We need further help on our decision please

[fishborn]

It seems to be a tossed up between 250 and 400 watts MH bulbs for I been viewing through the threads and so I now believe that I would like to have a vote on it too what if we would have 250 watts MH or 400 watts.

The tank is a 240 (8x2x2) and will have at least a 3" DSB. A while ago we had changed our thoughts over to 4x 400 watts MH and if 4x 250 would do well for SPS corals with clams, we would like to hear from more people who are doing just this.

So please help within this question with your vote to what you believe
jeff>

 

[RichConley]

3x250 SE in Lumenarc A3s or LumenMax reflectors is what I would suggest.

24" isnt deep enough that you need 400s, unless you're gonna run 20Ks.

 

[ObscurityKnocks]

Ditto Rich's comment

 

[Ewan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8288413#post8288413 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
3x250 SE in Lumenarc A3s or LumenMax reflectors is what I would suggest.

24" isnt deep enough that you need 400s, unless you're gonna run 20Ks.

I agree with Rich. Aftering seeing the Lumenarc in person, I'm a believer! They really throw some light.

You can already taste the savings! 3x250's will give you a lot of real estate to grow some nice corals.

-Rob

 

[REEF-DADDY]

I am going to be the dissenting opinion here. My tank is a 280 6x3x2. I ran 3x250 and could not get the combo of intensity and color I needed to have decent coverage in the Narcs. I found the 250 bulbs that put out decent par to be too yellow, and the 250 bulbs that had good color to lack intensity. With 400 watt bulbs I can use an xm20k and get the same intensity as the xm10k 250 bulb. Check out the wattage calculator I bet you'll be surprised at the difference. I found the difference for me was about 10 per month to switch 2 of my bulbs to 400w I do think you'll be fine with 3 bulbs if your using the narcs, espcially with the 400w

 

[nwrogers]

I love my 400w bulbs! fishborn if you can afford to cool the tank IMO 400w is the way to go. You will probably need a chiller so the electricity will be higher but you will be able to choose from many more bulbs and still get good growth. You will never find the answer you are looking for because no one can agree on what is the best method. Why? Because either 250w or 400w would be a good choice you can have a beautiful tank with either. Here is something to think about. We believe there is point where a coral cannot use any more par/light than we are giving it. What that amount is we don’t really know. Can you give coral too much light? Yes. Can you give coral too little light? Yes. What it the best bulb to choose? Who knows!!! You can error by having too much light or too little light. Flip a coin and go for it. There is no wrong answer here because no one really has any hard facts just beliefs. I believe my 400w bulbs are great! I used them on a 21” tall tank and had no problems except heat. I used 20k and I have a friend that uses 14k both tanks had exceptional color. The one thing you may want to avoid is 400w 10k bulbs. So the real question is will you use 10k bulbs? If the answer is 10k than get the 250w bulbs. If the answer is 12k, 13k, 14k, or 20k than get the 400w bulbs. If you can’t decide on the color temperature you want to use go with 14k to start with and then go up or down from there. You like many including myself have had this same dilemma. Remember either choice is equally as good and no matter which one you choose you can give yourself a pat on the back and say good job!

 

[Serioussnaps]

theres more to it than wattage...reflectors? bulb brand? bulb temp rating? i mean if you want just a general answer i would say why not 2 400's and 2 250's a mixture of sorts? but you need to specify some more things if people want to give their best opinion

 

[Wiskey]

I say you only need 400W if you want to go with one of the really high K bulbs, like 20K, if you are going with 10 or 14K then you will be fine with 250's.

Whiskey

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8289355#post8289355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
I say you only need 400W if you want to go with one of the really high K bulbs, like 20K, if you are going with 10 or 14K then you will be fine with 250's.

Whiskey

Exactly, if you like your tank that toilet-duck-blue, then you need the 400w'ers. If you like it white, then 250s will more than do the job.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

toilet-duck-blue lol

Then 10k is pee yellow!

 

[blstravler]

I run 3 10K 400's over my 180 and my corals love it, I find it allows me to put corals any where in my tank and get great growth and color. You just need to be careful where you place corals that don't do well in high intense light. Also it allows my to use any bulb I want and not have to worry. Where as if I had gone with 250's I don't think I would have had good result is I used 20K bulbs.

All though recently I have been thinking about putting 6 175's over my tank and doing a mix of 10 and 20K bulbs. But I don't think I will get good lower tank covergae with 175's...

 

[fishborn]

Now the majority of people living near me says with having SPS corals and clams that I would be better off with 400 watts and if one was to ask me in this, one could beat their brains out> LOL

nwrogers, we are to have a chiller for one has to be a little nuts I guess if they had so strong lighting system and would only have over heating problems a long with coral bleaching. I also agree with you on that not all would agree to either lighting for its the same thing when I see those with eels and so many of the people are doing different things.

I send one time, I not remember the person name and they eels he owns are beautiful and his water in some the pictures from what I can remember were crystal and there was something else as well, he saved one of his eels from dying on him due from a mishap which occurred in the tank that the large body of his eel has caused the live rocks to moved or something.

We are as well interested in a moray tank, we cannot make up our minds to what type of eel and myself, I been trying to locate this person to talk with him about eels. I'm just sorry that I cannot remember his name.

nwrogers, I'm also reading through some of the threads here in SPS corals and had noticed many having to little light or not enough which makes me believe that perhaps 400 watts MH lighting system might be our ticket for our family`s tank.

Serioussnaps, we are to keep in this 240 SPS corals with clams>
From what blstravler is also saying, it sounds as for what I will need for the most lighting is 400 watts>

So with the knowing fact that we like to have SPS corals and clams, and I'm sorry that I failed to mention this before, what would you people agree too?
jeff>
Thanks All

 

[Serioussnaps]

i say do 400 and 250......400 W 20K's and 250 W 10 K's

 

[pledosophy]

I like the 14K bulbs myself. Just sayin.

No idea on what is best watt wise for your tank.

 

[MiddletonMark]

I'd go with 250's.
With good water quality and clarity, IMO you don't need any more intensity.

 

[auto_loader]

I voted for the 250W because I use 10K bulbs in my tank. But if you go with 14K or 20K bulbs then I would have voted for the 400W. It would be helpful to know what K bulb you are planning to use.