Lighting for a 150g?

[Thinslis]

How many 250w MH lights are needed for a 150g tank? I was looking at the 48" sunpod and it only has 2x 250w MH... I can't really see a differance between the 48" sunpod and the 36" other then its a bit longer... My question is can I use my 36" sunpod for the 150g tank by suspending it centered over the tank?

Thanks,

 

[MJAnderson]

150g is a 48x30x24?

I'd check the distance between the 2 MH. Depending on the reflector, a 250w should cover a 2x2x2 area.

 

[Thinslis]

Yea close enough, 48x31x24.

 

[Jim_Leyland]

my 150 is 72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 28 1/2 , you might wanna recheck your measurments

 

[Thinslis]

This is the tank I am buying:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1167259

Acording to the description its 48x31x24

 

[MJAnderson]

Several different ways to get to 150g...

Since it's only 24" deep, a 250w should penetrate deep enough, but the extra width poses a problem. 2 250w MH will mean can't keep much on the front sand. If you're willing to replace the lights, personally I'd for 2 400w and raise them up a bit, or raise up the 250w and plan on not keeping only low light on the sand and first 6" of rock. Depends on what part of the tank you want to short sheet...

 

[MJAnderson]

NM...read the thread. it's 48" long by 24" wide by 31" deep, not 48x31x24.

 

[Thinslis]

I figured I would have to replace the light, but I was hopeing I might be able to start the new tank with the existing light and then replace it soon after.

I'm not going to have enough live rock to aquascape the ends at first, probably will build a formation in the middle and build out from there.