400 w 20k single how much coverage?

[seaduck]

Will 1 400w hqi 20k bulb provide enough light to cover a 48" 75 gal tank??? All corals and clams.

 

[RokleM]

With the right reflector you can get close to pushing 36" with corals that don't require a ton of light. I don't know of any that will cover a good 48" though.

What types of corals are you planning to keep? I'd say 2x250 or a GOOD T5 unit will be more than sufficient for SPS, and you could go with less T5's or lower powered MH for a less intensive setup.

 

[kretzkiller]

no you will definitely have dark corners. general rule of thumb is 1 halide for ever 2 feet of tank. In your case you would want 2.

 

[seaduck]

Well, my objective is to make the colors of my zoas pop like the ones for sale in lfs and online vendors. I buy them and take them home only to find that they don't look anything like the ones in the pics or tanks at the stores. I have several tanks with 3 different types of lighting but still can't match the colors in the pics. 2x150w hqi 10k blubs....4x54 ho t5s 2 10k 2 actinic....2 x 64 w pc 1 10k, 1 50/50. I've seen and been told that the lights they use are 400w 20k single end bulbs so i'm gonna buy one.

 

[EnderG60]

just get two 250's. it will pull about the same wattage, but annual bulb replacement will cost a bit more. you will not get a 4x2 coverage with a single halide without major loss of intensity.

 

[kretzkiller]

you can keep your current setup and change the bulbs to 20k.

 

[seaduck]

I tried 14k phoenix bulbs but it made the tank dark and it was hard to see details. I'm worried that 20k bulbs would be even darker. I'm thinking that 400 w bulbs would be brighter than the 150w bulbs so the tank would not be as dark???? I'm not sure tho???

 

[onetrickpony]

this is a good article on MH reflectors
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review/view

 

[seaduck]

lumenarc III didn't perform as well as the others..thx for the info as i was planning on buying an lumenarc III.

 

[onetrickpony]

Agreed , T-5 or 250/ 175 MH both with the right reflectors you would be able to keep anything, T-5 would be a lot less heat put int the tank than 2 MH,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14968064#post14968064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RokleM
What types of corals are you planning to keep? I'd say 2x250 or a GOOD T5 unit will be more than sufficient for SPS, and you could go with less T5's or lower powered MH for a less intensive setup.