125Gal 6 Foot with 400 Watt MH ? Please

[JesterGrin_1]

I am getting back into the Hobby and I have found that many have done away with VHO and besides they are dang expensive now.( Of which I can not believe lol. ) But I have a pair of 4OO Watt electronic ballasts and 2 brand new 400 Watt XM 20K Bulbs.

So before I build the hanging canopy for these lights are they too much or would I be better of to trade them to someone that needs 400 Watts for a pair of 250's?

The Tank is an Oceanic 125 Gal 6 foot long and 24 tall.

Thank You for any help.

 

[Alex T.]

Since you're on the SPS forum, in my opinion 400 watt XM 20K bulbs on electronic ballasts are fine for a 125 (I believe it's 21.5" depth if I'm not mistaken). With the height of the tank in mind, I'd either run a Lumenarc mini reflector that spreads the light out well with a "normal aquascape", or get a more focused reflector like the Lumenmax Elite or Lumenbrite Mini that allows you to hang the reflectors as high as 16" off the water, have a lower rock profile and still be able to grow SPS close to the sand bed without the added heat.

If this were a LPS and Softee tank I'd say why spend the electric. On your other point, I still run old school VHO's. I love the look when combined with a 400 watt Radium bulb.

HTH

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Where would be the best place to purchase replacement VHO Bulbs? The local stores have them at $80.00 plus for the 6 footers. On a quick search Marine Depot has them for $27.29 each.

The tank is a 24 inches tall. But that is kind of out the window with the deep sand bed.

So yes I would like to keep and grow SPS. Thank You.

 

[rogerwilco357]

I have some vho's on my 120 and love the way they pop on the colors along side my 20k Radiums or XM's along side those 400's should rock for your sps.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Rogerwilco I have no SPS at this time. Just starting the tank pretty much. All I have right now is a tank full of rock and a Yellow Tang and a Bristle Tooth Tang.

Just mainly wondering if using the 400 Watt MH with the 20K XM's is a waste and just try and find a trade for a couple of 250 Watt MH.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

BUMP Please

 

[Alex T.]

If it's going to be a mixed reef with a few/some SPS in the upper regions of the tank, 250 watt Radiums are more than enough. If it's going to be a full blown SPS tank with some nice Maxima clams on the sand bed then have at it with the 400's. You'll definitely need to address the heat issue with 400 watt bulbs though. Most of the time you can get away with some fans. I did that on my last tank and it helped with evaporative cooling. This in itself was welcomed so that I could top off with more kalkwasser for my SPS and clams.

 

[Alex T.]

I do see that you're from Texas though so heat is probably going to be an issue with your tank unless it's in a basement or you keep the AC on a lot. If it were me, considering the heat in Texas, I might go to 250's. There are more than enough great SPS tanks with 250 watt Radiums/XM 20K with VHO actinic to gawk at and admire.

For instance:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/75-tank-of-the-month

Or how about:

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/58-tank-of-the-month

It's tough to argue with the Radium and VHO actinic combination Whether you do 400's or 250's you'll be happy.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Alex Thank You. I guess I will try and trade my 400MH's for a pair of 250MH's since I am in South TEXAS it tends to get a bit HOT here lol.

 

[franklypre]

Honestly I'm in NE Texas and just switched my 400w DE setup to a 250 for the summer, I have 1 pendant along with 4 PAR Led bulbs. It's a big difference in the amount of light but 250s should be enough, but 400s will rock.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

I have to say this choice between 250's and 400's are killing me lol.

Many say the 250's will work fine and run cooler. While the 400's would definitely but be hotter.

My thinking might be wrong but I was thinking since these are 20K XM's on the 400 Watt that because of the bit of blue tent they would work just as well as the 250's?

 

[robs.mark]

I have a 24" deep sps tank running 250w 20k radiums and granted its a new tank, but all of my sps frags seem to be encrusting nicely, colors are holding well and i love the color of the tank light. Im not the only one either, i believe there is a thread on the sps keepers forum dedicated to tanks running 250w radiums. I changed from 400w just for the heat, running cost issues and im very happy.

 

[Alex T.]

Without sparking the debate that the "Radium" name usually starts, they need specific ballasts to run properly. The 250 watt radium is an HQI bulb. It actually pulls close to 330 watts. Driving it on a regular electronic ballast is not doing it justice. When driven on an M80 HQI ballast it will rock your world. It is the "look" that is often imitated, but never duplicated. A crisp white with hint of blue. If you're going with 250 watt bulbs,

I would leave the XM's out of the picture and go Radium. The only HQI ballast that would run them to spec that I know is still available is this one:

http://www.aquacave.com/250W-Reeflex-Cube-HQI-Ballast-by-Aqua-Medic-P2190C208.aspx

You won't be disappointed. There aren't many people that go this route and go back to something else. They are more than enough light for a 21" deep by 18" wide 125.

Go for it!

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Alex I saw those but I thought people were getting away from magnetic ballast?

 

[Alex T.]

Even select-a-watt 250 watt electronic ballasts will not fire the bulb properly and to spec. No 250 watt HQI bulb will truly shine on anything but an M80. Don't get me wrong...it will work, but will lose its' color spectrum and intensity much sooner. The added cost of $80 bulbs x 3 can answer that question.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

Alex well I will wait a few days since I have a Trade up for my 400's for a 250 system. If nothing comes up I will simply use what I have right now with the 400's and work on the 250 system as funds allow.

Right now I have a pair of LARGE Metal Halide Parabolic Reflector Set w/ Mogul Base as seen here - http://www.aquacave.com/LARGE-Metal-Halide-Parabolic-Reflector-Set-w-Mogul-Base-P2177C200.aspx

But Now I have to figure out how to build a one piece housing for them and then I think hang them from Electrical Conduit?

My Tank is an Oceanic so it has a center brace.

 

[Alex T.]

As funds allow, I would invest in a much better set of reflectors as well. I started with parabolics too (batwings). You have absolutely NO IDEA how much light is wasted and not better directed down into the tank. I didn't believe all the hype at first, but once I bought the reflectors I was sold. I can grow SPS on the sand bed if I want. If you want to stick with the 400's, you may be able to avoid the heat issue by getting the right reflector. The Lumenbrite and Lumenmax Elite Reflectors are meant to be hung much further from the water surface or they'll scorch and bleach corals. When placed too close they create a beam of light. I have the Lumenmax Elite reflectors and they are 16 inches off the water. The picture in my avatar is of my new 195 SPS reef that is coming out of its' cycle now, so the water was hazy when it was taken. There are only two halides over this tank, which will have 60" VHO's as soon as someone has them in stock:debi:.

Anyway,, with some creative aquascaping, you can see that the entire rock structure was cheated in toward the 4 feet in the middle of the 6 foot tank. My tank is Eurobraced so there are no dividers running from front to back like on a stock 125. Regardless, if you don't feel you need 6 feet of intense lighting there's no rule that says you have to use 3 halides. This in itself cuts down on electric and heat for me and I never need a chiller. We have moderate to cold winters in South Jersey but our summers can be extremely humid with temperatures reaching into the high 90's and sometimes triple digits. My water temperature has never run over 82 degrees with a 7 hour halide photoperiod. This is why I aquascaped the tank the way I did. More room for fish and corals to grow, no need for a 3rd halide, and designing a system that I could use a reflector that can still pound the light deep into the tank from a higher than normal distance.

I'd say keep the 400's, get a set of used, cheap Lumenbrite Mini's from someone that's switching to LED and be on with it. You may be surprised at how hot your tank "doesn't" get.

 

[REEF SMAC]

I'm with Alex. Invest in some new Lumenbright or Lumemax reflectors no matter what wattage bulbs you go with. You won't believe how much of a difference they make. Plus you can hang them a little higher if you want and it will help with the heat.
I would just go with the 400s you already have. Your tank will rock SPS. Try them first and see if heat is even an issue. You can easily trade them out for 250s latter if it a problem. That's my $0.02.

 

[allsps40]

On a 6ft tank I would run 3 400W MH only 2 if you have really good refectors. # will give you much more complete coverage. Stick with the 400w MH though for sure. Oh and run Radiums. You will almost certainly need a chiller even with the 250W MH.

 

[JesterGrin_1]

I will probably go with Lumenbright reflectors down the road a bit. But I chose two since the Tank has a large glass center brace.