250W or 400W?

[jh1929]

Hi all,

I have decided to upgrade my lights so that I can keep clams and SPS, and I wanted some opinions. My tank is 6 feet long and around 22" from water level to sandbed, would you go with 3x250 or 3x400? I would like to be able to keep all clam species, I understand that some require higher light than others.

Thanks,
Jayme

 

[holeinone1972]

250 watts would be plenty. I went with 3 x 400's and found that some of my first pieces, open brains and others could not tolerate the super high light. I would opt for the 250's, it will allow you to keep any clam, and 90% coral with no problems.

Added bonuses, lower heat and electric bills.

Rob

 

[jh1929]

thanks for the quick reply. How about K rating? Are clams similar to SPS in the thinking that higher K results in better coloring but slower growth?

Thanks,
Jayme

Just out of curiosity, what are the other 10% of corals?

 

[holeinone1972]

I am a big fan of 10k and 20k bulbs.

Rob

 

[Fish-o-holic]

I like 10K bulbs myself since I like my tank to be a crisp white. If you want your tank to be more bluish, get the 20K's. Bulbs also come in 12K and 14K I believe.

 

[RonN]

Go with the 250s. the 400ers get real hot and I would not recommend them unless you have a chiller.

I like the 10K HQI myself.

Ron

 

[Potsy]

I have 2x250watt hqi bulbs (10,000k) and my clams are doing well. I have a crocea and maxima perched 3/4 the way up in the aquarium, and a ultra turquois max, squamosa, and black maxima on the sandbed about 24 inches from bulbs. The ultra has not lost any of its color and my sps color up quite nicely. Based on this, I would think that 400 watts is overkill unless you have a very deep aquarium.

 

[skull]

"How about K rating?"

would stay way from the 20k...my clams lost their brightness under just 20k. the 20k was powered by a 400w eballast. i have now added 2 250w 65k sakis. i hope the brightness will return...
stay with 65k or 10k. good luck