29g 150w MH or 70W MH?

MalawianDude

New member
I am trying to figure out best option, i just plan on LPS and other softy corals for my tank, it has a oak canopy, so was planning on removing the 130w PC retro's i have in there now, install two fans on each side of the canopy, with chrome grills :D

Get a retro kit 150w HQI or 70w HQI, which one would be more ideal? i'd like to keep a clam further down the road, so that's why i'd like to move to MH, a few sps as well....

The fans just two would take care of heat problem from the MH's right?
 
i have a 29 with 175w mh and 2x75w vho actinic, i would get the 150 so u dont have to upgrade later
 
Am still lookin for a 150w HQI i prefer those over the single ended type, guess have to keep watchin the for sale section.

14k huh? with 14k it'll show the florescenses of the corals like atnics would? or would i need a 20k to achieve that?
 
You could check out the clip-on ones from Current USA and JBJ. They both make 150w versions and aren't too expensive (I think $240 and $199 respectively)
 
i would go with the 150 or greater. 29 gal is a fairly deep tank (as nanos are concerned), so 150 is really a minimum IMO. I have a 20K and it will show some florescents but not nearly as much as antinic (sp?-I always get that wrong) bulbs. The 20K really adds more color(such as greens) that are normally seen only under antinic, but it does not givehe neon effect, since the light spectrum still "washes" out must of the florescents.
 
I have the Coralife clip on 150w (20K) on my 29g and don't think it's enough light. I added some t5s to boost it.
 
I have had a phoenix 14000k in my ocean light 250 fixture, and I've had an AB 20000K bulb in there, too. I was HIGHLY disappointed in the AB bulb, and I feel that the phoenix is much brighter and it makes the coral colors fluoresce noticeably better.
 
I have a coralife 150w pendant on my 29 gallon tank, and most of the softies and lps actually looked better in my tank when I had 175 watts of pc's over the tank. But if you do decide to go with the 150w halide, I use the phoenix 14k bulb and it has beautiful color. Definately no need for actinics.
 
It's interesting that they sell these with an XDE rather than an AB bulb, since it's coming from AquaMedic anyway. I personally didn't love the output of the AB 20000K, so i hope the XDE is better. I prefer a 14000K bulb over the 20kk. Everybody has their own preferences, though. I'd imagine that the 10000K would be VERY bright.
 
i second chocolate, and with some t5s atinics, will be awsome, thats what i have and im very please
 
aquamedic ocean light gets a thumb up from me too. Came with 14K Hamilton which is O.K. but I'm looking into Phoenix 14K or XDE 20K. The 14K Hamilton is a nice color but needs a little more blue. I might just go with the XDE 20K as I've heard that the color is nice and very bright.
 
Aquamedic is awesome i agree. But wouldnt 250w be more into SPS territory? and would pretty much bleach out the LPS and other softies?
 
just do it ..like nike saids....you be happy with that setup..i actully want to upgrade to 250watts MH over my 29gs...and a bigger skimmer..
 
I have a 25gal with a 150watt HQI Mh and i really wished i had gone with a 250watt. The 150 i guess will still be good, but go with the highest you can afford. My 25 gal uis deeper than a 29 gal though, mine id 20" deep so thats the main reason that i want the 250watt. But really go with the 150watt, you wont regret it.
 
My Mom runs 2x150 watt 20k's over her 29 and they have done an excellent job. We just switched out the the old XM bulbs to Coralvue and are very happy.
 
Thanx for all the input guys really appreciate it, i have decided to go in the middle, with a 175w MH setup 14k with my customized moonlighting, with 14k i dont need atnics do i?
 
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