250W vs 400W MH for SPS

[johnnstacy]

A couple of years ago when I set up my reef again, I went with three, 400W PFO mini pendants. I was using 20K PFO Krystal Star bulbs. When I then went from a 150g (29" deep) to a 180g (21" deep), I decided to sell off my 400W system and go with the same thing but in 250W (10k bulbs). Here is what bugs me. When people ask, what wattage of MH to go with, I see many reefers ask how deep the tank is. I don't agree that the depth of the tank should be the primary consideration when determining what wattage is neccessary. What kind of corals you are going to have in the tank is far more important. Perhaps 90% more important. In my case, after going from 400W to 250W, I have some SPS that just don't look good. A couple have turned shades of brown and blues are now purple. It sucks really. The distance from my corals to the MH's range anywhere from 15"- 28". I am thinking that 250W may not be enough to get the very best colors from SPS. Mine are even DE running on HQI ballasts and still......I WANT SOME BLUE CORALS damm it! Kidding aside, anyone have similar experience with 250W or 400W?

 

[wakesetter]

I have plenty of corals in tanks as deep as 36 inches that have great color. Pink Blue Purple Maybe it is water issues?

 

[zapata41]

i have a similar experience. i went from 250w 10k XMs to 400w 20k XM. i had a fe corals that showed poor color and no real growth under the 250w setup, then when i went to the 400s, that same coral started growing very nicely and got some good color to it, the same was true with about 90% of the other corals in the tank. tank is SPS

Tim

 

[ObscurityKnocks]

Both of your cases are invalid because you both changed the color temperature of the bulb as well as the wattage. How do you know it wasn't the color change that is giving you different results?

 

[nwrogers]

400w 20k MH is a sweet setup IMHO. I love the colors I am getting!

 

[Mchava]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7967980#post7967980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ObscurityKnocks
Both of your cases are invalid because you both changed the color temperature of the bulb as well as the wattage. How do you know it wasn't the color change that is giving you different results?

I would also agree and this is why. First off 10k bulbs will not realy give you any color since most of the light is in the yellow to red and verry little to no blue at all. Most people that use 10K use them more for growth then anything. With a 20k bulb you not only get the yellow-red spectrum but the blue has a huge spike that (using term lightly)will make corals look better visualy but are not realy that color. For example a pink birds nest looks realy pink with a 10k bulb, take the same pink birdsnest and stick in a20k lit tank and it will look more purple then pink. 20k bubls are a little deciving when it comes to color. They will enhance anything coral but its not the try color. That is why alot of people are using any where from 12k-14k bulbs. They want the growth of a 10k but the color of a 20k. JMO.

 

[J4Life]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7969266#post7969266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mchava
I would also agree and this is why. First off 10k bulbs will not realy give you any color since most of the light is in the yellow to red and verry little to no blue at all. Most people that use 10K use them more for growth then anything. With a 20k bulb you not only get the yellow-red spectrum but the blue has a huge spike that (using term lightly)will make corals look better visualy but are not realy that color. For example a pink birds nest looks realy pink with a 10k bulb, take the same pink birdsnest and stick in a20k lit tank and it will look more purple then pink. 20k bubls are a little deciving when it comes to color. They will enhance anything coral but its not the try color. That is why alot of people are using any where from 12k-14k bulbs. They want the growth of a 10k but the color of a 20k. JMO.

Well I have to disagree with you a little on this. The XM 10k 250 watt bulbs are in a class all by themselves in my opinion and take a look at this graph. They put more blue light out than all of the other spectrums. Plus I get great colors with mine and the corals look more natural rather than fake looking under the 20K's.

www.xmlighting.com is where I got the info from.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Mchava]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7969294#post7969294 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by J4Life
Well I have to disagree with you a little on this. The XM 10k 250 watt bulbs are in a class all by themselves in my opinion and take a look at this graph. They put more blue light out than all of the other spectrums. Plus I get great colors with mine and the corals look more natural rather than fake looking under the 20K's.

www.xmlighting.com is where I got the info from.
Thanks,
Bill

you are correct in a way. The 10K XM do put out more blue then yellow red but compared to 20k's which is the bulbs that are being used it has verry little. But you are correct in saing that the XM are a class of their own. Just wish they wheren't as yellow on the DE bubls:mad2: and where more like the SE bulbs

 

[reefplayer]

Re: 250W vs 400W MH for SPS

I have similar experience on sps corals for both 250W and 400W.
Initially i was using 250W 10k and some corals are not looking good and would turn brown with water parameters constant. After changing to 400W, some particular species change from slight brown to at least 80% of its orginal colours. I would not say retains its original colors. I noticed that some corals need extremely high lights i.e. Humilis, valida, nana, nice ones are mostly from Fiji and Tonga. Some corals especially from indonesia and staghorn blue torts etc. are ok with 250W.

It all depends on your experience and able to place the corals to the right location in your tank. "Different corals depends on different requirement including water parameters and lightings."
For example there are various parameters in different area of the region around the world. We only try to simulate what to our best available options we have.

Also some corals with no matter how you place it, maybe 1000W, i didnt try it, will always change from colored to brown or white (Dead) particularly monticulosa or Gemiferra which i had tried before. Maybe you can try it and give me your view on such species.

Well the above are my experience with these species. You may get diferrent results.
:mixed:

 

[TandN]

I have seen ALOT of people's tanks that use 10k bulbs. Also the 10k to 20k swap has a lil to do with it but the 20k 400w has alot more PAR then the 250 10k.