Help me with a lighting decision. Please.

[10" Red Devil]

Do you all think I am crazy for wanting to get another 150watt D.E. Pendant over my 20 long? I am annoyed because with a single 150watt D.E. you get drop off on the sides of the tank so all that space for sps is waisted. Or would you recommend some other type of lighting setup? I hate to have to move up to 300watts of light over the tank, might get a little too expensive energy wise, but I just hate not being able to fill the tank with corals, right now it seems I can only put them in 24" out of the 30" of tank space if that.

 

[mic209]

won't raising the light up some give u a little more spread?

 

[10" Red Devil]

I don't know really? How much can I raise it and still be able to place corals at all levels of the tank. The tank is 12" tall.

 

[ek9vboi]

20 long is about 36" across correct? best i could tell you to do is suck it up and get another MH and just have one on each side.

Raising it will give you more lighting, but its not as strong.

 

[10" Red Devil]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9634357#post9634357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ek9vboi
20 long is about 36" across correct? best i could tell you to do is suck it up and get another MH and just have one on each side.

Raising it will give you more lighting, but its not as strong.

No its 30" across.

Anymore opinions. Come on nano reefers I know theres a ton of you on here.

 

[SVXH6]

i used a 250W and it covered perfect. it was about six inches off the water, or eight inches. it was more than enough light, i did this also on a 29. i like going with 250's because you can always use them on any application in the future.

 

[10" Red Devil]

bump

 

[cherubfish pair]

FWIW, I had a 150w pendant over a 10 gallon. It was so bright that my little anemone would seek shade. I raised the pendant 2-1/2 feet above the tank and the light spilled way over. It was perfect.

Maybe a 250 raised up will spill over 30".

 

[10" Red Devil]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9641671#post9641671 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by the cattleman
FWIW, I had a 150w pendant over a 10 gallon. It was so bright that my little anemone would seek shade. I raised the pendant 2-1/2 feet above the tank and the light spilled way over. It was perfect.

Maybe a 250 raised up will spill over 30".

Argh, don't tell me that. I just got rid of a 250 because I felt like it was too much.

 

[cschwaj]

Keeping the MH in the canter and adding a T5 or two across the length of the tank will allow SPS in the majority of the tank and LPS on the ends. This looks sweet and doesn't cost nearly as much.