150W or 250W over a 30 gallon zoanthid tank?

[Reefer U.K.]

Planning on setting up a 30 gallon reef that will hold mainly zoanthids with a few ricordia floridas.
The dimensions will be 19" x 19" x 25" and i was wondering which lighting would be the best 150W or 250W halide?

cheers,

Pete.

 

[itz frank]

150watt for that small of a tank would be ok. Remember, zoa's and rics are low light corals. They might actually want to be hidden underneath rocks with this much light.

 

[Reefer U.K.]

Thanks for the advice mate. Anyone else?

Peter.

 

[smp]

I disagree that zoos are low light. I have plenty of zoos that look downright crappy under low light. I have a 175 watt SE over my 29 gallon (similar dimensions), I would definitely go with the 250 watt with a 20k bulb.

I agree though that some zoos are low light but a lot of them are high light.

 

[Reefer U.K.]

Thanks SMP, anyone else?

 

[Aseidman]

i have a 30 gallon x-high and just upgraded my lights from a 130 watt PC to a 150 Watt MH.

I boutgh the light at Hellolights.com. They were great. Very helpful and great pricing. I have used them before and find their advise and products to be of real quality.

Anyway, they told me that 150 watts is more than enought for a 30 gallon (even and x-high which is 24 inched high). The mushrooms will need some distance from this light. They say the Zoos will not need the distance and should be fine. Just run your lights a few hours the first day, longer then next and so on to give your corals a chance to acclimate to the new bright lights.

 

[Reefer U.K.]

Cheers, Aseidman.

 

[mmd]

t5's

 

[deep6er]

iv got my zoas under 250's and they are only about 20" from the light and they all look great

 

[Reefer U.K.]

Cheers deep6er.

 

[deep6er]

Have you decided yet?

 

[Reefer U.K.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7905487#post7905487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deep6er
Have you decided yet?

Not exactly, i'm still not sure about the possible problem of overheating.

 

[Aseidman]

according to Hellolights, you should be ok as long as you have the MH lights a few inches off the surface of the tank and add a good fan (they sell them for about 30 dollars). BUT.. I have heard others say the tank can still get too hot. My plan is to take the gamble. I'll try to remember to let you know how ti goes. I expect my new lights today.

Finally, you need to cnssider how hot it is where you live and in your home. For me in New York, the winters are cold and we let the house go to 67 degrees. So the MH will not be a problem. The summe ris the only issue and if I need to keep my airconditioner at 72-75 degrees all summer, then so be it.

Allen

 

[Reefer U.K.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7906480#post7906480 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aseidman
according to Hellolights, you should be ok as long as you have the MH lights a few inches off the surface of the tank and add a good fan (they sell them for about 30 dollars). BUT.. I have heard others say the tank can still get too hot. My plan is to take the gamble. I'll try to remember to let you know how ti goes. I expect my new lights today.

Finally, you need to cnssider how hot it is where you live and in your home. For me in New York, the winters are cold and we let the house go to 67 degrees. So the MH will not be a problem. The summe ris the only issue and if I need to keep my airconditioner at 72-75 degrees all summer, then so be it.

Allen

Cheers Allen,
here in the U.K. the winter will not be a problem, but we don't have air conditioning over here and if we have another July like this one i may have problems, please let me know how you get on,

Peter.

 

[furforfour]

I also disagree that zoanthids and Ric. Floridas are low light corals. They can live in low light but most do better in higher light. I have a 250w 12k halide on my zoa and ric dominated 40g breeder which is 3" shallower than your 30g. Everything high and low in the tank does wonderfully. The key is slowly acclimating your tank to the lighting and placing everything in the tank appropriately.

 

[Aseidman]

sure.... send me a PM if for any reason you do not hear back from me in a few days or weeks. BUT.. without airconditioning, you may have a temp problem in your tank. How hot is it on the warmer days of summer ?

I am goign to keep my PC lights and if the MH is too hot in the summer, swiutch to PCs just for the hotter months.

 

[veilside1987]

I disagree too I have 110 watts on a 15 gal and my zoa's are all doing great

 

[Reefer U.K.]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7907439#post7907439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aseidman
sure.... send me a PM if for any reason you do not hear back from me in a few days or weeks. BUT.. without airconditioning, you may have a temp problem in your tank. How hot is it on the warmer days of summer ?

I am goign to keep my PC lights and if the MH is too hot in the summer, swiutch to PCs just for the hotter months.

Hello mate,
outside temp for this July averaged in the early to mid 30's where i live, but this was a bit of a heatwave for us, please let me know how you get on,

Peter.

 

[Reefer U.K.]

Thanks for all the replies so far, really appreciated.

 

[cardgenius]

Evaporation chilling works great for those who cant afford a real chiller.