Lighting question

[cgries]

I am going to set up a 35 gallon hex for clams and sps. It is 24 inches deep. I would like to purchase a DE MH pendant. I would like to know what wattage and color temp you would suggest I go with?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Wow, seems to be a loaded question! quick answer, spend some more time reading in the sps forum. I really belive lighting in my tank is more critical for my SPS than my clams. Do they make anything over 250 in DE? 24" depth, (I read a 400 is on it way) so that will be best IMO!!!

 

[Scuba Dog]

A 250 DE would be perfect for clams on the sandbed and any sps....and the new 400 DE's are coming out but there way new, I suspect that they may be for deep tanks, like 30 to 36inches in depth, but there still new, so the jury is still out on that one, but go with a 250 DE...I like white light and more PAR so i go with 10ks, if you like the blue look, go with a higher kelvin rated bulb like the 13k or 15 k or 20 k bulbs.......

 

[jda]

250DE is fine for a 24" deep tank. Consider a 13K to 15K bulb so that you don't need any atinics - if you like the bluer look. I personally like the 14K hamiltons (I have them in DE also). I don't run VHO atinics anymore and has cut the heat down a lot.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I am running the hamilton 250w 14 k in the center of my reef tank( trying different kinds on each side) and a single over a 40gal "clam" tank. I too removed my VHO's. But , 2 months ago I added a 10k 250w in the center (along-side the 14k) for a noon time affect--- it really helped my SPS.-------- sorry, I feel like I am stealing- cgries thread.

 

[cgries]

Bought a light

Bought a light

Thanks for the advice. I bought a 250 DE Hamilton ReefStar and wired it with an Ice Cap Electronic Ballast. I have hung it about 12 inches from the water. Should I lower it? If so to what height? Also I bought a XM 20k. It is very blue. Once it burns in will it turn alittle whiter or will it always very blue. If so I might go with a 10K or 14K next time.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

My xm 20k se's, stayed very blue. Hey, I too have kept seahorses- they are so neat!! but the ones they catch locally do not seem to eat glass swrimp and my pods do not do well in the main tank.

 

[cgries]

I keep captive raised seahorses which eat frozen mysid and plankton. They are smaller than the wild caught but I like that because you can keep them in a smaller tank. I have a pair of kuda's with a possum wrasse and a mystery wrasse in a 20 extra high.