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NoBigDeal
07/02/2010, 01:14 PM
400 watts of MH at 20k over a 30 gallon tank?

chimmike
07/02/2010, 01:15 PM
way, way overkill. 150w should be just about right.

400w over a 30g is just going end up being a tank heater.

insane
07/02/2010, 01:21 PM
400s are best on 24" or taller tanks with deep water.

teddyzaper
07/02/2010, 01:22 PM
dont want to steal the thread, but since im looking at the same thing just a different size i might as well save the hassle of makeing a thread.

i got a 50 gallon and i was wondering if 500 watts is overkill?

insane
07/02/2010, 01:30 PM
dont want to steal the thread, but since im looking at the same thing just a different size i might as well save the hassle of makeing a thread.

i got a 50 gallon and i was wondering if 500 watts is overkill?

What are the dimensions of the tank?

NoBigDeal
07/02/2010, 01:35 PM
What are the dimensions of the tank?

It's just your standard rectangular 30 gallon tank that you can purchase at any fish store.

way, way overkill. 150w should be just about right.

400w over a 30g is just going end up being a tank heater.

Well the ballast it runs off has a max and minimum adjustment switch. The max is 400 watts and the minimum I believe is 250. So if it's a huge overkill I can just run it at 250?

wrott
07/02/2010, 01:47 PM
It depends how high you mount it, and what color spectrum you want. I could see using a 400w Radium over a 30g 30' over the tank--it would give nice broad coverage.
But if closer, I would use 1 x 250w MH or 2 x 175w if the tank is 24" tall.

chimmike
07/02/2010, 01:53 PM
30" over the tank would cover the entire room, lol.

NoBigDeal
07/02/2010, 02:14 PM
30" over the tank would cover the entire room, lol.

Nah it wouldn't. I'll just lower the wattage a bit. It's a dimmable ballast.

http://www.tsunamiaquatic.com/catalog/item/2023381/2427547.htm

RobbyVonAwesome
07/02/2010, 02:47 PM
I had a 250w 15k xm bulb over a 30g long (36" long tank) and my corals LOVED IT. I ran the tank open top, and clipped a fan to the edge where it would blow across the water, but also keep the bulb as cool as possible. The bulb was about 18" above the tank. The only time I had a heat problem was when my fan failed. My tank got up to 86f. As long as the fan was blowing, it hovered around 80f.

NoBigDeal
07/02/2010, 03:15 PM
I had a 250w 15k xm bulb over a 30g long (36" long tank) and my corals LOVED IT. I ran the tank open top, and clipped a fan to the edge where it would blow across the water, but also keep the bulb as cool as possible. The bulb was about 18" above the tank. The only time I had a heat problem was when my fan failed. My tank got up to 86f. As long as the fan was blowing, it hovered around 80f.

What kind of corals were you growing under there?