MH substitution

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bemyself

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Jul 17, 2003
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Dear all,
It's been along time. I'd recently stop keeping corals and turn to FOWLR. I'd been using Metal Halide all along but since I"d stop keeping corals, I think MH is not neccessary. However I'd been looking for the past few days without success on what lights to substitute the MH. My previous MH is a 250watts, 10,000K and I can say the lightning and the color is fantastic. So my question now is, does there any lightning which has the color or brightness that are similar to the MH where it's suitable for FOWLR only?
I appreciate your help. Thanks
 
Just get some flourecent light sticks. They are cheap and easy to install. They will deliver great light if all you need them for is a FOWLR. Like 2 lengths of the tank should probebly be enough.
 
I'm guessing you're talking about the shimmer lines and brightness. Sadly, no, fluorescents and PC will not even come close. I'm considering adding MH to my FO, just to get the clarity and shimmer that I love so much in the reef.
 
OrionGirl said:
I'm guessing you're talking about the shimmer lines and brightness. Sadly, no, fluorescents and PC will not even come close. I'm considering adding MH to my FO, just to get the clarity and shimmer that I love so much in the reef.
Click to expand...

Sounds exspensive.I couldnt do it as I would be tempted to throw some corals in.
 
Yep, pricey, but with the current occupants of the FO, adding corals is not tempting. The trigger and burrfish would make pretty short work of most--they tolerate several hitch hikers, but I wouldn't risk a nice coral with them. Heck, I'm reluctant to risk my fingers with them! :D MH just look so much nicer, brigher colors, and the shimmer lines are awesome.
 
OrionGirl,
You got my point. This is precisely what i'm looking for but can't explain in english on the clarity and the shimmering effect.
How about T5 which I heard do produce the same effect as the MH but not producing much heat? I appreciate your advice.
thanks
 
Fluorescents (NO, PC, VHO, T5) really can't give the same effect as halides, because halides are similar to a point source, which gets refracted by the surface, giving the shimmer. Fluorescents generate light along their whole lengths, giving a more even illumination.
 
glitter lines are a byproduct of a point source light. You could potentially use any point source bulb to do this, standard incandescent, halogen, MV, MH, etc. Or you could use fluorescent bulbs focused through a narrow tube...

Of course with most of those options your looking at the wrong color spectrum, a huge waste of energy, and potentially very expensive setups.
 
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