Lighting Question

[costa13]

Would a Current USA SunDial HQI Pendant Metal Halide with 1x150w and 2x32w actinics be benefitial on my 20T or would it just hurt it?
Thanks

 

[costa13]

I need help beacuse my LFS is telling me it would fry everything in my tank. Then other people are telling me my PC with 2x65w is not strong enough for anenomes and corals and that I should get that MH.
Help!

 

[BurntOutReefer]

depth for tank?
IMO....PC with 2x65w is quite a lot of light for a 20G.....

 

[costa13]

it is 24" deep

 

[costa13]

it is a 20 tall

 

[BurntOutReefer]

20 tall or 24 deep?

anyways....IMO...
PC with 2x65w is still quite a lot of light for a 20T.....you should be ok..

 

[costa13]

It is 20 gallon tall and it is 24in deep

 

[reef2]

i think u would be fine i doubt u would fry anything 150w over a 20t isnt all that much. i just seen someones 20t with a 250w and it was just fine.my 0.02

 

[costa13]

thanks for the advice! do you think a Current USA SunPod HQI Metal Halide Fixtures with Lunar Lights with 1x150w is a good MH?

 

[costa13]

that one seems like a good one from what I have read. Any opions PLEASE

 

[pjf]

If you have any doubt as to the lighting level you need, simply use a dawn-to-dusk lighting scheme. For example, run one lamp for 10-12 hours and the other lamp for only 4-6 hours during mid-day. Alternatively, run each lamp for 8 hours but start the second lamp 4 hours after the first.

The problem with the Sunpod is that there is only one lamp with no dimming capability.

If you really want to upgrade, I’d suggest a T5 fixture because of their efficiency (more lumens per watt) and the dawn-to-dusk capability. For a 24” tank, there is the 4x24w Tek Light from www.reefgeek.com. For 30” tanks, there are the very economical Aqualight T5 strips from http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_aqualightT5.htm.

Good luck!