planning a 29-lighting???

[Jasontkd]

Ok, so I am going with the standard 29 gallon 30x12x18. want it as an SPS dominated mixed reef. Most people have said a 250 watt DE MH, but I have some concerns. what I would really like is the look of a 20k bulb, but the health and growth of a 6500k -10k. So, I figured I would get some T-5 actinics and used either a 10k or 6500 k MH. however, with increasing the wattage with T-5, do I still need a 250K MH? I know it has a better penetrating depth for the 18" height especially since it will be a little ways off the water. But, I am concerned with heat, bleaching, and overall health of corals and tank. I will not have a chiller, so could I go with a 150/175w DE MH with supplemental T-5's and still have an SPS dominated mixed reef?

Thanks

 

[AVALover5498]

I would recommend a 14K Hamilton+T-5's. That's what I'm about to use and so far it looks good. The 14K has a nice blue color like a 20K and the growing capabilities of 10K. If you are concerned with heat you could use a couple of fans. I have two 4 inch fans on my hood
and I don't feel heat will be an issue.

Plus you could always do what I've been told is to throw a couple of two litter pop bottles filled with tap water in the freezer and then throw them in the sump. That's what I'm going to be doing. I'm a poor high school student so I can't afford a chiller. Either way, Good luck.


-Chris-

P.S...I'm running a 175W MH kit from Hellolights.com and I'm really happy with it. I would highly recommend them.

 

[Jasontkd]

I have heard the hamilton 14k have horrible PAR

 

[Jasontkd]

^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[b0wenj]

I have a 29 gallon mixed reef sps, lps , and softies and I use 4 T5 24 watt bulbs with no fan using slr reflectors. I get great growth on evrything in the tank. I have a birdsnest that I bought 3 weeks ago and put it up high to make sure it was getting good light and I have noticable growth in only 3 weeks time. I really wish I would have taken a before and after picture because the growth is impressive. I would have to say I have 1/4 inch growth on some parts of the birds nest. I do have alot of other sps's around the tank not so high and they seem to be doing good as well.

Of course if you wanted to be crazy you could use an icecap ballast and overdrive the 24 watt bulbs and have your sps on the sand and get awesome growth. Heat would really be an issue for that of course Fire may soon follow.