150W sufficient for a 14" deep tank with SPS?

[jdizzle707]

I noticed most have either a 250W or 400W. I was hoping to go with 2 x 150W 14k Phoenix DE supplimented by 2 x ATI Blue+ T5s. Looking to mix some acros, montis, and chalices. Can you post photos of you SPS under 150s please?

Thanks

 

[Brian Chong]

yes, very sufficient. Photos are in my profile. some of the the corals including pink lemonade were 12 to 16" under 150w ushio 20k bulb. some chalices do well and some dont react well to the light so they are shaded. monti digitata and caps do well on sandbed. I have a 250w mogul now on a 24x24x20. should have just bought a 250w in the beginning but i'm using the 150w on a jbj now so its cool. I think you should just get 250w now and never look back. I dont like the double ended too much because i feel there isnt that much spread but thats partly because i was using regular reflectors on a stock fixture.

 

[Brian Chong]

btw, if you wanna get a 150w fixture get a 4 t5 bulb fixture and mix it with ati blue plus and true actinic. makes your tank look brighter

 

[seapug]

You'll be okay in a 14" deep tank, but keep the acros and especially the montiporas in unobstructed light closest to the bulb. It's not as much of an issue with 250 and 400W versions, but IME, 150W 14K Phoenix (and most other 150W 20K lamps) tend to lack the PAR needed to maintain colors in many acros (and non-cap montiporas) long term in deeper tanks. They don't "die" but they tend to lose color intensity and contrast over time. Many brightly colored digitatas will completely brown out after a few weeks under lighting that is too dim.

 

[mcoomer]

I run those same bulbs in a 20" Sunpod over my 20G frag tank/QT. My racks are 15" down from the lights (6" of air and 9" of water). I'm growing out some Ponape Birdsnests, Purple Nanas, Cali Tort, Oregon Tort, Purple Plasma...you get the picture. They are only in the tank long enough to grow out they do grow, encrust their plugs, and have good color and polyp extension. I don't know how they would fare for a long period of time but they're doing well now.

Mike

 

[Brian Chong]

I run those same bulbs in a 20" Sunpod over my 20G frag tank/QT. My racks are 15" down from the lights (6" of air and 9" of water). I'm growing out some Ponape Birdsnests, Purple Nanas, Cali Tort, Oregon Tort, Purple Plasma...you get the picture. They are only in the tank long enough to grow out they do grow, encrust their plugs, and have good color and polyp extension. I don't know how they would fare for a long period of time but they're doing well now.

Mike

I ran my 20ks with my corals at that height and many montis and several birdsnests much lower than that and have either kept the color or improved in 10 months time not to mention somewhat moderate growth.

 

[GatorWPB]

150s are fine. Ive used both phoenix and radium with great success.

 

[nanonubey]

Here's a picture of my 120 that is 24'' tall, I run 4x150 14k phoenix

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