Need your opinion

S

saltwater2642

New member
OK here is my problem I need some opinions on lighting.

After seeing some of the tanks at meetings I know you all know a lot more that I do so here it goes.

I've decided to go with a 220 its like 30 inches tall and looking at what lighting to use I was thinking about 4 250 mh that are end to end. I have heard that the end to end ones are better.

Well at the lfs he suggested that I use 3 400mh. That would be cheaper, but I dont want a huge electric bill and don't want a chiller. I want to have a mix of sps/lps or 2 400 and 1 250.

So whats everybody think

Oh yea I'm not real interested in buying a $300 sump either so any ideas? Skinny Joe suggested a regular glass tank, anyone know who could drill it?

Any ideas on a pump?

Thanks.
 
Are you planning on using an open top, or canopy? That will play a major role in whether or not a chiller will be needed, IMO. If open top, I would suggest a fan or two to help blow the heat off the top of the water, which will lead to more evaporation. Depending on aquascaping, I would think that 2x400, or 3x250 would be enough especially if you supplemented with some t5's. Be prepared for a good increase on your powerbill regardless. I pay almost an extra $75.00-100 per month to keep my 75 gallon going on t5's, JME though. The sump can be made inexpensively, I would suggest a 60+ gallon sump which you could partition off an area to make a fuge. With SPS, you will need alot of flow, so plan on either a strong pump that can support a closed loop design, or additional powerheads like Korillas or Tunze. What skimmer are you going to use? It sounds like you are going to have a heck of a set-up, can't wait to see it in action.....Good Luck
 
The canopy is going to be an open top n I plan on a couple of fans. I was thinking as I read your ideas mabey 2 400 and 1 250 . Lkld yea your electric is too high for me. right now my light is a outer orbit with 3 175 w mgh and 4 96 w cp.
 
I want a put that will do the return ok and then set up a y ,use the same pump, and run a closed loop from that for a lot of flow.
 
here's what i was thinking for a sump and closed loop
SALTWATER2642.jpg
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seth.jpg
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as for the lighting i would use 3 250 on electronic ballast with vho's. if you use an open top or pendent keep in mind that the tank and stand probaly sit high and will blind you if you are placing it in a room with chairs or a couch. chiller are getting cheap used and they don't cost that much to run. call fpl and ask them to do a enegy elvauation or borrow a watt meter from someone local and check a chiller and see how much they draw on start up and during run time. i was running 3 250's om a magnetic ballast and 4 6ft vho's, 2 mag24's mag12' mag7 and 1/4 horse chiller and the chiller was a 1/10th of the cost of every thing else.
 
My 350 is 8' X 30" X 30" and 3 X 250 DE's is plenty of light IMO. I do supplement with T5's but mine is wider than yours.
 
I personally like the standard Mogul halides on electronic ballasts with VHO supplements. I would think 3 250's would do you, although the extra push with the 400's would certainly bump up the color, but will also push up the electric bill. I'm going with the new 400 watt LED's on my 180 as I don't want a chiller or the extra electric bill. With glass sumps just be aware that they are more fragile than the acrylic and can crack if moved with the plumbing attached or even with excess vibrations. One remedy is to attach some acrylic pieces on the inside and out before placing the bulkhead to fortify the glass and don't over tighten the bulkhead! GL!
 
Personally, i would forget about the MH and go either T-5 or LED. PWhitby from the Oklahoma forum has a 600 gallon tank, and has run extensive tests on MH and T-5. He found that the T-5 out performed the MH enough that he has removed all of his MH and gone to straight T-5. Since you have so much time on your hands, here is the link to his tank build thread. It is loaded with info that may be useful to you in your build.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1022934

I don't know much about the LED lights, but they look like they are going to be the next big step in lighting.
 
saltwater2642 what's your budget on lights? this will make a big difference. i would wait to here what sanjay has to say at src about the lighting thing.
 
Another great idea. I don't want to spend a lot but then again I want some nice colors and growth and dont want to keep buying and upgrading. I'd say ball park like $1500.00
 
just priced out a setup real quick. it would be a retrofit for a canopy and would include (3) 250 icecap ballast with spider reflectors, mogul bases, bulbs, flat reflectors, (3) 4" fans, (4) 160 watt icecap vho setup with (2) icecap 430 ballast, bulbs, end caps, stand offs, and timers for 1386.00. total watts would be 1390 and it would be 6.31 watts a gallon. with the other 114.00 you could but a neptune moonlight kit with controller and you are set.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10279713#post10279713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaCudas
well if it comes to you selling your guns put me first in line with a price sheet please :)
Click to expand...

how many names do you have in that area. syantek, cowboyswife, likeworksatool, pixiegirl, sharktreef, etc:rollface:
 
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