150w or 250w MH?

[Jeepman3sk]

Should I go with a 150w or a 250w MH set up for my new 29g tank? I would like to have clams, leathers, softies, a few SPS, zoos, LPS, and anem. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[bertoni]

You could consider the Iwasaki 15k 175 W bulb in a ReefOptix 3 pendant. I just got one a week or two ago, and like it a lot. It's gotten other good reviews as well. It has output on a par with a lot of the 250 W bulbs, and is cheaper to run. I used an IceCap electronic ballast. It took 4 wire nuts and one bolt to get it going, although I did spring for the power receptacle as well.

In general, a 150 W bulb with a good reflector should do a good job over a 29g, IMO.

 

[piberoptikz]

I agree with Bertoni. 150W 10K/15K w/ actinics are enough for a 29G tank. I'm using the 150W/Actinics on my 29G and it's been great.

 

[Jeepman3sk]

Im not using a hood so its only a MH no actinics. Unless they are in the one pendit and from what I have seen those are very expensive. This is what I was thinking for my light http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AQOL5

or this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12112&N=2004+113352

Oh yes im in college so money is a HUGE factor for me. But my electric is included in my rent

 

[tkenm377]

definatly go with a 175W if you are going to go with a metal halide.. I had a friend put a 250W on a 30L and bleached some of his corals sitting near the top... Now I have a 175W on my 30L and it looks great and everything is happy

 

[Leo10988]

definatly go with a 175W

 

[Jeepman3sk]

with a 175 or 150 I shouldnt have a problem with any clams is the correct to say? I jsut want to make sure b/c I have one clam right now and would like to add another one for sure. Can I use one of the lights I posted above in the 150w version? I have not see any 175 lights. Does anyone have any links to them?

 

[bertoni]

The first link points to a ballast that'll run 2 bulbs. You only need one, IMO. I'd stay away from the Aqua Medic if possible, since it seems to have a fairly poor reflector.

If you get a good reflector, a 150 or 175 should be fine, IMO.

I think this is pretty much what I got:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...en=PROD&Product_Code=14K-175IW&Category_Code=
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...reen=PROD&Product_Code=SL-BFEM&Category_Code=
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...en=PROD&Product_Code=SL-OPTIX1&Category_Code=
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...en=PROD&Product_Code=ICE-175NB&Category_Code=

 

[bertoni]

You'll also need to buy a power cord, a bolt, and some wire nuts, or solder the items together. If you're not a DIY person, you could look into some pre-wired setups.

 

[Jeepman3sk]

I am a do it yourself person but with the time frame I have right now buying it set up is the way I must go (with exams, moving, internship, etc). That is why I was looking at those systems. Are there any other systems that anyone can suggest. I did some reseach about the ballast and I believe with the information I got from some other people on here that I should run an electric ballast instead of a magnetic one due to heat and consuming more power.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

I'd do the 150W -- most anything more is just going to provide more heat, power use, and light you probably won't get any more out of. I use the Reef Optix pendant system from Sunlight Supply and really like it.

 

[Jeepman3sk]

I was reading something on www.drsfostersmith.com and it said to do 150w for 20" and under and 250w for 30" and under. So that is why I was looking at the 250w b/c the tank is in the middle 18".

 

[Jeepman3sk]

10k bulb or 20k bulb. For the light Im getting these are the only two bulbs that come with. I really dont want to buy a second bulb b/c I do not have to money for that. I know a 14k bulb be perfect for me but Im in teh position to get it right now. Ive decided on the 150w im pretty sure.

 

[mr pink floyd]

yea i was debatign 150 or 250 after we were talking, i mgiht to 20k, but my fixture doenst haev UV glas shiled, so im limited to the coralife bulbs, 24k mightlook cool to, but i want actinics for viewing.

 

[Jeepman3sk]

Im sure you can get a piece of glass that has the UV in it. Check some light stores and then get it cut to size. So Im guessing you go the 150w with the 10k bulb. I have seen people woth the 250w and 20k and it looks great but I have never seen one with 10k and 150w. Do you have a picture of your tank and new light on it that I could see?

 

[mr pink floyd]

still no light, need 75 more bucks, i mstill saving lol!

im using a 14k bulb. my only thing to worry abotu it will the light be able to go over the tank, and still haev enpugh room to keep my Pc fixture on. it has the moonlight and will eb actinics just for viewing, halides on 7 hours a day, i might make it go on at 12 or 1 to 7 or 8, so ican view it more!

it will be actinics for 2 hours in morning, halide 6 or 7, actinics on 3 or 4, until 10, moonlight on until actinics come on again!\

i haevg abotu 7 inches behind my tank, so im gogin to try to invert one of the arms on thwe hang on tank fixture, so it can bend backwards twords the wall, so the light is only abotu 1 inch away from the back glass, i can angle the reflector part accordingly.

as for the UV shield, yea if it is a hassle i will get a UV protective piece of glass, but the coralife bulbs i hear are decent, and are 50 bucks on live aquaria, good price!

 

[mr pink floyd]

oh also for peopel on this thread, the 150 DE goves off the same PAR as a 175 SE

thats why it will be good in our tanks!

IMO and in others opinions too!

 

[bertoni]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7171371#post7171371 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr pink floyd
oh also for peopel on this thread, the 150 DE goves off the same PAR as a 175 SE

Not necessarily. Sanjay Joshi's web site has a lot of data on this topic. The 175 W SE setup I listed above performs far better than a lot or maybe all of the 150 W DE setups.

 

[mr pink floyd]

oh wow, my mistake, thansk for pointing that out bertoni!

i was told that many times by LFS peopel and by people on here!

 

[chip721]

I have a 14k DE 150w MH over a 29g. I get shadows on both ends of the tank. It's ok, but if I had it to do all over again, I'd definately go with 175w. IMO 250w is a bit much. But to each his own.