It's a fine place to start. If there's any question as to the age of the bulbs, replace them all so you're starting fresh. Bulb age counts like crazy, so it's one mystery you don't need to start with.
I would start planning for your LED upgrade now though. If you use all five bulbs and use high-quality emitters (ATI, Radium*, et al) it'll be a lot of power usage AND a lot of cost in bulb replacements. Expensive! Around $140 per year just in bulbs. I did that twice a year when I ran just halides – your mileage may vary.
For perspective, you can build a basic DIY LED fixture using the same design I use for less than $140.
Something to consider.
* From looking around, the 150w Radium isn't forsale anynore.....discontinued. Nooooooooooooooo!
It's a fine place to start. If there's any question as to the age of the bulbs, replace them all so you're starting fresh. Bulb age counts like crazy, so it's one mystery you don't need to start with.
I would start planning for your LED upgrade now though. If you use all five bulbs and use high-quality emitters (ATI, Radium*, et al) it'll be a lot of power usage AND a lot of cost in bulb replacements. Expensive! Around $140 per year just in bulbs. I did that twice a year when I ran just halides – your mileage may vary.
For perspective, you can build a basic DIY LED fixture using the same design I use for less than $140.
Something to consider.
* From looking around, the 150w Radium isn't forsale anynore.....discontinued. Nooooooooooooooo!
Didn't want to spend a ton on a fixture. I had already wasted a ton of money going thru kessils and Ecotech's and all the other LED offerings. Wife was not happy with that money flushed down the drain. Because you never get your money back on used lighting.
T5 fixture would be great to use. I use MH because I like to grow out SPS corals. An it worked best the this current tank a IM40 the width of tank would make the t5 hang over the edge of the tank. An this tank is just around until I get a larger one in the next year.
This is always up for debate but doubtful, I have run dual 250w MH on 90 gallon and still used only a heater but i live in NY and my house was always at around 68 degrees... really depends what you keep your house temperature at.
In my opinion no. I however live in Texas with summer temps in the house at 75. I was running three 250watt MH with t5 supplement over 210gallons. I Switched out the MH for Mars Aqua LEDs about three months ago. My growth improved and my power bill dropped $35dollars from the previous year. I am actually seeing better growth now. I think the age of the ballast will be something to consider as I think this is the cause of poor growth.
