Lighting?

[reefhustler]

I have a old 30g cube laying around and want to convert it to a reef aquarium. The first thing i'm am goin to buy is metal halide lighting. Which wattage should i get? I was thinking 250w with a 20k bulb. Is that alright? OR maybe to much light? I want a sps dominate tank.

 

[Doglover_50]

I'd say too much light for that size--maybe closer to 175w

 

[sir_dudeguy]

agreed. I'd just throw a 175 on there also

 

[reefhustler]

So a 175 will be enough to keep any sps? Also this be to much light for a few soft corals? Thanks

 

[sir_dudeguy]

you could grow any sps with that, altho stuff like shrooms and even some lps corals wount like the high light, so just put them in shady areas if you get them. But softies like xenia and green star polyps LOVE light

 

[Agu]

On a 30 gallon a 250w MH wouldn't be too much light for SPS. IMO a 175 would be marginal without additional pc/vho/t5 lighting.

 

[reefhustler]

Well idk the exact hieght but isn't the oceanic cubes deep for their size?