250 or 400 watt.

[jtemple42000]

I am in the process of purchasing new equipment for either a 180 gallon, 24 inches tall, or a 210 gallon, 29 inches tall. I have a hood with 2 150s in it over my 75 now. I do not think that 150 watts will be enough for these bigger tanks. Will the 250 reach the bottom of the 180 and the 210, or just the 180. I don't think the 250 will work at all for the 210 because of the depth. I know that I will need more than one, probably 3. Which wattage light is needed to reach the bottom of the tank?

Thanks

 

[BBoley24]

I would recomend 250s. I had a 29 inch deep 140 with 250s and it seemed adequate but the bottom of the tank struggled... I now have a 210 24 inch deep tank and 250s do me perfect! 400s would be overboard for a 24 inch tank... not to mention the heat issue.

 

[UCanDoIt]

recommend 250w

 

[GSMguy]

250s

 

[GSMguy]

double post

 

[wlagarde]

Combine 400W bulbs with CoralVue's new dimmable eballast. Then you could adjust the light intensity wherever you want/need it.

 

[GSMguy]

great idea wlagarde

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

if 180g -- 250W
if 210g -- 400W
-ime

 

[wlagarde]

Here's a link to a supplier of these ballasts:

http://www.reefexotics.com/coralvue_lighting.htm

I purchased 2 of these and run 2 x 400W XM 20K on my 90g reef. These are great: totally silent, run cool, and will fire any bulb.

 

[jtemple42000]

Thanks for all the imput. Heres something I didn't think about though....bulb temp. 10k,14k, 20k, or what? I have 2 150watt, 10ks on my 75 and I'm not real happy with the colors...they just don't pop like at the lfs.

My lfs suggested 3 x 250 watt pendants at 20k.....I just hate to spend 60 bucks or more a bulb and then not like the color...

 

[jtemple42000]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9089600#post9089600 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wlagarde
Here's a link to a supplier of these ballasts:

http://www.reefexotics.com/coralvue_lighting.htm

I purchased 2 of these and run 2 x 400W XM 20K on my 90g reef. These are great: totally silent, run cool, and will fire any bulb.

How do you wire those up? Do the pendants just plug right in? And they will run HQI's?
Sorry about all the questions. I haven't been into this stuff long enough to know the ins and outs and its to expensive to lean on my own...thanks

 

[GSMguy]

i agree way too expensive to make the wrong decision
first we need to decide on a fixture and ballast then we can think about colortemp remember if you go 400w you can run a bluer bulb than with a 250 and still get great growth
10k 14k 15k 20k they dont mean too much a pheonix 14k and an ushio15k look nothing like eachoter the 14k is very blue and the ushio15 is white so it matters what brand everything is

 

[rnelson]

I have a 240gal....started out with 400's, then went down to 250's....400's caused me too many heat issues....I was still able to keep clams at the bottom with the 250's......

 

[GSMguy]

i have 2x250s on my 50gall and its not as bright as one 400 would be

 

[jtemple42000]

I'm looking at these pendants:
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PF2675

With one of these 250 watt ballast:
http://www.reefexotics.com/coralvue_lighting.htm

 

[surfjeepzx]

My 135 is 30" deep and I'm running 2-250's with 10k ushios. I have sps 4" from the bottom and they're growing just fine. I also have URI reflected actinics flouescents which take care of the blueish part and everything is doing well.