250 watt MH or 150 watt MH

[Lavish62]

I'am building a new rimless, 24 x 20 x 15 (L x W x H) and I don't know if a 250 watt MH will be too much for that set up. I'am going to kkeep sps in the tank and I didn't like the 70 watt MH set that I had. The sps did well in spots but it didn't seem like enough light.

Is the tank too low for that much wattage and will it end up bleaching the corals?

Would a 150 watt bulb be better?

Thanks

[fishieness]

I think you could get away with 250. I had one on my old 10 gallon that I set up with corals form my old 40 breeder once I took it down. My 40 had a 400 on it, so all the corals that I that I had did awesome. However, all the corals that I added from other people's tanks and from LFSs bleached out because there really was no where to put them off to the side to acclimate them. However, your tank is a little wider, so you may have a little more room put things away from the light and in the corner. But it is still something you may wanna think about.

[Lavish62]

thank you that makes me feel better.

[melanotaenia]

the 150W will probably be all you need for that depth

[El Camaron]

its doable but like melano said for that depth your better of with the 150 unless your going to suspend the 250 about 15 to 20 inches above the tank.

[xskyzx]

150w would be enough with that height

[YeahitsK]

18" deep or more you would want 250 W. 15" you can keep pretty much anything under a 150 W.

[Brent F]

150 would be enough. 250 would work well if it is exclusively SPS and clams.

I have a 250 MH over a 20 X 20 X 9 tank and everything is thriving

[Lavish62]

I appreciate all your responces

[Brent F]

Here's a picture of the 250 over the 9 inch deep tank
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/IMG_2170.jpghttp://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj252/Brent_F/IMG_2177.jpg

[Denadai]

My 40G has almost the same size ( 26*22*17 )

I went with 250W and four T5 24W actinic

In this picture I still not turn on the T5, just the HQI 14K

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6738/novolayoutbf3.jpg

[GPhiAce]

With that depth, I would go with a 150w and choose the bulb wisely. The bulb makes a big difference. You are going to get mixed reactions on this subject.

400w on a 40br??? How, I am impressed. I bet you had some nice corals. Put a 14k bulb on there and growth would be amazing. but anything new-- did it bleach alot??

[fishieness]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13164391#post13164391 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GPhiAce

400w on a 40br??? How, I am impressed. I bet you had some nice corals. Put a 14k bulb on there and growth would be amazing. but anything new-- did it bleach alot??
20000K radium with t5 actinics :P
I actually didn't get much bleaching. I would just acclimate it wisely. Since it was a wide tank for only 1 MH, i was able to place things to the side and then move them where I wanted. The only thing that beached REALLY bad was my rainbow monti, but when i moved it down it colored up again amazingly.
As I said, the only time i've had lots of bleaching problems is when I added anything to my 10 gallon with the 250 on it. it was also only 6 or so inches off the water... (it was a pendant so I had to make a ghetto canopy for it to fit in)

Lav: I also forgot to mention that I am now running the tank with a 150 on the 10 gallon, because as I said, most of the new things would bleach out...

[Lavish62]

I'm really on the fence with this, although i'm leaning towards the 150. i still don't know if thats enough, i think its just moderate light.

[Brent F]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13167136#post13167136 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lavish62
I'm really on the fence with this, although i'm leaning towards the 150. i still don't know if thats enough, i think its just moderate light.

If you are unsure you could go with the 250 and raise it higher if the light is too intense.

I, like you had a 70 over my tank. I had a couple clams and they were browning out. I upgraded from the 70 to the 250 and the colour came right back. Also, the SPS growth rate took off.

The main reason I went 250 over 150 is I needed a light quickly and all the LFS stock 250 only. All 4 shops I checked said that a 150 would be a special order item locally.

I was concerned with using 250 over a 9 inch deep tank. the downside of so much light is I am limited to clams and certain SPS only. The light is too intense for some SPS, all LPS, soft, zoas, mushrooms...

[Lavish62]

I think I will be happy with the 250, seems like it gives me more options. I might have to keep the light a little higher above the tank.

[Lavish62]

How long did you aclimate them under lower light before you put them under the more intence light?

[Lavish62]

Does anyone know who does all the light bulb tests and the links to them? The one with the pictures of the different tests.

[scapes]

http://chrismorris.ca/250wcolour/