I'm in the process of starting a 110 tall build. The dimensions are 48 x 18 x 30. It will be a sps dominant tank with a sandbed around 3 inches deep. assuming the water level will be one inch from the top I will need to punch through 26 inches of water. would 2X 250 watt be suffecient? or would I need to bump up to 400 watters? (cringe due to electric bill and heat) I have no experience with halides (only t5 and pc) so hopefully some of you lighting guru's can help me out. also, i'm leaning toward DE instead of SE unless someone can tell me why I shouldn't.
250 vs 400 mh
- Thread starter salty55
- Start date
dancewithethan
Ethan M
2x 400 wtts, IMO is not necessary for that size of a tank.
I would go with the 2x 250 and combo with maybe 2x T5 for the look or color.
however, if you think of saving, 6x T5 or grater will get the job done as well.
hope that help.
Ethan M
I would go with the 2x 250 and combo with maybe 2x T5 for the look or color.
however, if you think of saving, 6x T5 or grater will get the job done as well.
hope that help.
Ethan M
DE or SE? do you run VHO or T5 suppements? any pics you could post of your tank would be greatly appreciated.
Luck_of_the_Dra
New member
Are the SPS going to be located in the sandbed?
I'm running 8 T5's on a 25" deep tank. Sps are placed about mid-tank. Then the LPS. and finally the Zoa's fill in the rest.
I'm running 8 T5's on a 25" deep tank. Sps are placed about mid-tank. Then the LPS. and finally the Zoa's fill in the rest.
So far it looks like the popular vote is swinging the way that I knew in the back of my mind that it would. Which is the way I was really leaning toward....250 DE halides it is! with T5 supplements of course.
I would still really like to see a couple pics of some tanks with similar height as mine, along with wattage, brand and kelvin rating of the halides and t5's just to gets some ideas.
I would still really like to see a couple pics of some tanks with similar height as mine, along with wattage, brand and kelvin rating of the halides and t5's just to gets some ideas.
tkeracer619
New member
I would run 2x250 on these reflectors. They are less then a foot wide and single ended so you have better choice of bulbs. You should have enough room to fit a 2 bulb t5 retro. Radium 20k SE bulbs with actinic give a really good look and coral color.
http://www.aquacave.com/lumen-max-2-metal-halidebr-pendant-by-sunlight-supply-1138.html
http://www.aquacave.com/lumen-max-2-metal-halidebr-pendant-by-sunlight-supply-1138.html
Can the Lumen Max 2 reflectors be retrofited into a canopy? I know they are complete pendants, but I have not been able to find reflector retro kits with those dimensions...other than spiders, and I wanted a bit better...All others seem to be 16" wide or more. Makes supplementing with T5s a bit of a tight fit.
tkeracer619
New member
Yes, I have screwed them with 400w bulbs strait to the top of a canopy. The outside casing is two layers at the top and vented to prevent a really bad hot spot.
tpenn187
New member
i am in the process of setting up a 150 as i just tore down my 90gal. i used 2 250watt phoenix with icecap ballasts, and reefoptix 3 reflectors. 8inches from the bulb i was getting about 1400 par, this was directly under the bulb though. i am impressed enough to continue to use them on my 150. i plan on running either some uv 454 vho for supplemental, or my existing blue plus for supplement. in my 90 gal tank i had sps growing about 3inches from the sand bed, tableing acros, monti cap, and others. i think 250 watters with a good 12-14k bulb should do the trick for you. check out reeflux bulbs, 12k with some blue actinic would be nice, the phoenix bulbs only come in DE but they would be a good DE bulb to consider.
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