150 or 250 MH for 45 cube?

[Cmoua]

I feel that a 250 will be adequate for this size tank but I've never ran anything with so much power. I feel it will shoot the electric bill with this wattage, so I was wondering if anyone uses a 150w MH for a 40+ cube?

I will be growing sps in this tank too.

I will probably run a phoenix for the 150 if I go this route.

 

[sirreal63]

What are the actual dimensions?

 

[Cmoua]

Sorry, 24x24x18"

 

[sirreal63]

A 150 Phoenix will be more than enough. If you can swing its 2x24 T5 and the Phoenix makes a great combination. Which fixture are you looking at?

 

[Cmoua]

Just a coralife hob aqualight.

 

[sirreal63]

It will work, make sure it has the UV shield, a few models they made did not and require their bulbs.

 

[Cmoua]

With it will I be able to grow sps in the lower half of the tank? I can get a lumen bright reflector w/ ice cap 250w ballast for the same price as the coralife 150, would I be a fool to pass on such deal?

 

[sirreal63]

Yes you will if everything else is in line. The LB is a spotlight and is way too much intensity for an 18" tank. I keed sps on the sand bed under my 150's with no problem other than bleaching them with too much light.

 

[Reef Noob]

I don't want to change your mind if you have your heart set on MH lighting, but if not, you may want to consider an LED array for the cube. Cubes have minimal surface area vs. volume, so they aren't able to shed heat as well as a rectangular tank (surface area in terms of all six sides, rather than just the water's surface) . Running a sump will also help shed heat significantly by adding additional surface area and water surface.

Two advantages of LED's over MH is they don't add heat to the tank so you won't have to run a chiller, and they are significantly more efficient (electrically).

The quality of LED's have also gone way up recently (full spectrum is now possible) and the prices have come way down.

 

[Cmoua]

I have used LEDs prior and I did not like the results so I am switching back to mh for now until later down the road when the tech is better

 

[Michigan Mike]

I run 150w HQI & 4x24 T5 over a 41g (24x18x24) tank. Perfect IMO.
Wish it was your dimesions though...

 

[Chris Mills]

150 watt will be plenty of light for that size tank.

 

[Michigan Mike]

With it will I be able to grow sps in the lower half of the tank? I can get a lumen bright reflector w/ ice cap 250w ballast for the same price as the coralife 150, would I be a fool to pass on such deal?

I would go with the 250/lumenbright. Just because you can use it if you use it correctly and if you upgrade you'll have the extra wattage, a much better reflector etc.
shielded double ended 150w halides aren't as powerful as I like, maybe its me.

LB pendant is nicer than coralife and the pendant is much more focused allowing you to raise it higher without losing light, you won't heat the tank up as much also. Use the 250/LB and place it 18"+ above the tank. Well I would do it anyway. Ether should work but if going all out with SPS, I'd go 250/LB. it can work but it may not be best under your circumstances.
I wouldn't pay more than a $100 for either lights. I got the 150w/4x24 outer orbit for $100 & 2 150w reef optix pendants with bluewave m-81 ballasts for $100. All with bulbs.
By the way I use the 150w HQI/4x24 t5 over a planted tank.
I've been disappointed in 150w halides over my 36g corner bowfront & the 41g cube. It is a decent match with a good 4x24 T5 IMO.

 

[bdsage]

im trying cayman sun on 16"deep ill post progress with sps...250w radium...lumatek...

 

[allsps40]

I would go with a 250 watt instead of the 150 watt. 2 reasons 1 being that the clamp on Aqualight is a crappy. I had 2 of them and used they for years, from time to time I would come home and find that one of them would be sitting half way in the tank, the adjustable base for them sucks. The other reason is I could never get that great of color with just 150 watts and I had 2 of them over my old 40 gallon, once I went to a single 250 watt all my sps colored up and growth increased.

 

[sirreal63]

It isn't the light in most cases that is a problem with coloration, though that can be an issue. Take a look at a couple of extremely nice tanks lit with 150's.

RF's 30" tall 150 gallon
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2023606

Tanu's 160 gallon
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-02/totm/index.php




Here are a couple of my own little corals, I don't see a problem with color. I need to get something better than a point and shoot camera, but you get the idea.