Switch from 250's to 400's?

[saurus]

I have been thinking of switching from 250's to 400's. I have 8' long acrylic tank with three openings. I currently have 4 250 watt helios run by pfo hqi ballasts in luminarcs and I am happy but I was toying with two ideas.

I wanted to either run 3 400 watt Radiums with galaxy ballasts which would be close to the same wattage/amps or switch to 4 0r 5 luminarc minis and keep the 250 hqi's so that I could possibly get a little more room in the canopy for a decent light rack. Either way I get a little more room by eliminating one large luminarc or switching to the minis. I was thinking all the totm's use 400's and that way I have three openings in my tank so it would be most efficient running 3 400 watt Radiums. Whatcha think? Heat be an issue or the same?

Pic of the top of the tank....

Picture of the tank....

 

[Yinger]

hey clint, how about 250w radiums on HQI ballasts?

 

[saurus]

Yes, the plan is to go to Radiums regardless but was either going to switch to luminarc minis (stay with 250watt hqi's) or go to 400 watt with electronic ballasts which are more efficent. I know the radiums look thier best running at 400 watts. Since most of the rock and corals are in the middle of the tank, I thought the minis or 400 watters would direct more light where it is necessary. I could either raise up the 400 watters (removing one of the luminarcs) and get good penetration or the luminarc minis would give me more room in the hood and direct light where it is needed.

 

[PasadenaReefer]

Hey clint, i came with my friend Sam to buy the rocks from you that one time! Your tank looks way different in that picture than it did in person but it looks great. Im not pro or anything but i would go with the 3 400 watts.

 

[JeffersonReef]

From what I understand, 400's would be a significant increase in heat and electic costs. the minis would give you a more focused/concentrated "beam"... GL! Tank looks awesome.

 

[Bebo77]

clint.. why not run 2 250's ( on each end)and 1 400 in the middle of the tank where most of your coral is anyways...

 

[faded1004]

yea, i am for the concentrated center.... i use 2 x 250 for my center and t5's for full tank illumination... then t12 for actinic kick...

try out upgrading the center... may not cost too much and will give you a taste of the higher power with out breaking the bank?

 

[ejocam]

Clint so are you running 250's in the Large Luminarcs now? If so that may be part of the problem. They seem to be more efficient in the Mini's and the 400's in the Large Lumi's. This has been my observation. For a 6' tank 4 min's worked great. If you are an 8 footer then 1 more mini 250 should do some justice.

 

[saurus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11022630#post11022630 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PasadenaReefer
Hey clint, i came with my friend Sam to buy the rocks from you that one time! Your tank looks way different in that picture than it did in person but it looks great. Im not pro or anything but i would go with the 3 400 watts.

Hey, thanks.. Ya, it is an older picture. I did alot of reaquascaping and removed alot of the softies. I haven't taken any new shots. Also, lost all my montis due to some nasty "bug". How's your buddies tank doing?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11025049#post11025049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JeffersonReef
From what I understand, 400's would be a significant increase in heat and electic costs. the minis would give you a more focused/concentrated "beam"... GL! Tank looks awesome.

Thanks for the comment. I wasn't sure if the 400's would generate more heat. Right now I think the helios run at around 280-290 watts a piece on the hqi ballast. If I removed one luminarc and switched to 400's the wattage would be close (4 250's=1160 watts - 3 400's =1200 watts) but would the 400's create more heat?

 

[EmDy]

yeah...400 will create more heat but if you have proper cooling then no worry there. I upgraded from 250 to 400 2wks ago...the 400 increase about 2 degree for 5hrs light with 4 4''fan blowing.

 

[saurus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11025142#post11025142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
clint.. why not run 2 250's ( on each end)and 1 400 in the middle of the tank where most of your coral is anyways...

I think Eric nailed it. It seems like the 250's may be more effective in the minis. It would be more cost effective, energy wise, if I switched to the 400's because I would only be running 3 instead of adding another 250 watt hqi making it a total of 5 (1400+or- watts ouch). I'm just not sure if 3 400's would be enough for the 8 feet.

 

[EmDy]

I have 2 mini on 5 ft so 3 on 8 ft is fine...as long as you have them high enough for spread.

 

[xtm]

I vote for the 250's on the side and a 400 on the center. How can you run 4x250's? Wouldn't you end up with one pendant directly on top of the acrylic brace? (which is bad..)

 

[Bebo77]

do what i am going to do.. 2 250 on the outside( one on either side of the 400w) and 1 400 in the middle on a light mover... with t5'/ VHO's to fill in the "gaps"

same power plus you get a 400 in there...

 

[saurus]

Gab, are you going to do the regular luminarcs or the minis?

 

[Bebo77]

well now that Eric said that about the Mini's.. ill guess ill run 2 mini's and 1 "normal" Lumenarc III

 

[saurus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11026802#post11026802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtm
I vote for the 250's on the side and a 400 on the center. How can you run 4x250's? Wouldn't you end up with one pendant directly on top of the acrylic brace? (which is bad..)

I have run 4 250 for the past 3 years with no issues. They lights are about 10" off the top and the center braces show no ill effects. I just figured if I went to the 400's then it might be an issue which is why I would only use 3. I don't know if I swithed to the minis if they would generate more heat on the braces.