Metal halides for 180 but will grow to 400?

[vtec si]

Hello,

I have a question about metal halides for a 180gal 72x24x24 that will be transfered to my new 450 gal 96x36x30 when our addition is done. My question is if I get three 250 watt 10k or 15k can I use them on my 450 gal? Will it be enough or do I need 450 watt? I plan on having a 6" deep sand bed so I figure that the light would have to penetrate 23 to 24 inches of water to reach the bottom. The metal halides will be supplmented by 4 160 watt attinc VHOs. I have 8 on the 180 now.

Any advice will help ;;

Thaks,

Martin

[zhenya]

Hello,

I have a question about metal halides for a 180gal 72x24x24 that will be transfered to my new 450 gal 96x36x30 when our addition is done. My question is if I get three 250 watt 10k or 15k can I use them on my 450 gal? Will it be enough or do I need 450 watt? I plan on having a 6" deep sand bed so I figure that the light would have to penetrate 23 to 24 inches of water to reach the bottom. The metal halides will be supplmented by 4 160 watt attinc VHOs. I have 8 on the 180 now.

Any advice will help ;;

Thaks,

Martin

Martin,

I think it will all depend on what exactly you intend on keeping in that tank. If you intend on keeping so-called SPS corals I think 400w bulbs will be the best option, considering size of the tank. I have not heard of the 450 watt bulbs as yet, perhaps I'm out of the loop and missed it but the last I've heard it was either 400 watts or the big jump to a 1000 watt bulbs and nothing in between those two numbers. ;)

i think if you'll keep softies, mostly, then 250's or even 150 watters will do the job. FWIW.

[vtec si]

Hi Gene,

I ment 400 watt, I have 450 gallon on the brian !

I will be keeping mostly LPS and a few SPS NO SOFTIES! they are like weeds YOU WANT SOME! I am going to take my weed eater to them if I don't find a home soon for them!

Martin

[dougc]

250 watt DE bulbs with good reflectors will penetrate to the bottom of the tank, but 400 watters might give you more spread over a big tank. A 250 only effectively light a 2'x2' area.

[vtec si]

Thanks Doug,

I knew that the 250 watt would do 2'x2' area! So what will the 400 watts cover?

Martin

[charlie]

The 400w single ended bulb will cover the same 2x2 area. They do make a 400w DE bulb now that is supposed to cover a 2x3 area. I believe it is PFO that makes them, and they are supposed to be driven by a HQI ballast. The bulb is a 20K radium. HTH

[kevinpo]

The new 400W double-ended bulbs cover about 36"x28"x36" deep. For any tank 24" deep (or more) with high light SPS corals I recommend 400W bulbs.

Regards,
Kevin

[vtec si]

So what I'm understanding is that I should do 400w min 250w?

Should I have 3 or do I need 4 bulbs?

Martin

[charlie]

I'd go with 4 400w lites, that way when you upgrade, you'll be pretty much set up. You can stash the extra bulb until the big tank gets set up. Go with 2 dual ballasts and you'll be happy!!

[vtec si]

Any recommendations on dual ballast?

Martin

[kevinpo]

I would go with a couple of PFO HQI dual 400W ballasts. 3 - 400W bulbs will work fine on a 6' tanks but when you go to the 8' tank you will need 4 bulbs.

Regards,
Kevin

[vtec si]

What bulbs in 250w and 400w wuold one recommend? I do like a little more blue than yellow.

Martin

[Reefland]

It really depends. I think the best fit for a tank that is using actinic supplementation would be 10k's but for someone not using an actinics (like myself) the 20k's might be a better choice, even though they are not the higher producing bulb for PAR.

[charlie]

If ya like blue, go with the 20K's. They do put out 14k and 15k lites also, which are less blue. I know from experience (personal) that if you drive a 20k with the hqi ballast that kevin suggested, it seems almost to be a real crisp white. HTH

[vtec si]

One last qustion. Which sponsors has the best deal on bulbs?

Thanks,

Martin

[TROY182]

I have 3 400 watt bulbs over my 315 that is 36 inches deep and light penetrates just fine. If I where you I would go with at least 4 250 or 400 watt halides. If power is a consideration go 250 with that deep sand bed and you should be fine.

PS Hope you live up north or are planning a chiller 3 400's heat my water pretty good and if i do not keep my house at 70 than my tank can easily climb to 83F

[vtec si]

I have 3 400 watt bulbs over my 315 that is 36 inches deep and light penetrates just fine. If I where you I would go with at least 4 250 or 400 watt halides. If power is a consideration go 250 with that deep sand bed and you should be fine.

PS Hope you live up north or are planning a chiller 3 400's heat my water pretty good and if i do not keep my house at 70 than my tank can easily climb to 83F

TROY,

I live in Colorado and I keep the house at 67 with my a/c in the summer. my tank stays about 79-80 deg when all the VHOs are on. Will I need a chiller if I switch 3 400 watt MH?

Martin

[TROY182]

You will probably need at least a few fans to make the most of evaporative cooling but Gosh I wish I had gone the way of a chiller. I really wish I had drilled through the floor of my house a located a chiller in the crawlspace under my house. It would have aslo made it so that the pump would be down there. Much Quiter. Just my regrets

TROY,

I live in Colorado and I keep the house at 67 with my a/c in the summer. my tank stays about 79-80 deg when all the VHOs are on. Will I need a chiller if I switch 3 400 watt MH?

Martin