Metal Halide Question - 150W or 250W

S

sharko88

Okay here are the facts:

Tank is a custom tank which is between 50 and 55 gallons. Its dimensions are: 36"L x 18"W x 20"H.

I have a canopy on the tank that measures about 7" tall. I have a sand bed in the tank that is about 3" tall. This gives me a net height of 24" (7" air, 17" water).

Here is the Question:

I am going to make the move to Metal Halides so I can keep some SPS. Will 2 x 150W HQI's mounted 7" high be powerful enough for SPS corals (arcos, birdsnest, etc.) or clams on a 20" high tank with a 3" sandbed if the corals were on the top of the sand (mounted to a flat piece of rock)?

The reason I ask is because I don't want to fry the corals towards the top if I go with 2 x 250W.
 
Since the tank is only 36"L you could probably use 1 - 250w MH with a good reflector/actinics and be in good shape. IMO
 
The custom sounds like an oceanic 58 to me. I had a single de 250 over mine in a good reflector like Blide suggested and was able to keep sps, clams, etc.
 
one big lumenarc or lumenbright will cover that footprint. my frag tank is 36x24 and a big l3 covered the whole area and still bled off outside the tank
 
Well, he's talking about adding actinics to supplement his MH.

I've talked to you in your other thread. Since you have no center brace... You know what you could do? Go with a Phoenix 14k 250w MH and don't supplement. Of course, there are other choices like 20k bulbs that won't require actinic supplements too.

But definitely do not go 2x250w ... it will be too much. I'm warning you that under a canopy, you will have heat issues with any MH.

But just so you know, you do not need to supplement actinics with the right MH bulb.
 
yeah, I just posted this hear for some more exposure. After talking with a number of individuals, I am going to do the 2 x 150W HQI's with 2 x 39W T5 actinics. Thanks.
 
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