Adviced on this deal please

[Purple-Tang]

I need some advice, guys. A friend of mine selling his metal halide systems. He has 2 ballasts, each capable of supporting 2 bulbs. One ballast supports 2 bulbs of 250 watts, totalling 500 watts, selling for $225. The other one supports 2 bulbs of 400 watts, totalling 800 watts, selling for $260. I am planning to get the 800 watts ballast. I havent done any research into it yet, just looking to see the range for metal halides from those who have experience in it. Currently using VHO, but those arent so good, at least I thought so, so planning in getting metal halides. Any ideas or advices is welcome. Oh, also please give me the range of metal halides, if you do know, that would be very helpful for me. Thanks

[Fishfirst]

I'm kind of confused. Range??? Do you mean penetration? Because with a 135 gallon, because of the depth I would go with both the VHO's and the 400 watt metal halides. However, I'd get the brand name from your friend as all metal halides aren't created equal, and as for K values I would go for 10,000K for the metal halides, and a split between 14K and actinic for the VHO's

[Damon]

Why do you think VHO bulbs aren't good?

[Purple-Tang]

Well, I currently using vho, and the color is not as brilliant as I see, plus the corals aren't opening up fully. For example, my colony of xenia just doesnt extend out like it was when I first bought it, kinda shrink after a few days in my tank, although it is splitting and multiplying. Besides, I just want to try something new, and metal halides are in my interest. Firshfirst, thanks for the input, I am asking about range in price for metal halides. After getting the 2 bulbs of 400 watts each, I plan to keep the actinic vho bulbs running with the metal halide. Is that too much light? I mean, 800 watts of metal halides is not too much for my tank?

[Fishfirst]

lol, unless you get major heat issues, no, its not too much light... however I would slowly transition the corals into the metal halides by keeping the metal halides off most of the time... (keeping them on one hour or so at first) and then slowly adding more time.

As for your corals not doing well... I have to say I'm pretty sure its not your lighting thats the problem.

[jasno999]

Purple-Tang is it a possibility that your Xenia is gettign to much light?

[Fishfirst]

I doubt it, xenia loves light... under metal halides at the store I used to work at it'd double its coloney every 3-4 weeks.

[Purple-Tang]

I dont know about too much light. I noticed that the colonies are splitting, yet they dont open as much as it looks like, in the store. I also notice that the xenia colony very close to top of the tank opens much more than the ones lower than it. I think its the light. I am trying to get metal halides, just wonder if the deal for 800 watts of metal halide is good or not. He said they are quality brand, so yea, for 250 is good or not?

[jasno999]

I hear that. I was just thinking in some other corals they will open more when they are not gettign enough light. Liek a bubble coral might increase its surface area to get the most light it can in lower light situations. However in higher light situations it may actually retract a little.

Can be true in some cases.

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by jasno999

I hear that. I was just thinking in some other corals they will open more when they are not gettign enough light. Liek a bubble coral might increase its surface area to get the most light it can in lower light situations. However in higher light situations it may actually retract a little.

Can be true in some cases.

Actually, A Bubble Coral opens it's bubbles larger to block light. They are a low light demanding coral. They retract more when they are not getting enough light.

[Fishfirst]

$250 would be good if its indeed a good brand (such as ice cap)... if he doesn't name the brand though I definately would be cautious. If he has told you the brand look it up on the internet and see if it has any performance issues... otherwise stick the brand name on here and we could probably help you out.

[Purple-Tang]

Thanks, Fishfirst. he said brand name is Hamilton. Never heard it ever, lol.

[Fishfirst]

hamilton is pretty good.

[jasno999]

Reefneck you wrote-

Actually, A Bubble Coral opens it's bubbles larger to block light. They are a low light demanding coral. They retract more when they are not getting enough light.

That is crazy and the first tiem I have ever heard somebody say that. From all my reading and discussion with reef owners and care takers I have been told and seen the exact opposite. I have read well known books on corals that state the exact opposite.

The whle idea of a bubble coral expanding its bubbles and increasing its area is to capture more light. If you were a coral and needed more light why in the world woudl you decrease your ability to capture light by shrinking or retracting??? It jsut makes common sense that if a coral needs more light it will expand to try to capture as much as it can. It may not be true for every croal but it is defiitly true for bubble coral.

Where are you getting your information???

[Reefneck]

It is NOT true for a bubble coral! Go read some more. There are plenty of reliable sources that provide accurate information.

Originally Posted by Google Search

Special anatomical, physiological
or behavioral adaptations:
The bubble coral gets its' name because of the protective shape it has. The corallite is covered by vesicles that protect during the day and retracts at night. It is these vesicles that give the appearance of being bubbles. The scientific name (plerogyra) is Greek, which means (in two parts) pleres - full and gyros - circle.

Originally Posted by Another Google Search

It’s thought that the size of the bubble regulates the amount of light its zooxanthellae receive. This coral does not photoadapt, but adjusts its level of photosynthetic cells to match light intensity. It will simply regulate how much light it comes in contact with through altering its bubble size. Therefore the proper placement of bubble coral in the aquarium is extremely important.

[Fishfirst]

I've never heard this to be true as well reefneck... indulge me with some sources!!! I'd love to see them!

[Damon]

I'm confused also............
http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSh...bble_coral.htm

It could be that there are 3 types of bubble coral also.....
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquarium...d=3790&search=
http://www.centralpets.com/animals/f...s/swi1692.html

Hope this resolves the conflicts....