I'm setting up a 40 gal breeder for a BB sps tank. What lighting choice would be best? I'm looking at a hello lights ARO ballast and a 20K XM bulb. Should I go with 250 or 175W? The tank is only 16 5/8" deep. I don't like the 10K bulb color, but I do have a 250W 10K bulb on hand. I'm thinking 250w 10K XM over a 16" tank would just be to much.
Lighting a 40 gal breeder sps tank
- Thread starter geno7
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kastanzaman
Premium Member
I have a 250W SE and 2 36" VHO actinics on my tank, seems to work fine, but i do find that it's too much light for some corals. Although my SPS seem to do fine under it.
If i could do it again i would probably run 2 x 175W MH bulbs. That way corals would get more even lighting. The corals on the outter parts of the tank get very little light on the side facing away from the bulb with a single MH in a 36" tank.
If i could do it again i would probably run 2 x 175W MH bulbs. That way corals would get more even lighting. The corals on the outter parts of the tank get very little light on the side facing away from the bulb with a single MH in a 36" tank.
kastanzaman
Premium Member
If you want to go sps i would go MH. Granted i only have one tank to compare it too, but I gave some frags of my SPS to a friend that was running T5's on his tank. He kept them towards the very top of his tank. Colors faded and became very dull, and growth was much slower than under MH.
I will admit there are some people with awesome T5 lit SPS tank, but this was my personal experience.
I will admit there are some people with awesome T5 lit SPS tank, but this was my personal experience.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
A 40 breeder is quite shallow, IMO I'd go with 175's [10k] + VHO actinic.
T-5's are a definite possibility, don't rule them out IMO. But 250's would be too much light for some corals - else you could run low PAR 250w bulbs, but I don't see the sense there.
My 58 is 4 inches taller - I have a pair of 250's in there. Provided I shade things or put them quite low - it works out, but 2 10k's is too much for some things.
T-5's are a definite possibility, don't rule them out IMO. But 250's would be too much light for some corals - else you could run low PAR 250w bulbs, but I don't see the sense there.
My 58 is 4 inches taller - I have a pair of 250's in there. Provided I shade things or put them quite low - it works out, but 2 10k's is too much for some things.
kastanzaman
Premium Member
The ends of the tank are definately more shaded and i have made some caves to give areas for some lower light corals, I atually have my montis all towards the center of the tank but halfway down or lower, and they all look good and grow well. my purple rim cap doesn't pop in this location so eventually i may try a frag of it elsewhere. The only exception to this is my purple cap which is in a corner and looks good.
I do keep blastos and have a heliofungia in my tank, they look nice, but i keep them on the ends.
Most of my rics (fl) look good, except my blue one. i suspect it gets too much light so i am going to move it to the PC lit nano i am setting up.
Most of my zoas aren't doing that great. not sure if it is too much light or water doesn't have enough nutrients (whcih i doubt), but they are have shrunken in size and not really spread, they will probably all go to the nano as well.
If you want less light on the ends then i would say go with the 1MH.
I was running a 10K ushio, but have recently switched to a 10K reeflux (actually almost 16K if i understand sanjays data).
I do keep blastos and have a heliofungia in my tank, they look nice, but i keep them on the ends.
Most of my rics (fl) look good, except my blue one. i suspect it gets too much light so i am going to move it to the PC lit nano i am setting up.
Most of my zoas aren't doing that great. not sure if it is too much light or water doesn't have enough nutrients (whcih i doubt), but they are have shrunken in size and not really spread, they will probably all go to the nano as well.
If you want less light on the ends then i would say go with the 1MH.
I was running a 10K ushio, but have recently switched to a 10K reeflux (actually almost 16K if i understand sanjays data).
kastanzaman
Premium Member
Off topic, but mark i noticed you have the hot pink digitata. How quickly does that grow for you. I have one that I almost lost, then recovered nicely, but has been an incredibly slow grower.
PsychoKnight
New member
Will the MH be in a hanging pendant, or in a canopy? If you can control the height of the light, then 250w gives you more flexibility, and the additional distance will give a more even spread of light.
If you are using a canopy, I suggest a pair of 175w not just for more even coverage, but for multiple lighting angles, so there's no shady side of a sps.
If you are using a canopy, I suggest a pair of 175w not just for more even coverage, but for multiple lighting angles, so there's no shady side of a sps.
I can adjust the rock to give me zones for monti etc.. I'm really looking to one bulb and Texas todd you are you talking 250 or 175? Let me say thanks for all your input. I can add a 55w actinic for no cost. I have them on hand. I would imagine if it wasn't enough light I could just lenghten the photo period.
shelburn61
New member
The 2x175/150 is definitely a good option. I haven't seen the new Iwasaki 14k's in person, but they look like the perfect bulb from Sanjay's data.
I am running actinic with 10k right now, but I wish I had gone t5 blue to get the 450nm. If you want one bulb, 250w reeflux 10k SE on electronic ballast plus actinic.
I am running actinic with 10k right now, but I wish I had gone t5 blue to get the 450nm. If you want one bulb, 250w reeflux 10k SE on electronic ballast plus actinic.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
This one wasn't hot pink for the guy before me, but it is for me
VERY slow grower. At pace with my slowest Acropora, the slowest Monti I've had.
gitsumpottery
Member
i ran 2 175w XM 10k's plus 2-95w VHO actinic over my 40breeder I recently took down. A 10k bulb and actinics provide awesome color in my opinion. Plus if you have 2 bulbs you will have less shading on the underside of your corals since the light can penetrate from both sides.
I used to run 1 -250 but I liked the tank better when I switched to 2-175s.
Zac
I used to run 1 -250 but I liked the tank better when I switched to 2-175s.
Zac
