Question with DIY lighting in my hood

All lights starting at 8 hrs or just MH? And starting at 15'' from lights right, because my tank is only 19'' deep.

 

My lights are going to be 10'' off water, or should go 12''?

 

I run my MH's 12" off water surface and when I put in a new coral I usually pay attention what kind of lights they had it under unless it comes by mail and then I place it in my tank from what I find out. I usually place ones I don't know under the shade of a rock on the bottom and let it sit there for 2 or 3 weeks to see how it does then start moving it up from there every couple weeks until I get it where I want it.

 

Ok, I just ordered My VHO's, Ice Cap 660 w/ 2 110w Atinics 1 white & 1 blue. The 250W MH balast is back ordered and wont be in until next week then I'm going to order 2 of them with 2-250 20K's bulbs. So I hope I dont burn anything up..... Jeff

 

You just want to use both Blue actinic and use only URI the actinics. Cancel the white Bulb it will look bad in the mix..

 

Ok, are the atinics I ordered ok though? I mean other than the 1 white and 1 blue.... Order swiched...... Thanks for the heads up...

 

How many bulbs are you going to run on the VHO's All you want or need is just Two 48 inch URI super Actanics tubes.. No white and no more then 2 the white actinic will make the M/H look yellow and they will run up the heat.. I mean you can buy the extra 2 bulbs and pay for the extra ballast cost and then the electricity consumed and then the added heat to deal with ..If you want But a VHO o a Ice Crap will burn at 120 F in the center of the tube. And all the extra ones will do is add eat and mess with the color of the M/H's

 

I'm going to run 2 VHO's ( URI bulbs ) and 2-250 20K MH. The reason I bought the bigger ballast was because if I wanted to add extra VHO's.

 

I stopped uing Ice Crap stuff along time ago But the 660 will Run just two bulbs , I know they have several ways to wire the harnesses Now the down side with these ballast is one lamp goes out they all go out .

Look into the SPS brand M/H bulbs and the 14 K We run both where I work and the corals all seem to respong better to the 14 K in this brand .. And I'd stay away from X-M Brand also.. Just speaking from my experience I would anyways

 

What MH ballast do you recommend? I would prefer an electronic ballast..