400 or 250

[Jim.mer]

My current build is 30x30x24 Now I know i'm going MH and I also know it's SE with a big reflector, I want to keep SPS mostly Should I go 400 or 250

 

[sasharotty]

Is the 30" the depth or width? If 30" deep and want to keep sps at the bottom i would go 400.

 

[Jim.mer]

No it's 24 deep

 

[geo]

I like the 400 watt.

 

[Jim.mer]

Yes I like the 400 too, thanks

 

[t4zalews]

i'd do a 400w in a lumenarc

 

[capecoral]

So 400 to get to the bottome of a 30 inch?

 

[RokleM]

I'm going to disagree and recommend a higher powered 250w, like the Radium on an adjustable ballast (Galaxy/Lumatek select-a-watt). I have one on a 30x30x27 LPS tank and it's MORE than enough, almost too much. The key is getting a reflector with a good spread to hit those outer edges dependent on your rockwork.

 

[Justdrew]

I had an in-depth conversation with a vendor this week who has a prior TOTM. We were talking about how the newer reflectors of today make the 250 watt MH of today equivalent to the 400 watters of 4-5 years ago. He is in the process of upgrading his tank to something around 30" height and 30" depth and he is going with 250 watts on his new one. A good reflector makes all the difference.

Drew