it.

The problem you are going to have with this setup is major heat issues and evaporation problems. Either up the tank size, or consider an open top/pendant kind of setup. If you slap a 70w, fans and some actinic pc's, your going to be in for some problems.

A few ideas if you want to do a 5.5 - make a pendant hanging over it that connects to a base that the tank sits on. This will resolve alot of the issues that will plauge you if you do a canopy. It will also give you a cleaner look. Other than that, you will be forced to upsize the tank to avoid problems.

Lastly, buy the other kit. Not the one with the junction box.

I did not know you were a woman??? :shock:

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I did not know you were a woman??? :shock:

LOL! Thanks for fixing that link.

I already have a design in mind for the canopy. I plan to go with an open front/back/sides with just the four corners and a base that will set on the lip of the tank. Plenty of air exchange that way, with the halide/actinics about 8-10" over the water. Should be pretty cool looking. I'll have to draw up the design and see if it's feasible.

I see that other kit - what's the deal with the junction box? I definitely want something that's plug and play.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Kris]

That junction box just looks weird and ghetto fabulous! It's there to make the system "plug and play". However, the same can be achieved with the other system without it looking ghetto or spending unnecessary money.


Btw, do you know who started the 70w MH rage? I will give you one guess. :cool1:

 

[incysor]

Yep you'll need a UV shield. All DE MH bulbs need them.

One of the LFS fried their display tank when one of the shields got broken while someone was replacing the bulb. The kid figured it was just a splash guard and didn't mention it cause the lights were nearly 20" over the tank.

Next day was a bad day so I hear. :sad:

I agree the junction box looks sort of ghetto. I've got one on my setup as well, but it's a more streamlined rectangular plastic box. Still a little ghetto, but much, much easier to unplug the lights if I ever have an issue with the ballast, or the endcaps. It doesn't matter much anyway as it's behind the tank against the wall where you can't really see it. ;-)

B

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Okay, so the other retro is what I'm going with. Do you think 13W of 03 actinic will be enough or should I go with the 28/32W 03 actinic from hellolights?

 

[perpetual98]

Get as much light as you can afford. I'm running a tank with 70W Ushio 10,000K bulbs over it and each halide is flanked by 120W of PC actinic and I could actually use MORE actinic.