Lighting options for my 265G

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orchidsnfish

I am debating some different options as far as lighting for the new tank. Currently I have a dual 250W PFO ballast and 2 X 250 W ARO elec. ballasts. So I have 4 X 250W in all. I am considering either:

1) Keep these ballasts and run 3 X 250W with Luminarc III's (I dont think four would fit in the canopy with the LAIII's being so big) My concern with this is that 750W of MH will not be enough. It would also have 2 X 160W actinic VHO's which would be 1070W total.

2) Replace my existing ballasts with 400W ballasts. I would like to do a triple 400W ballast but the only one I can find is http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=015&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=250067096097&rd=1&rd=1 which Im not too sure about since I havent used or heard of the manufacturer before. If I go this route I will not be buying the Luminarcs. At least not right now. Another thing Im worried about is massive heat in the tank and in my house, electric bills, etc.

Which option would you go with? Would the three 250's with LAIII's be enough? Can the LAIII's offset the decreased total wattage?

Thanks
Angela
 
Anglea,
How deep is the tank and what are you planning on keeping? I've got a pair of lumenarcs 250w in my 120 and they are plenty bright.
 
Tank dimensions are 84" long by 23" deep by 31" tall. I plan on keeping LPS, SPS, and clams mainly. I want to be able to keep a variety of things and dont want the lighting to limit my choices. The main goal is more SPS and to keep the SPS I already have happy.

Thanks
Angela
 
You keeping a sand bed? I think with a 31" tall tank, you might need to go with the 400 watters. Of course, you could go with the 250s and just keep your sps on top.
 
sunlight supply has a nice pendant you can use and have room for 4 of them I think. Not sure you can get the penatration you need, so sandbed, or keeping SPS higher in tank would work if you don't want to switch to 400's
 
3 will be plenty with the Luenarcs. You will be fine with 250s assuming you stick to high PAR 10ks (XMs, USHIOs, etc). If you want to run 20ks or 12k refflux, 14k phoenix or something like that and keep clams and acros on the bottom 400s would be safer. I would just stick with what you have though if it were me for all the reasons mentioned (cheaper, less heat, less electricity,etc).
 
Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to stick with the 250W since I already have them and get the luminarc reflectors. I want to keep the SPS high in the tank anyway. I will be running 10K bulbs with actinic supplementation. Couldnt I add another 2 160W VHO's since I only have 2 on a IceCap 660? I do like the bluer look but I have changed from 20K radiums recently and seen so much growth so I do think 10K's are the way to go.

I'm so excited!

Thanks
Angela
 
i was just checking into the 660 this morning - from what i recall it powers only 2 - 72" vho's or 4 - 48", not sure on the 60s but i think it's 3
 
i was just checking into the 660 this morning - from what i recall it powers only 2 - 72" vho's or 4 - 48" said:
Yes, the IceCap 660 will power up to 16ft of bulbs in a combination of 2 (72") or 3 (60") or 4 (48") bulbs.

Doug
Click to expand...
 
I think 3 250's in the lumenarcs would be the way to go. I've working on a 6' wide by 4' front to back tank (33" deep) and will be going with only 2 400w in the lumenarcs. Plus some VHO. From reading Sanjays thread on RC he used only used 3 MH lights over his 8' wide tank, in the lumenarcs, of course.

I plan to just aquascape around the lighting, and leave the front 12" of the tank open.

In case your interested, this is the cheapest I've been able to find them for so far.

http://www.reeftanksupply.com/product_info.php?products_id=443

If anyone knows of a cheaper price, please let me know.
 
Mark and Angela,
Look on those police auction websites. From time to time they have those LA3 reflectors for sale. Good price too. Usually $30-40 per reflector.
 
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