175 watt halides strong enough for maximas?

[SINNERMF]

Help me settle this debate. I have a 55 gallon w/ 175 watt M.H. My buddy says that if I want to keep Maximas in my tank I have to have at least 250 watt halides. Will my 175s be strong enough or is my buddy right?

 

[rchan11]

I'd go with 5 watts per gallon.

 

[cristhiam]

Should be enough, keep it around the middle of the tank or higher I don't go by watts per gallon. Intensity is better

 

[Don Berry]

Bulb choice will be a factor as well. If you are running 20K's with low PAR it might not be enough. If you run 10K's you will be fine. Maximas like to be in the rock work anyway, so put it atleast half way up in the tank.

 

[vthondaboi]

keep the water quality up and the clam up high and you should be fine

 

[JmLee]

people say XM 15k's par or horrible, but i keep my Maxima on the sand bed with 15k's and good growth with full mantle extension.

 

[Ti]

175 will be fine.

 

[SINNERMF]

about 3 weeks ago I installed 2 new Hamilton 10ks. I guess all I have to do now is find a sweet clam.