Lighting for sps and T.Maxima clams

[RandyM]

I have a 120gal Berlin system reef that has been set up for 3 years.It has 200+ pounds of Fiji Liverock,and 150+ pounds of Livesand.I have LPS ,soft corals in there at the moment with all of the usual inverts.My lighting is a Custom Sealife Halide hood.It has 2 250watt 10k"s and 2 65watt pc"s actinics.In order to add SPS corals and T.Maxima and Crocea clams keep their very vibrant colors should i up grade my halides to 400 watt 10k"s instead of the 250"s???? Thank"s in advance.

[golfish]

Hi Randy,
Welcome to Reefland......I'm going to guess that yor tank is 24" tall x 24" wide x 48" long, right? Its really a tough call. Some will say yes, some will say no. I say you should be fine. You maybe able to switch over to the Iwasaki bulb. Then you will have all the light you need and can do it for under 120.00. The Iwasaki bulbs sells for 55-60 dolllars. I'm not familair with those ballast but I'm sure somebody here will be able to help you...

Mark

[scubadude]

Originally posted by golfish
I say you should be fine. You maybe able to switch over to the Iwasaki bulb.

Mark

I agree w/mark....at the most you will need to switch over to Iwasakis...Just try to accumulate the SPS and clams near the top. I dont see any reason to switch over to 400's unless you want to double your elec. bill and worry about heat issues (400's are nice but there is alot of baggage that comes w/them). And just as Mark said...I am assuming that your tank is only 24" deep.

[RandyM]

Thank"s Mark, and Scubadude
You"re right about my tank, it is 48x24x24.I am pretty sure i can use the Iwaski bulbs with the ballast i have.I checked out a few tanks with the Iwaski 65k"s on them ,and they also had the pc actinics that i also have.The Iwaskis will work excellent for me.The best part is the PAR is right up there also.Thank"s again.

[organicreefer]

imo,unless youre going "dedicated" sps ,and want to keep them top to bottom in youre tank,youre lighting should be fine for sps nearer the surface.jmo

[RandyM]

Organicreefer
For the most part i do want sps,and TMaxima"s from top to bottom.I just want to make sure i have the proper setup for what i want to keep.

[golfish]

how about swaping one of the 10k's for an Iwasaki................see how it goes

[PerryinCA]

I think the Iwasaki's would be great for that application. The custom sea life ballast has the same basic guts of the PFO or any other standard magnetic ballast. The 250w Iwasaki's have a good output, and are whiter than their 400w brethren. You shouldn't have too much trouble keeping SPS with the 10k, but you'll see better growth and less worry about placement with the Iwasaki.

Good luck!

-Perry