400 watt metal halides overkill

[ReefDoberman]

Are 400 watt metal halides overkill? The more I read it seems that there isn't a true need for this extreem wattage? It seems that SPS's will do quite well under 250's?

Any opinions that will help me make a choice?

I have a 265 gallon mixed reef.

 

[PiNaPLeX]

For your sized tank, 400watt MHs are not overkill. What size is your tank? how high is it?

 

[BurntOutReefer]

good size wattage for your tank.....

 

[ReefDoberman]

Tank dimensions: 7.5'x32"x24"

 

[PiNaPLeX]

If you want to have the option of keeping everything in that tank then go with 4x400watts. This will enable you too keep SPS at all levels of the tank.

 

[crazylegs]

pinaplex is right, you will be able to keep sps at all levels and bring out their best possible color.

 

[ReefDoberman]

Great. I am going with the 400's.

Thanks

 

[RichConley]

Tank is only 24" deep, 400s are overkill IMHO.

 

[MattG]

I agree with rich. Unless you are running bulbs with very low par 250's would work just fine in a 24" tall tank.

 

[RichConley]

I run 250s in my 24", and I still burn a ton of stuff.

 

[crazylegs]

to avoid burning or bleaching your corals, be sure to aclimate them to your light just like anything else. Use layers of screen material on top of your tank and peel them off one by one at the rate of one per week or so.

 

[ReefDoberman]

What type of screen would you use?

 

[jman77]

Dude 400 watters are and over kill for a 24 tall tank..

If i where you i would get 3 250w HQI ballast. 3 LIII reflectors and SE bulbs of your choice.

Man ..i can't image what your electric bill will come out to be with 4 400 watters going.

 

[jpitch]

I'm not an expert but this article sheds a little light(sorry for the pun) on what some may consider "overkill". The sun is beyond comprehension to some...

http://web.archive.org/web/20020612...m/fish2/aqfm/1999/july/features/2/default.asp

 

[jman77]

I consider it an overkill cause i pay for electricity. If I can get great growth from 250's why move up to 400's ? People should worry on water quality instead of pumping all these watts into the water

 

[jpitch]

The post was overkill on the corals. If electricity isn't a factor nor the price of 400 mh's then this isn't an issue. The OP didn't mention any of these factors...

 

[SDguy]

IMO, the problem with 4 - 400W lights is that you really won't be able to keep anything but high light loving corals. I have a 14K 250 DE over a 24" tank, and can't keep LPS near the top. In fact, all of my corals have been looking better since xenia has grown larger at the top, creating more shade. Just my 2 cents. And have you considered heat issues?

 

[ReefDoberman]

My main concerns are the corals not really the electric bill. However I guess that could change if I got a few that were sky high....

Another reason I've been considering the 400's is that I plan on upgrading the tank to 600+ gallons over the next year or two and do not want to have to upgrade lighting again. I was hoping to find something that I could use today and on my future tank...

 

[ReefDoberman]

SDGuy - I have an open canopy suspended above the tank with fans for cooling. When I ran 2 250's and 2 175's I never had a problem with heat.

The tank is in the basement and it stays cool year round.

 

[jpitch]

with 400's u can always raise the height above the tank if you're worried about the lower light corals...