70w vs. 150w K2 Viper Light

[The Saltwater Kid]

Okay, my wife has a Biocube 14g and I have finally covinced her to upgrade her lighting from PC's to MH/HQI. She loves zoo's and has bought many different types of exotic zoo's but gets disappointed when they don't look like they did online in her tank. I've told her til I'm blue in the face that it's her lighting and that if she reads what those zoo's online are under for lighting she'll see they are mostly under MH/HQI and usually 250w to 400w and that's why they don't look the same in her tank, her lighting just isn't intense enough. So she has finally decided to listen to me and upgrade and the only feasible lights for her tank (hanging is not an option) are the JBJ K2 Viper clamp-on lights. My question is which one would you go with to get the best coloration out of her zoo's, the 70w or the 150w? I know there are many more bulb choices for the 150w than there are for the 70w. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[snulma1]

the higher the better, as you will be able to place the zoo's lower down in the tank, but beware about heat, as 14 gallons is when its filled without sand and rock, so 13-12 gallons will heat fairly quickly with a 150w, if you can run a sump, I would do so as 2 increase volume, and more surface area for cooling

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

A sump is not an option. I figure if we raise the light to about 12 inches or so above the tank that overheating shouldn't be as much of an issue.

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

bump

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Well I found a good deal on a 150w K2 Viper w/a 3 month old 14K Phoenix Bulb for $130 shipped. The tank is located in our bedroom which has an A/C in it so it stays cool during the summer months and here in vermont it certainly gets cold enough in the winter that it'll keep cool than too . I just think this light will make a HUGE difference in the growth and coloration of my wifes zoo's. Now she'll be able to look online and know that those zoo's really will look like that in her tank and if the wife is happy, I'M HAPPY!!!

 

[snulma1]

Just be careful acclimating the tank to the new lights

 

[The Saltwater Kid]

Yeah, I figure we'll start out with the MH at 16" above the water for 3 days and after that move it down to 14" for another 3 days and after that move it down to 12" which is the height I plan on keeping it at. I did this same type of process (different heights though) with my BC29 when I switched from PC's to MH and it worked well.