Lighting for my New Cube * Help *

[gooberz]

Well guys i will be hanging pendant MH lighting for my cube but need your advice! My tank is a 24x24x20 and wanted to know if a 250 watt metal halide would be overkill? I plan to keep Mostly SPS. Thanks in advance for all your help :bounce3:

Cheers,
Henry

 

[gveng]

its not overkill.

 

[gooberz]

Thx Gveng, Just want to make sure i dont Bleach the SPS or cause large algea blooms by putting to much light over the tank. Thinking of running one 14k Hamilton or phoenix.. Opinions welcome

 

[gveng]

to prevent bleaching, just make sure to make an aquascape with different levels, introduce the corals on the sand bed and work them up the rocks. keep the MH about 8"-12" above the water line.

algae blooms are a water problem not a lighting problem. with an SPS tank you will need to keep to water condition pristine so you shouldn't have a problem.

14k phoenix is a great bulb, but you will probably have to use some kind of actinic supplement lighting, either t5 or PC. if you go with a 20k bulb such as a radium, you won't need supplements, but the growth might vary from a 14k bulb.

 

[gooberz]

Thanks Gvang,

I will look into the Radium bulbs as well. I was under the impression that intense light would also cause algea. I plan to hang the halide 12" above the surface.

Thanks again!

 

[gooberz]

^Bump^