250w or 400w
- Thread starter reefslugs
- Start date
Arkayology
Active member
Due to the length of the tank, I would do the 400w MH and set them higher up so you can get more light spread. Just my .2
psykobowler
New member
What reflector are you using? I would go with 3 x 400watt radiums on that tank. With lumenmax elites you can get away with 3 x 250watt radiums.
jackson6745
Yeah Yeah
400w 100%
screamingibis
New member
if you're going to be a bear, you might as well be a grizzly. 400 watt all the way.
trueblackpercula
New member
If heat is not an issue then I would go with the 400watt bulbs.
I've gotten away with 2 halides on my 6 ft tank with aquascape planning. I'd imagine you'd need atleast 3 with the 7 ft tank.hoaglanddiver
New member
If you have lumenmax elite reflectors, def keep them HIGH above if you go w/ 400w.. I'm running them w/ 2 x 250w radiums on my 31" tall x 48" long tank and it's more than enough
reefslugs
Active member
Here's the deal. My tank does have the 18'' glass support in the top. So running a third light in the middle would be a waste.Because of the glass support, you can see in my photo I did the rock work to kind of have two different islands. The middle being shaded for softies and LPS.
The other problem I have is my canopy is only 14'' tall. Long time a go I tried the lumenmax elites. They did not give a good spread. More like having two spot lights in the tank. There for I am plaining on running two spider reflectors. Unless you guess have a better option.
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/user/reefsluge/media/DSC05731.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05731.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05731.jpg"/></a>
The other problem I have is my canopy is only 14'' tall. Long time a go I tried the lumenmax elites. They did not give a good spread. More like having two spot lights in the tank. There for I am plaining on running two spider reflectors. Unless you guess have a better option.
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/user/reefsluge/media/DSC05731.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05731.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05731.jpg"/></a>
psykobowler
New member
If you run 5 to 6 lumenmax elites to cover the length of your tank it won't be spotlighty. Since your hood is only 14" tall I would not run 400 watters on it, the 250s will do its job. You are already close to the water surface. The older lumenarcs are around 19" i believe. You could get away with 4 of those plus vho actinics. You have options.
reefslugs
Active member
I am definitely not going to run 5 to 6 metal halides on my tank. With the lumenmax elites. I guarantee nothing will live. But I'd have a good sun tan.
psykobowler
New member
Sps and clams will thrive. You are posting in the sps forum and not on the lps/softies forum.
watchguy123
New member
24 inches is not very deep and you will excellent light penetration from 250 watts. The challenge is 7 feet wide is pretty darn far for only two metal halides. T5's work really well for both making colors pop and for coral growth. You may want to consider getting enough T5's to help your coral thrive and run them 10-12 hours a day and then run your metal halides for 5 hours or so. That will really reduce your heat and electricity by running the MH's for that time period.
I run 3x250 watt MH's and 4 x T5 80 watts on my 180 bow front (basically 72x24x24) and my tank is very sps dominant. Currently using a Geissman spectra unit and have it about 18 -24 inches above water.
I run 3x250 watt MH's and 4 x T5 80 watts on my 180 bow front (basically 72x24x24) and my tank is very sps dominant. Currently using a Geissman spectra unit and have it about 18 -24 inches above water.
I had the same experience with the LME's and a shallow hood.
I'm not a fan of spider reflectors though. I'd go with the big LumenArcs or LumenBrights.
Nice Gig! :thumbsup:
Constrictor6090
New member
Id go 400s if you are going to do a lot of maricultured/wild acros. Otherwise go 250s. Most aquacultured corals will bleach under 400w's. With your canopy I think that 250s will be plenty of light.
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