250 vs 400

[bugged]

I have a tank that is 24 x 24 x 36. Right now its FOWLR and one piece of Encrusting brain coral under a PC, I would like to start keeping some of the other more colorful corals. I am going to do a DIY canopy and put the PC lights in it but would like to add a MH. Will most things grow under the 250? When my wife sees something she likes in the LFS I hate telling her we dont have enough lite for that. Or would I be better off just getting a TEK T5.

 

[goulding.c]

I put 3 250s across my 125 and everything grows and looks great. The coralse litterlally changed over night! My tank is 6 feet across though. I am told the deaper you keep things the more light you need. Most of my corals are 10 inches under the water line and the others don't need muchlight anyway and sit on the sand.

 

[elephen]

With 400w's they will consume a LOT more electricity. As far as their output goes, for the electricity consumption the output isn't a lot better then the 250's. Now if you have a really deep tank, > 36-40" I would say you want 400's but I think you should be able to get away with 250's, just go with a high PAR bulb.

I thought I would put 400's on my 120 and that month my electricity bill didn't double but it came close to it, they sucked some juice and created SOOO much excess heat that it became hard to keep the room cool the tank was in. Now I run 250's and have no heat issues at all and electricity consumption isn't bad at all.

 

[bugged]

My tank is 24" deep and 36 wide, Do you think one 250 and a couple VHO's would be enough for most stuff?

 

[goulding.c]

Do you keep the acros or sps stuff? I don't I have lps and things like star polyps and leathers and zenias, they all do great.

 

[bugged]

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