Halide wattage suggestions

[Kevin64]

I'm going to upgrade my T-5s to halides on my 55 because I want to start keeping acros. Can anyone suggest what wattage I should be looking at? I'm hoping to pick up some used fixtures here on ReefCentral. Is dual 250s overkill on a 55?

 

[brtfreud]

I have dual 250s over my 75 and love it. I would go dual 250s on the 55.

This will also allow you to have good growth with a 14k bulb.

 

[einsteins]

Agreed with brtfreud!

 

[Philby]

What's your current t5 setup? I've done a little research on T5 vs. MH, and there's no reason you shouldn't be able to keep SPS with the proper T5 lighting.

I'm going to have t5 lighting on my 70 gallon and plan on keeping SPS. Currently have 4x39W overdriven (on Icecap ballasts), and may have to add 2 normally driven if SPS don't fare well (i bought the retros with a 40Breeder in mind and have since changed my mind to a tank with the same footprint but 9" more height so we'll see if the 4 bulbs are sufficient...)

 

[Kevin64]

I've got the 48" Nova Extreme light from Drs. Foster and Smith. 4 x 54watt. Came with 2 Slimpaq 460nm Actinic and 2 10000°K. I figured you had to have metal halides for acros.

 

[Coralfreak]

Go with halides, 2x250W.

 

[waverz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10833813#post10833813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Coralfreak
Go with halides, 2x250W.

What he said...of course if it were me i would go with a couple 400's.

 

[matt the fiddler]

i have a 400 watt 20K and a 250 watt 10 K [now on a 75 but had them on a 55 earlier]

that is the wattage I reccomend for each of those color temp bulbs to get good par with out too much heat.. on a tank your size.. 400s are nice for the bluer bulbs, but heat a lot!

 

[glaspie69]

If your planning on upgrading the tank anytime in the near future I'd just get the 400's

 

[Philby]

You don't have to have MH - but many people prefer them. If you've already made the decision to switch I say go for it - you'll be able to compare and determine which type you prefer.

edit - agree with glaspie.

 

[jbrunken]

Wow do you guys get kick-backs from the power company or something?

-JB

 

[Coralfreak]

IMO, 400's are overkill on a tank that size. Its not deep or wide enough for them. Stick with 250's, you may want to consider a DE setup. I have been running my 60gallon with a single 250W DE 10K AB bulb, the color and growth are great. A big part of it is in the reflector, I am using a Lumenarc Stealth reflector, makes a huge difference.

 

[leeweber85]

go with 250 watters

 

[Double-J]

400w 20k's!!!!!

 

[slovan]

Boy...with all this talk about going with 400W, I'm thinking about switching out myself! :lol:

 

[waverz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10835622#post10835622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by slovan
Boy...with all this talk about going with 400W, I'm thinking about switching out myself! :lol:

do it..do it...do it...do it

 

[got2lb]

You guys need to put your elec. meters over your tanks then you can at least use them as fans to pull some of that heat out!

Seeing as you already have the T5's I would really do some reading and see if you can't just use those. I know a lot of people use them and keep some really nice SPS tanks!

 

[slovan]

I will, as soon as you send me $400 for new ballasts and bulbs.

 

[rc1214b]

Overdriven T5's with individual reflectors on that tank would allow you to keep anything you want. If you decide you really want mh I would use 250's for that size tank.

 

[waverz]

Just did the math and it only cost $6 more a month to run 2 400 watt bulbs 9 hours a day than it does 2 250's.


I guess it all depends on how you handle the heat.