240g tank w/fish room build

[CrazyEyes]

LED/T5 is the way to go, I know a few people still haven't thought about making the switch to just LEDs but, the technology in LEDs nowadays is so far ahead of what it was just a couple years ago.

 

[ChadRaay86]

Option 1 3x400watt Radiums, 4x80watt T-5 (2 pure actinic and two blue plus) would be my choice. Then again, you're looking at 1520watts of light alone so it'd be pricey from start to finish

 

[Sonicboom]

epic, tagging along as i want to convince you to do the rockwall

 

[rogergolf66]

epic, tagging along as i want to convince you to do the rockwall

If it's in wall then I will do rock wall. If not inwall I don't think I will do rock wall

 

[rogergolf66]

Option 1 3x400watt Radiums, 4x80watt T-5 (2 pure actinic and two blue plus) would be my choice. Then again, you're looking at 1520watts of light alone so it'd be pricey from start to finish

It's an option but I would only do 2 mH on large reflector

 

[Sonicboom]

If it's in wall then I will do rock wall. If not inwall I don't think I will do rock wall

Makes sense since you will see the rick wall workings from behind.

 

[Easttuth]

Option 2 and in wall

 

[C4DC]

I'd go T5/LED. In wall vs in room really depends on the location and decor.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

If it's in wall then I will do rock wall. If not inwall I don't think I will do rock wall

100% agree... So let's get this thing in a wall!

 

[ChadRaay86]

It's an option but I would only do 2 mH on large reflector

I think you'd end up adding a third at some point. Emmett runs 3 400s on a 180 and I think KCSnook runs two on a 4ft? tank. Two most well lit tanks I've ever seen.

Then again, I run under 400 watts total with LED and T-5 and it doesn't look terrible

 

[CrazyEyes]

Yeah but LEDs put out way more lumens per watts than halides.

 

[Sonicboom]

My old 180 ran 3 400watt mh but that was 10+ years ago, now my new 180 is light by Hydra 52s at 135w each at max power.

 

[rogergolf66]

I think you'd end up adding a third at some point. Emmett runs 3 400s on a 180 and I think KCSnook runs two on a 4ft? tank. Two most well lit tanks I've ever seen.

Then again, I run under 400 watts total with LED and T-5 and it doesn't look terrible

Chad u r correct. running mH every 2 ft is the norm.

I currently run 1 mH on a 4 ft tank it covers 3 ft really well. so running 2 on a 6 ft tank I'm pretty sure I will be ok with that. Besides the brace on the top of this tank has a single center divider and it's not clear. So I will center the mH on each side of the brace. I use the led to fill in the edges to blend the lighting out in the places the mH are not as strong. I used to run a 6 ft tank with 3 400w mH it's just to much heat for me and electric. I have have to add t5 to help blend on this tank but I don't plan on running 3mh. Then again if I go with the t5 I won't be running any mH. I still haven't decided.

 

[ChadRaay86]

I'd imagine you could been fairly well with extra T-5 added to the mix, but those watts add up quickly too I'd still vote for a blend of Halides and T-5, as opposed to just T-5. IMO with Halides you get that light explosion that you just won't get with T-5's on that big of a tank.

 

[ganjero]

I vote MH with T5. I ran 3 lumenbright reflectors with 250w radiums and actinics in my 300g and was growing even the more light demanding acros. I would do 3 250w with good reflectors over 2 400w, less electricity and heat and better coverage.

 

[Ted_C]

I'll be running 2x Pac sun Pandora S on my 8 foot tank - that'll be 8 39w T5's and 4x 145W LED clusters.

______________ _____________
______________ _____________
----x------x------ ----x------x------
______________ _____________
______________ _____________

___ = 39 W T5
x = 145W LED Cluster.

edit: derp - this forum removes the spaces I have around the x's

 

[Easttuth]

After visiting many tanks lately, reading many articles, and looking at tank of the month type threads I've come to the opinion that anyone with exceptional growth with acros are running MHs. Many people have very nice looking tanks with T5s or LEDs but growth is best accomplished with MHs.

 

[rogergolf66]

Ok so the skimmer seems broken in now. I think this is 2 or 3 days to break in. Each day the foam head gets larger. A quick vid

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y437/reefgeek011/20150205_131300_zpstoahutmm.mp4

 

[rogergolf66]

After visiting many tanks lately, reading many articles, and looking at tank of the month type threads I've come to the opinion that anyone with exceptional growth with acros are running MHs. Many people have very nice looking tanks with T5s or LEDs but growth is best accomplished with MHs.

I think I have decided on....

2 250w mH with 20k radium bulbs.
4t5 bulbs 60 inch.
2 72 inch reef bright 50/50 strips this will balance out the look to the eye.
1 or 2 72 inch blue led strips.

This is similar to my current sps display. It is 4ft x 2 ft on it I run

1 mH 20k radium bulb 250w.
Mix white and blue led supplemental lighting.
1 blue led strip.

So it will be almost the same but adding the 4 t5 bulbs along with it.

I'm about 80% this is what I will go with.

Roger

 

[ChadRaay86]

Whats the total wattage on that bad boy?