LOOOONNNGG 20 gallon

[jasutton]

Ok so i am setting up a 20L, no sump (d/t fact i dont want to deal with it) and i want sps and clams.. Keep in mind i am new to nano..I .have the chance to get a 250 W MH reefstar III from a local for like 100$ with 14K bulb....used 3-4 months..,.. should i go for it?? I am worried about evap and electricity costs...i need your honest opinions...i was planning on shelling out on the sunpod 30" for like 300$.. would it be best to get this system that the local is offerring??


thanks, i value your advice!

Jamie

 

[wfrost]

Dude if you can get any MH for 100 bucks jump on it.

 

[phenom5]

yeah...250W MH for 100 bucks, take it.

 

[aural]

yah i just got a 250 watter and it cost me $250 bucks.

 

[tgcreef]

ya that is definantly a great deal but the only thing i would be worried about is that u have a really shallow tank and ur putting a crap load of light on it that might mean u have to get a chiller which would cost u alot more than han deal and ur electricity will go up but with any tank t will go up alot so no worry on the electrity but im a little worrid on the light plus there is such a thing as to much light in a tank and well u might come very close because what happens is that the algae that lives inside the coral produces to mush oxygen to quickley and u get bubble inside ur corals flesh and then it will adventually bleach

 

[phenom5]

he only thing i would be worried about is that u have a really shallow tank and ur putting a crap load of light on it that might mean u have to get a chiller which would cost u alot more

i don't think that's true. if the light is going to be hung over an open top tank then heat will not be an issue. if it is going in a hood i still think that with a couple of fans and a open back you should be okay...at worst you will ne an iceprobe, but those are only around 100 buck, which is still less then the other light you were looking at...

plus there is such a thing as to much light

true, you can have too much light, but i don't think a 250W over a 20 is too much light...as long as you slowly acclimate any corals to the light.

 

[All Delight]

Indeed that is an awesome deal. Make sure they give you some kind of reasonable warranty.

But I do think that the 250 watt MH is too much for the 20 gallon (honestly).

But at that price, I'd buy it and if it is too much light I'm sure you can get your money back.

 

[AngelReefer]

ya take it for $100 thats a deal

 

[philagothos]

I'd go for it! If you find that it is too much light you can always switch to a 20k to cut down on the PAR. But that's a great deal and even if you have to buy a different bulb, it's still going to be cheaper.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

grab it! Too good of a deal to pass up! Shesh you found a better deal than I did, congrats!

 

[jasutton]

ok hopefully the deal will go through...i am worried about heat issues. Does anyone know a good auto top off? that isnt too much $$

thanks all for your help

jamie

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

I have 280 watts over a 25 gal with no heat problems at all, my temp doesn't even go over 80. I only have a 150watt MH though, so i'm not sure if that will make a big differance, but i am going to be upgrading it to a 250watt as soon as i buy a new ballast and i'm not worried about heat at all.

 

[phenom5]

Does anyone know a good auto top off? that isnt too much $$

UTR's $10 ATO

 

[fraggin]

what about the intensity?
a 250 on a little 20L?
go with a pendant setup and keep it up
or cut it down with a 175 mh
still a nice deal