150w MH and 40b
- Thread starter N-dog
- Start date
unless it's really high up it will likely leave the ends dim, but it'll be fine for top-down lighting. I'm running a TEK 6 bulb T5 fixture over my 40br and am actually trying a 4 bulb only experiment to see if my corals end up happier. I think my LPS on the bottom are struggling with the extra light from 6 bulbs. I think, if you're willing to compare apples and oranges a bit here, 4 bulb T5 arrangements are quite similar to 150w MH set ups. I'm basing this off my single end experience MH experience in another tank. I had a 175w MH over a 33g cube (18" deep as well) and had a flawless conversion to 4 bulb T5 set up with no change in growth rate. Just like my 6 bulb, my 250w MH on the 33g gave my LPS hell.
So, long story short. 2x 150 would be ideal but a single 150 could hold you easily until you go the funding for another fixture to add. Or, you could run a single 150w in the center with a pair of 39w T5s running the length of the tank, one white and one blue. I like ATI bulbs, personally.
So, long story short. 2x 150 would be ideal but a single 150 could hold you easily until you go the funding for another fixture to add. Or, you could run a single 150w in the center with a pair of 39w T5s running the length of the tank, one white and one blue. I like ATI bulbs, personally.
outy
New member
the 1 150w will work great. i have a 150 over my 50g sump and almost the whole tank is brite. if you want more spread keep the light higher up.
2 MH over a 40 is overkill and a 250w is overkill
you will need a fan, the heat generated over such a small tank will cook the water pretty quickly.
2 MH over a 40 is overkill and a 250w is overkill
you will need a fan, the heat generated over such a small tank will cook the water pretty quickly.
keith sprague
New member
i had a 150w XM 15k w/ dual attinic over my 40 BR all SPS dominate.i did like the color and look but i dont believe its enough par for an all SPS tank.BUT when i had mostly soft coral in there WOW!! they went off they out grew my tank very quickly.so i figured id go all SPS with same setup. IME it wasnt enough for growth and color you can do it and i did. but growth just wasnt there. i would either go 250w for sure. not over kill. or go for a nice T5 setup if your gonna go all SPS. if not the 150w should be just fine.if i didnt go all SPS i wouldnt of switched to an ATI SP T5 setup.
keith sprague
New member
BTW it will be an arguement on here but IMO i think 2 150w bulbs over that tank is overkill. and the heat on that small of a tank will really heat it up. from running 1 150w going to T5s my temp dropped 4 degree and that was w/ 1 halide.i used to get up to 81-82 now im holding steady 77-78 i love it
outy
New member
do you think a 10k bulb with your supplemental atinic wouldhave had better par?
I agree on the T5 and heat. MH on small tanks sure takes a balancing act
keith sprague
New member
i dont have a par meter so i cant say, but i did run a 10k for a while.was growth better? a little bit yes.was i happy with the look no. and the balancing act with halide is for sure. but T5s deffinately take fine tuneing im still fine tuneing them. they are powerful little suckers i learned you cant rush it.
keith sprague
New member
dont get me wrong i was gonna go with a 250w fixture.i love the look of MH and liked the look of my 150w. but being addicted to this crazy hobbie like all of us on here.gotta spend money i dont have and try all these crazy gadgets out here LOL. but it all comes do to whats best for our reefs. and what economically works for us.unfortunatelly trial and error is the only way we find out. at our expense.back to the lighting aspect.i really like both T5s and MH pros and cons to both. but for my own personal tank 150w didnt do it. BUT would get a 250w in a heart beat for my 40 br. all said and done it cost me probally over $1000.00 to find that out LOL. but in the mean time i love my T5s too and so do my coral. talk about ballance huh. good luck Ndog enjoy
keith sprague
New member
oh yeah they will be just fine. either way. they dont care i had a fish only tank with VHO did great.
I have had 150wx2 over my 30 gallon (36x12x16) much less 50g (although I have a 10g sump) and have NEVER cooked any water nor do I have any auxillary fans beyond the ones inside the light fixture. Not even close to overkill (just adequate for sps and there are definately those that prefer more even though they do okay). I dont get why no one would call a 4 bulb (39wx4) ATI or TEK fixture overkill but think 150wx2 is. I garauntee you if you took 10 3ft tanks with 150wx2 set ups and 10 with various 4 bulb ATI and TEK fixtures the T5 fixtures would measure more PAR 8 out of 10 times and closer to 250w than 150w set ups.
a single 250w will be fine WITH the right reflector, you'll just likely be lighting up a little more than the tank front to back since 3ft of left to right coverage is also going to give you 3ft of front to back coverage.
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bulldogpet
New member
I have a 40b and have been doing some research on lighting options , I was going to go with T5's but I love the shimmer so I ended up buying a good reflector cost me some $$$ but I read an article on reflectors and PAR. I decided to purchase a Hamilton Reflector.
reflector.http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cayman-Sun-Mogul-Based-Reflector-with-LED-lights-2006
I am going to use a 175 watt SE Reeflux 12k bulb. The reflector makes a huge difference in PAR and coverage. This thing will put out some serious PAR even at 12" above the water. JMO :thumbsup:
reflector.http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/item/Cayman-Sun-Mogul-Based-Reflector-with-LED-lights-2006
I am going to use a 175 watt SE Reeflux 12k bulb. The reflector makes a huge difference in PAR and coverage. This thing will put out some serious PAR even at 12" above the water. JMO :thumbsup:
that will work fine as well. not convinced the reeflux 12k is a good (or bad) bulb but am convinced 175w work well. I had a set up with 175w 13k AB over a 19" tank and I swear it grew sps like weeds! Better than many 250w set ups. I agree the reflectors make a huge difference (more than bulb selection) ESPECIALLY when trying to cover 3ft with a single halide.
If you're worried about 150w penetration, don't. I had a 175w bulb in a spider reflector lighting a 18" deep tank (33g cube) and had NO trouble growing acros mid-level. I could grow them on the sand when I had a 250w over it, but had some issues with other lower light coral staying happy down there. Heat was also a bit of an issue with the 250 in a closed canopy.
If you're building a penninsula tank a single 150 may be a great option. You could put it a little back of center and have an aquascape that slopes downward towards a sandy front. Leave your SPS and clams under the 150w on taller rock structures and use the slope and the open sand to place lower light-loving LPS and softies. That would really be taking advantage of the somewhat limited coverage over a longer tank and actually making it work for you instead of against you. You could even add a pair of 36" T5 retros on either side of the MH to add some more blue up front. A pair of Blue+ bulbs would be good candidates.
If you're building a penninsula tank a single 150 may be a great option. You could put it a little back of center and have an aquascape that slopes downward towards a sandy front. Leave your SPS and clams under the 150w on taller rock structures and use the slope and the open sand to place lower light-loving LPS and softies. That would really be taking advantage of the somewhat limited coverage over a longer tank and actually making it work for you instead of against you. You could even add a pair of 36" T5 retros on either side of the MH to add some more blue up front. A pair of Blue+ bulbs would be good candidates.
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