MH Bulb/Frag Tank

[Tank2379]

Hi I am getting a Custom Frag Tank made 24x24x8, just wondering if I should go with one Single Pendant 400W 20K bulb?? Would that be to much lighting for this? Or should I do something with a little less light?

Thanks
Frankie

 

[cdamiano]

250W should be plenty of light. 400W is only needed if the depth is greater than 24"

 

[Tank2379]

Cool. Thanks

 

[nanojg]

I would do a 175 iwasaki

 

[Mounda]

175w seems reasonable, after all it's only 8". You'll be getting a lot of heat with 400w of MH.

 

[Tank2379]

Would that be good for SPS?

 

[nanojg]

The 175 Iwasaki has more par than most 250 bulbs, that combined with a nice crisp white with a hint of blue color. Yes, it would be great for sps, I would go with the lumenarc reflector for great coverage also.

 

[Tank2379]

Do they make it in a 14K or 20K?

 

[nanojg]

It is a 15k bulb, it is one of the only true 15k bulbs.

 

[coolfishy101]

Normally a frag tank is for growing out corals. A 20K bulb would not be the best bulb for growing out corals. Great for color, bad for growth. I would look for a 10k 250 watt bulb unless your goal is for coloring up frags, although you can still get great colors out of a 10k. The Iwasaki is also a great bulb because of it's high par value, unless your using that bulb, I wouldn't go with a 175 watt.

 

[HighlandReef]

If your going 250 I think a 20k bulb will give you plenty of growth because the tank is only 8" deep and you
can keep the lps toward the outer edge and keep sps toward the middle

 

[2006]

Make sure to get a decent reflector or sps will grow towards the bulb. I used a sunpod 150 watt with 14K phoenix bulb on a 36" x 24" x 16". If I did it again I would go with 250 watt and a decent reflector or fluorescent for a better spread. LPS will have to be kept as far away from the bulb as possible especially acans.