Couple ??'s

[Wildeone]

I have a 65G mainly softie tank that has been up and running for almost 2 years. I am currently running 4x96W compacts, and I am considering upgrading to MH units, so I can play with the stoneys, and possibly enjoy a clam.

I am not very educated on the MH units, what is good to buy, what is not so good, double ended vs single, etc. I also am not sure if it would be best to purchas a package like the CurrentUSA Orbit or build my own canopy. Also, what size bulbs and what K? I have a brace in the middle of my tank, so I assume I would need to get 2 lights total to look right.

Does anyone have any advice or links to point me in the right direction? Any help would be appreciated.

[Wildeone]

Would somthing like this be good? How far above the tank?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1294675

[cl2ysta1]

i think with 250w halides you should be able to keep anything you want in a 65 top to bottom. How deep is it?

standard 65?

If you go with 175s you'll just have to keep your softies on the bottom and your high light corals on the top

[hollback]

If you do decide to go SE 250w I have a dual ballast here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1288873)

[Wildeone]

Will I have to relocate all of my softies if I go to MH?

[cl2ysta1]

hard to say. I have all of my softies high in the tank. You would probably have to light acclimate them. You can do this by starting the MH's up high and slowly lowering them week by week

[cl2ysta1]

another thing. if they arent moveable *in a canopy* you can just cut down on your lighting schedule. meaning 4 hours will probably be enough light for the day. and you can slowly move up your lighting time

[uztaryn]

I think moving to MH is a very smart move. I don't run all that many sps corals; however, all my softies and lps love the mh's. If you have the room you can save a ton of money by buying a ballast, reflector, and bulb. I would say 250w SE is plenty for your type of setup. As for the leathers, they will all be fine up high. Just start the pendants higher and bring them down or get some egg crate and stack it 2 or 3 deep and just remove 1 piece per week or something like that. You can also work with the time of light as stated before.

Good luck.

[Wildeone]

Its a standard 65. How far off the tank do you typically hang pendants? I have ever had a heat issue, as the tank is in the basement.

[uztaryn]

I would say normally you would hang them 8-14 inches depending on the depth of the tank.

[MarineFishGuy]

I have a friend with a 65g and he runs a single 250w MH.
He has mostly softies, but used to keep clams too. (A snail infestation wiped them out unfortunately).

I recently added a single 250w MH to my tank, but I also have 4 110w VHOs (3 actinic, 1 white).
I do some dark spots in the tank anda few shadows here and there, but I think it almost looks more natural that way (like a real reef would).
So far my softies are doing well under the MH. I have one toadstool leather who is high up and has not been opening fully, but he has always been temperamental like that.

I have a custom canopy and mounted my MH about 10 inches above the water. It actually sits directly above my brace, but I am using a Lumenarc style reflector so I still get very good coverage.

If you make your own hood, you can start with 1 MH and add a second one later if find you want/need more light/coverage.

250w seems to be the sweet spot for MH lights all around. I also like Single Ended over Double Ended bulbs personally.

These are my thoughts, but I am a newb to MH.
HTH,
Ken

[coralreefer2110]

Wildone,
I made the "leap" from PC to MH a couple of years ago and all my softies did well. I was very cautious to start with a shorter photoperiod and increase gently. About 1/2 per week. As for the relocation I am sure the softies will do fine with light but be cautious as not all SPS/LPS will do well in close proximity to softies and space near the top of the tank may become cramped. Just my opinion though, hope it helps a little...

[Wildeone]

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up picking up these http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...hreadid=1294675 for $330 plus shipping. They seemed like a good price from what seems like a very reputable reefer.

I liked the idea of having it all done, just hang em and go. One ??, if i want to go to 250 with this setup can I just get a dual 250 ballast and change bulbs (and rework the ends of the cables)?