anybody else have 150w hqi on 12 gallon? overkill?

[evad1]

debating between a 70watt and 150 watt hqi on 12 gallon nano.
who has a 150 is it to much light?
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thanks dave

 

[jboogie]

I have a 250w 14k Hami SE on my 12g and my corals have great color and seem to love it.

 

[jamesgang]

my wife has a 150w HQI 14K over her 24g JBJ and everything is growing like crazy.
I just put a 250w HQI 14K over my 20g long at work and I'll see what it looks like when I return to work tomorrow. It's only been on with the 14k since Friday morning, so I'm slowly feeding a little more light each day.
I don't think a 150 over a 12g is to much as long as you have it at the correct height. Setting right on the water might hurt it. My wifes is now setting 12 inches above the water and it's getting a nice spread of light.

 

[raastamon]

I have the 70w sunpod on a 10g. its doing ok, but not thriving! I will be going with a 33gcube which is very deep so I will be upgrading to a 250w

 

[BLKTANG]

I have dual 150w hqi's on my 29,& things r lookin good.

 

[jankyjameson]

mind if i ask how all of you who aren't having temp. problems are keeping the heat from these lights down? i just put a 150w phoenix 14k over my 20 long...nothing in the tank yet but cycling water, but i can't seem to get the temp below 80 even with the light about 18" off the water and a 15" fan blowing right at the lamp. anyone have any suggestions?

 

[bboy aqua]

i got 70w on my 10g and everything is growing like crazy
my xenia and gsps are taking off

 

[jboogie]

I deal with heat by computer fans blowing in my canopy and a larger fan blowing over the water.My light cycle also turns on at 3am to 11am ,that way it's off before peak heat hours.

 

[SEAFLOWERS]

I would think that the 70 watt would be plenty for this size tank. Anything that would reuire more light is going to out grow that small of a tank rather quickly anyway.

 

[SEAFLOWERS]

I meant "require" my brain froze for a moment.

 

[BAYONNEREEF]

yup

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9516934#post9516934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BAYONNEREEF
yup

yup what?

 

[safemode]

if you have to be 18 inches off the tank, why not go with a lower wattage and be right on top of the tank. Is it because it's a common part so it's easy to get replacement bulbs and parts for?

I'm not seeing the reason to go with a light that you have to waste so much of the light's energy by having it so far away rather than just using a weaker light and saving electricity.

 

[kool-cat]

You can have a 150 watt on a 12 gallon. Just watch the tank temperature in the summer. Acclimate all corals to the light. Use screening. Some people have 400 watts of mh above a 15 gallon tank.
You may also want to upgrade in the future so a 150 watt is better.