Lighting my 500G?

[tkeracer619]

I have been lingering here for a few months doing the responsible thing before a major upgrade. Now I have some ?s

My current tank has 3 250W halides on eballasts. I have regular parabolic reflectors. My plan is to get two more halides and 5 of the large luminarc reflectors.

The new tank will be 10' x 4' x 24" of actual water volume with a 8' x 20" viewable starphire panel.

I would like to use a 20k bulb and skip the actinics. I do have 2 6' super actinics and 4 48" T5s I plan on running for Dusk/Dawn but not during the day.


Is it going to be enough light with all 250w? I keep all types of coral including sps. I also have several clams.

Should the two new halides be 400W instead of 250's for that extra par?


What do you think?

 

[bignick]

Well for starters your tank is the exact same dimensions of my dream tank.

As for which ones to go with? I would stick with 250s only because your tank is 24"D so i think that you could get away with growing SPS and clams at any depth. I am having the same sort of dilema on my 210 but my tank is deeper than yours. If it were only 24"D i would just stick with the 250s. As for the sunrise sunset part witht eh 20k and the actinics can you go into more detail about what you are trying to do here? I am a little confused.

 

[bcordill]

I debated about 400W vs 250W and ended up with 250W w/20K hamilton bulbs. So far 250W seems to wotk fine on a 24" deep tank.

 

[Gooli]

i agree...stick with the 250w. And...from the research i've done - the reflector upgrade alone should increase your lighting intensity in the tank - i havent done that myself, but i too am looking to go from parabolic reflectors to lumenarc\reef optix 3 reflectors.

If it were me doing the lighting, i would do the following:

Actinic VHOS 12 hours
50/50 VHOS 8 hours
14k MH 4 hours

I think it would be sweet! You would have a nice natural-like cycle and plenty of blue while running MH minimally.

 

[tkeracer619]

Thanks for the replies. bignick, I have been dreaming of this for a while =]

I already have 4 48" t5's with parabolic reflectors I plan on running some 50/50 bulbs or blue+. I also have 2 6' VHO's I will also use but would rather only use them when the halides are not full on to save on electricity.

I figure with the T5's and VHO's together that would be plenty of supplemental light for viewing the tank as the halides turn on and off. I could always add more but would rather start with less and work my way up with the t5's

I also figured the 250Ws would be good but figured I might as well ask.

=[ I just found a zoa spider in my reef. EEK, not good.

 

[Gooli]

sounds like it's gonna be a great tank...look forward to seeing pics

 

[xinumaster]

For a 10'x4' area sounds like you're going to need 8 250w MH on a lumenarc reflectors.

 

[tkeracer619]

I will be aquascaping around the lighting. I guess I can always add more but im not trying to destroy my coral budget with electricity. I have a lot of pumps to run as well =]

I know luminarcs spread 3ft tanks no problem. The T5's and actinics might need to stay on during the whole photoperiod to cover the extra 6" on each side but I think 5 halides would be enough with select coral placement.

 

[clekchau]

i love those dimensions, if i could do it over that's what i'd go for.

 

[asnatlas]

I am using 4x 250w MH's in L3's over my 96x48x30... I am also using 8x T5's for supplement lighting... I would say that you could easily get away with 4-5x 250w MH's along with some T5s...

 

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9596909#post9596909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clekchau
i love those dimensions, if i could do it over that's what i'd go for.

I'm moving in a few months so this is a perfect chance for me to do it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9599224#post9599224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asnatlas
I am using 4x 250w MH's in L3's over my 96x48x30... I am also using 8x T5's for supplement lighting... I would say that you could easily get away with 4-5x 250w MH's along with some T5s...

Thanks for the reply