Metal Halide as only light?

[djd3mon]

I am thinking about using my 150 watt metal halide light as my only source of light for my 30 gal frag tank. I have it hanging about 24" above the tank. Temp is good. I have been running it for an hour a day (during the peak of my light cycle) for 2 weeks now with no issues. MY main lights right now are 2 AI Primes running on the 20k mode at 50% for 7 hours. Total light with AI Primes and Metal halide is 8 hours. Any ways my question is will my tank be ok to use only metal halide for 8 hours a day? The reason is I have another40 gallon frag tank I started up and I wanted to use the primes on it.

I have sps, softies, lps, etc.

Thanks

View attachment 400552

 

[JaimeAdams]

You can certainly use a Metal Halide as the only light.

 

[ksc]

That will be fine. You might want to lower the light though. 24" with a 150 will be pretty low light.

 

[djd3mon]

Awesome to hear! I just had it raised because I didnt want to bleach anything out and wanted to see how things go first. baby steps.

 

[JaimeAdams]

What Kelvin is the bulb that you are using? Looks pretty high on the scale.

 

[djd3mon]

What Kelvin is the bulb that you are using? Looks pretty high on the scale.

14k

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

the intensity youll get from a MH is going to depend on the reflector too. I have 2 15os and theres a big difference in intesnity between them.
My fav MH, gave me 40,000 lux at 14in.
a 14k mh has more par than a 20k mh.
@40,000 lux w 14k mh thats about 800 par. -/+ 100
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/review

its quite likely you can just remove the ai and be just fine.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

baby steps.

very wise.

 

[djd3mon]

the intensity youll get from a MH is going to depend on the reflector too. I have 2 15os and theres a big difference in intesnity between them.
My fav MH, gave me 40,000 lux at 14in.
a 14k mh has more par than a 20k mh.
@40,000 lux w 14k mh thats about 800 par. -/+ 100
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/2/review

its quite likely you can just remove the ai and be just fine.

I eventually plan to remove them. I will ramp up the hours they are on slowly. Just to make sure nothing bad happens. Got a lot of money tied up in corals.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474676748&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux

I would venture a guess that you may even be over lighting them.

i like the HOB fuge. aren't those great?

 

[djd3mon]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQT68CO/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474676748&sr=sr-1&keywords=lux

I would venture a guess that you may even be over lighting them.

i like the HOB fuge. aren't those great?

I wish I had a meter to measure but they ate pretty expensive.

I've had the mini fuge for only a week so farm I love it.

 

[djd3mon]

Just saw your link. I will have to get me one now !!

 

[reefwiser]

MH is just fine you will get greater growth the the MH than the primes anyway. In fact if you want a frag farm to grow corals MH and t5 is the way to go. I know many frag dealers and that is all the use. They need to use MH and t5 as this is a business to them and they are growing corals to sell and just look at.