70W metal halide enough?

[pico-reefer]

Hey everyone. im thinking about making my nano an sps reef. but im worried if i have enough light. the light i would be using is a jbj viper k-2 70 watt metal halide with a 14,000K bulb. the tank is 10" deep. would that be enough light for keep most hardy sps? and if i do like 30-40% water changes a week, would i need to dose anything?

 

[mike_cmu04]

I have a nano with led's and i do a 20% water change each week and dose a kent 2 part cal and alk and my sps is doing great. As far as your light that should be pleanty in 10"

 

[MechEng99]

I have a 10g tank (normal cheapo 10g) that I use for QT (mostly SPS). I used a 70W for quite a while, then added a second 70W MH light since the corals on the bottom of the tank weren't getting enough light. But, I was also running eBay bulbs. PAR on the bottom of the tank with both 70W fixtures is less than 100. I'm now switching to a single 150W MH since the cost of upgrading is less than the cost of two 70W bulbs (plus, I'm using recycled grow-out tank bulbs).

It sounds like you already have the fixture, but 70W bulbs get expensive over the long run. Just something to think about.

 

[pico-reefer]

I have a 10g tank (normal cheapo 10g) that I use for QT (mostly SPS). I used a 70W for quite a while, then added a second 70W MH light since the corals on the bottom of the tank weren't getting enough light. But, I was also running eBay bulbs. PAR on the bottom of the tank with both 70W fixtures is less than 100. I'm now switching to a single 150W MH since the cost of upgrading is less than the cost of two 70W bulbs (plus, I'm using recycled grow-out tank bulbs).

It sounds like you already have the fixture, but 70W bulbs get expensive over the long run. Just something to think about.

I know, i found out about how hard it is to find 70W bulbs AFTER i just bought it lol. who knows, i might sell it and get the 150W version instead

 

[Allmost]

it wold be fine, but have you thought about the heat it gives off ?

it will heat up a 10G prety fast I assume !

why not T5 HOs ?

 

[ganjero]

You'll be fine. No heat issues as long as is an open top tank.

 

[Allmost]

You'll be fine. No heat issues as long as is an open top tank.

I assume you are saying this from experience ? I can mathematically proove you that a MH WILL heat up 10G of water. lol

I guess u can have multiple fans over the halide to cool it off.

but a heater over water will heat water up.

( I really hope u dont think I'm insulting you again)

 

[Supasalty]

I have a 20 gallon tank and a 150w hqi and I can only leave it on 4 hours and it raises the temp 2 degrees. That is with an open top.

 

[JSeymour]

Depends on what you plan on keeping. Most sps should grow, anything that loves high light will likely be browned out a bit though. Throw a couple T5HO to suppliment(as well as provide light during the other 6 hours of daytime your halide is off) and you would be great.

 

[pico-reefer]

wow, thanks for all the replies! the light just arrived, it gives off some heat, but mainly near the light itself. it really doesnt project the heat into the tank. but i have a few fans im going to hook up, both blowing on the surface and the water and blowing on the halide its self. now i just need to find away to conceal them. its an open top tank

 

[Allmost]

wow, thanks for all the replies! the light just arrived, it gives off some heat, but mainly near the light itself. it really doesnt project the heat into the tank. but i have a few fans im going to hook up, both blowing on the surface and the water and blowing on the halide its self. now i just need to find away to conceal them. its an open top tank

I'm not too sure of this, hopefully others can correct me. but I think MH gives off the light based on it Burning and heating up, so wouldnt the spectrum or intensity or ... change if its cooled down too much via a fan towards it ? I have all the fans facing the surface of water.

 

[pico-reefer]

hmm, never thought of that, ill probably just mount them so there blowing on the surface.

 

[JSeymour]

I'm not too sure of this, hopefully others can correct me. but I think MH gives off the light based on it Burning and heating up, so wouldnt the spectrum or intensity or ... change if its cooled down too much via a fan towards it ? I have all the fans facing the surface of water.

I doubt it could be air cooled sufficiently to keep it from fully pressurizing. If your worried about this, just don't install a fan blowing directly on the bulb. likely, it would just take a minute longer for it to reach full pressure. The general consense is the cooler you run equipement(bulbs included) the longer it will last/run at the correct spectrum.

 

[pico-reefer]

it wouldnt be blowing ON the bulb itsselft. but on the fixture, if that helps any

 

[JSeymour]

it wouldnt be blowing ON the bulb itsselft. but on the fixture, if that helps any

I know. I was just saying that a fan blowing directly on the bulb may cause a longer warm up, but shouldn't cause it to not fully light or show the wrong color.

 

[pico-reefer]

ah i see. well, i still have a while to set it up. so ill keep researching about it. thanks for all the help. on another note, i got the first panel in my sump before i ran ut of silicone lol. those little aquarium safe silicone tubes dont last long

 

[MechEng99]

it wold be fine, but have you thought about the heat it gives off ?

it will heat up a 10G prety fast I assume !

why not T5 HOs ?

I have 2 70W MH fixtures over my 10g tank with no heat problems, and I use no fan. Temp is very stable at 79-80 degrees. As long as you have an open tank with good circulation, fans might not be needed in every case. It'll depend on how close to the tank the bulbs are, type of reflectors, type of ballast, and your house circulation/temp.

 

[pico-reefer]

i decided to sell the 70 watt metal halide and buy a Maxspect G1 60w LED. cant wait till it gets here!