Aquamedic oceanlight 250 HQI

[Samper]

I am in the process of putting together a frag system. I haven't been in the metal halide game in a long time but since I have this light laying around I am going to put it to good use. First question....for a 40 gallon breeder frag tank what bulb and kelvin rating? Second question....the ballast has been sitting around for a while and is making a horrible noise from the fan. It still functions fine but the fan noise is driving me crazy and it's all a bit rusty. I've thought about upgrading the ballast but for now I may just try and replace the fan due to the costs. What ballasts are you guys using? Third question. Would you plumb the frag tank to the display already running or would you seperate them? I have a spare skimmer, sump and return pump but I don't have the reactors and I've come to really enjoy their company. I feel like seperating them would be better just in case something happened to one....I'd still have backups in the other.

[Samper]

Scott how do you like the icecaps?

[charlie]

I think you could almost get away with a 175w bulb in a 40 breeder, but the 250 won't hurt anything, just watch the heat. I would use a 10k bulb, but only because I have used them before over frag tanks. I use PFO ballasts, never had a problem.
If you have the room, separate the systems. Mine was just plumbed to my fuge.

[Reefland]

I use the Icecap 20k's on an Icecap and Sunlight ballast. They are no where near the appearance of other 20k's I have used, and provide a much more crisp white light than blue. Thumbs Up from me!

[Samper]

I see the benefit of more water volume in the entire system but at the same time if something were to happen god forbid....and things went south I think it would be worth it to have them split up. Has anyone heard anything about Spectrum specialists lamps? Has Sanjay done any work with them? I have a friend that has a bunch of them brand new and has offered to let me have a few to try out. Since they are free I'm going to try them for a while.

[Reefland]

Only that they are a new operation started by someone who was in the reef industry, but another field.

[Samper]

Well worth a shot I guess...even if they only last 4 months a piece that saves me some $.

Lets talk about overdriven bulbs. I know some here are doing it but how is it done and what are the short and long term effects on the bulb? What are the benefits?

[charlie]

If I was going to overdrive a bulb, I use a PFO HQI ballast. For me, it shortened the life of the bulb to about 6-7 months. Benefits are it seems to pushg the lite to be a bit brighter, IME. You tend to go thru bulbs more often tho!

[Samper]

Is it worth it?

[charlie]

You know, it is hard to say. I got some really good growth on my blue tort when it was under an overdriven reefflux 10K, but man oh man, the price of MH!!!!!

[Samper]

I have to use it....I mean it's here.....