Lighting Question too much or O.K?

[Smitty750]

I am setting up a 125 reef and have 3 400w blueline e-ballasts, and a 2x130 VHO retro setup. Is this going to be too much light for my tank? I've noticed not many people run 400w halides, or maybe I just havent seen many. It looks to me that a lot if not most run 250w halides, is there a reason for this or no?

 

[Smitty750]

bump

 

[gasman059]

hey smitty i run 3 400 mhs 20k on my 200. LOTS OF LIGHT LOL but ilikeit that way

 

[lllosingit]

I ran 3x175 mh and 2x95w VHO and it worked for me but I know the corals would have been happier under 250's or 400's but my pocket book couldn't handle the large jump in the electric bill.
For some it's running costs others it's heat issues or both.
Your lighting could be just right or to much depending on the coral kept.

 

[Smitty750]

Ya Im worried about my electrical bill too, but how far above the water should I place the lights, I have an open top tank

 

[Smitty750]

Will LPS and softies be OK with these lights or will it be too much for them? I want to have a mixed tank.

 

[sideways13]

I think it's a waste of engery if all you're going to do is keep LPS and softies. I would just get 3x250watt and stick with that. Plenty of light for almost everything.

 

[Drew Reed]

I got 2 400w MH on a 150g the tank is 48x24x30. Three on a 120 with a 2x130 VHO retro setup??? way too much IMO, I would go with 3 250's at most.

 

[Drew Reed]

Oh, what are the dem. ???

 

[Smitty750]

72x18x21 I want SPS LPS Clams Softies etc in my tank not just softies. I already have 2 400w blueline e-ballasts and was going to buy a third but maybe Ill buy a 250 and put it in the middle of the 2 400w

 

[Strack]

If you already have the ballast then just run two 400s.

I have a 180 and I put three 400s over it and only ran them for 4 hours a day and it burned everything except my clams. Now don't get me wrong, I like my 400s at 10,000k, but three is just too much. If you are going to run 3, don't put 10,000ks over it. Put 12,000k to 20,000k over it. The PAR is just too high for 10,000ks. Just my opinion though.

 

[jag1979]

I have 3 x 250 10k mh's and 3 x 80 watt t5 actinics on my 180. The lights are mounted in a 17" hood (about 9" b/n the surface and the bulbs)

my lps and sps really like the light, but my softies and bta shrivel up when all the lights are on. I keep rearranging them to lower light areas but I think I will order a 20k and put it on one side of the tank for my softies, then maybe a 14k in the middle and 10k on the other side.

If I were you I would try to trade the 400's for some 250's. If you keep the 400's I would only run two, hang them high and keep the softies away from the direct light. Then get some t5 actinics, I really like them.

 

[Smitty750]

What about 250 watt DE. Are they equivalant to 400 watts? I heard that somewhere before. So if I ran 2 400 watt using 14k bulbs about 8-10" off the tank that should be good?

 

[pjf]

Re: Lighting Question too much or O.K?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8812233#post8812233 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Smitty750
I am setting up a 125 reef and have 3 400w blueline e-ballasts, and a 2x130 VHO retro setup. Is this going to be too much light for my tank? I've noticed not many people run 400w halides, or maybe I just havent seen many. It looks to me that a lot if not most run 250w halides, is there a reason for this or no?

If you want to keep your current lighting, my suggestion is to run a dawn-to-dusk lighting scheme and place only SPS corals near the top of your tank. For example, run the actinic tubes for 10-12 hours and the MH for only 4 hours during mid-day.

The full lighting may be important for the depths of your tank. If the full lighting photoinhibits the SPS corals at the top of your tank, they can resume photosynthesis after the metal halides turn off. SPS corals can tolerate dynamic photoinhibition. Others may be unable to.

By running the MH lamps for only 4 hours, you will save electricity. It will be less expensive to rearrange your coral placement than to invest in another set of ballasts and lamps.

 

[GSMguy]

i run ten watts a gallon 20k mh and i think i could go 15 a gallon go for it