Sunpod (Light Question here) 70W vs 150w

[tenwhiteduke]

OK I now have 32PC's standard Aquapod 24G lights. Want to get a Sunpod they have the 70w MH's and 150w MH. $100 difference in cost. Is it necessary to get the larger one? What cant I put into my tank with the 70 vs the 150?

Help!!!

 

[Azial]

The 70 Watt Sunpod is much akin to the Powercompacts you have in the system. It will give better intensity and for the soft corals you put in the system should be fine.

However if you want to do moderate to high intensity corals, you need the 150 Watt, it's itensity is much much higher, a must for LPS and SPS corals.

Go for the 150 Watt, sure it costs a lot up front but you won't regret it. I tried half measures that cost me a ton before I bought the 150 Watt HQI. I don't regret it a bit.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

Once you install the 150, did you have any temp problems with your water.

 

[Azial]

No more issues then with the stock hood on the 64watt power compacts. Since the hood is gone it's not holding in heat like it did. One side effect was increased evap since the hood is gone, but that's really not much of an issue. I prefer y system open topped now for multiple reasons, oxy transfer is better and I can use far more after market items. I am adding a skimmer today.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

Yep me too, a skimmer is comming soon. Now when you say no more issues than with the top, Did you temps go down at all when you switched, or did they remain? My temps were at 82, before I decided to get a chiller, which dropped them down to 78. However I still dont have MH, and that is something I would like, plus would like to get rid of the chiller if its not necessary.

 

[Azial]

Well, to be frank, I actually got the opposite of what I expected to my surprise. The lid held in a lot of temp and evap. The temp is lower without the hood and the HQI then with it on. Evap is significantly more, but I don't mind fiddling with it. I like the look far better too. The light is bluer, and the LEDS/Lunar are a lot nicer. I recommend it to anyone. I wish I would have gotten it with the system but at the time I was freaked out about the price. I kick myself for it now.

 

[BigPerm1]

I'd like to switch to the Sunpod. Can someone tell me exactly which one to get.

is it the 20" 1x150w 14k HQI?

I have the 24 Aquapod btw