250watt or 400watt MH

[PaulieWalnuts]

for a 30inch deep tank...a 110 tall i have 2 150 watt HQI over it now and would like to start keeping some sps but the highest rock in the tank is still mid way in the tank....i also am not trying to pay an extra 10 0 bucks a month for the power...if its like 20 or so thats no problem for the 400 watt lights...besides the heat is there any reason not to go with the 400 watt lights....can i still keep shrooms and soft corals near the bottom with out them being burt...i know the sun is brighter lol.

does anyone run 400 watt lights without a chiller?? a few fans i sure hope.

thanks

matt

 

[PaulieWalnuts]

i was thinking of slowing starting to collect stuff for my upgrade.

 

[sassafrass]

A good reflector like luminarc will help alot and yes you will still be able to keep softies. I have 250's with luminarc's and keep clams on the bottom for about 2 years,24" deep tank

 

[mg426]

I would think 250s would be AOK.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

From what I've gathered you'd be fine with 250's. But your corals would really thrive under 400's. I'm going with 400's on a 30' tall tank. But then again, I'll have a shallow sand bed and I want to keep SPS on the top and bottom. I don't want mushrooms in my SPS tank. I'm putting 250's on my softy tank.

 

[bullitr]

why not mixed it i have 30" tall tank too but i only have 1 400 watts now just for the clams and 3 250 watts all with lumenarc reflector . either ways you should be fine . just my 2 cents.

 

[JustinReef]

I have a 250 over my new cube that is only 18" tall. Even with a shallow tank, I wish I had gone with 400's.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13743500#post13743500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bullitr
why not mixed it i have 30" tall tank too but i only have 1 400 watts now just for the clams and 3 250 watts all with lumenarc reflector . either ways you should be fine . just my 2 cents.

How does it look? Is it even? Is there an obvious bright spot?

I hate seeing tanks that have different color bulbs in different areas. I think it looks better when it's all one color.