Switching to MH need suggestions

Hello all!
I am goin to be switching from my T5's to halide's. My aquaticlife fixture is just driving me nuts. If I touch the case, and put my finger in the water, I get shocked! And the moon lights keep flickering on and off. I have had it apart a few times and there is no short, I have checked EVERY wire in it. So, if I have to replace it, Halide's I will go!

There is so many to choose from, and I don't want to buy another lemon, So i turn to my fellow reefers on your experiences and suggestions. My tank is 155 bow. 24 inches deep. I know I need three lamps, 250 watt. but then what do I do for actnics? I don't have a canopy, and being on a second floor, I don't want to add more weight to the tank for one ;D

So, what has worked for you and throw me some suggestions. K+ for all help!

 

Why don't you just ground the casing with a wire?

 

Well, depending on what types of corals you want, maybe go with a fixture. You could probably use a 2x250w fixture with T5 supplements such as the Maristar fixture, a very nice one. Or you could hang 3 pendants and just use a higher K bulb or bluer 14K such as the Pheonix bulb HQI 14K bulb.

 

I thought of that, but the case is already grounded inside, and it won't help the LED's from flickering half the night as well as the clear cover is all salt chewed, so, need one of those too.

I have two braces in the center, so there is three open areas. So after looking at many other tanks, I figure three would do it.

 

I think three MH would be best. I see lots of people using pendants these days. But w/pendants, there is the issue of actinic supplementation. There are some new pendants w/T5 built in tho.

 

best choice: get three icecap/lumatek ballasts, three nice reflectors (lumenarc, lumenbrite, lumenmax) and three bulbs. Personally, I would put two phoenix 14k on the outside and a radium 20k in the center one. you will get the amazing pop from the radium and the pretty colors from the phoenix along with the growth.
second best choice: get a fixture and use similar bulbs
third best choice: go with a canopy with above mentioned ballasts and bulbs (but you said you didnt want a canopy so...)

 

Yeah, i think the canpoy would add too much weight. Although the tank is on the main beam of the house, it still scares me.

I was thinking of just that with three pendants, but what Siddique stated, I would need the actnics to counteract it. Any suggestions there? Thanks for your input! ;D

 

I am with Blackraven here, sounds like your ground has shorted out inside. You should ground this asap, even if its just for a week or two until you replace it -- its a safty thing, if you are uncertain how please post and we can help.

Right, the flickering would drive me to drink....wait, I am going to drink anyway ! yeah, this would have to go (ground it in the meanwhile tho)

Too much weight? If you think a canopy is too much additional weight you best not walk around that tank! j/k. I bet weight is not an issue, consider the displacement of the stand. my 180 is (blind guess without much thought) 2,000 pounds since its 6x2 that's 12 square foot to displace weight or less than 200 pounds per square....I am over 200 pounds. It's probably ok and safe.

I use a coralife fixture - no canopy required ! the ballasts are large but reliable (used this set up for maybe 5 years or so) 3 250's seems like a lot to me. I would think 2 250's MH's and a few PC's 50/50's should do you well.

 

if you go with the radium and two phoenix you arent going to need and actinic... I said these bulbs because they both have the same spectral peaks as actinic bulbs, so they act like actinics on their own.

My dad runs two phoenix 14k over his tanks and i can tell you from experience, no actinics are needed! I also dont run actinics over my tank, just a ushio 14k

 

LMAO....The heart of a genuine 3Reefer!!

I agree, fix your current fixture. I'd go with Dingo's plan: a Maristar-700W. Use the existing T5 for a smaller tank.