New 180...do I need 400W lamps?

[mcoomer]

I just upgraded to a 180G from a 125. My old tank was 60X18X24 and I ran 2 250W lamps with two VHO's. The new tank is 72X24X24 but the canopy is considerably taller than my old tank. Including the height above water the lamps are 37" from the bottom of the tank and 27" from the center of my aquascape structure. I was thinking I would add two more 250W lamps but now I'm thinking I should stick two 400W lamps in there. BTW...I'll be keeping SPS on the rocks with some lobos, scolys, acans, etc along the bottom on the sand.

Let me know what you think.

Mike

[Fig]

250's will work. Maybe consider better reflectors if you haven't already? LumenBrights?

[Haddonisreef]

I have 3x250 w/ lumanarc minis and everthing is happy also have acans scolys sps lps you name it. I run 2 3' reefbrights for actnic lights! You should be fine unlessyou want to jusp up your electric bill!:)

[PelagicMagic]

I have dual 400w se with the luminarc mini reflectors. My sps are fine but I think its too much for my LPS. I have had several LPS corals bleach out. I am thinking about going to dual 250's next bulb change. I hope the sps keep their color.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w182/squaretop1/fulltankshot6.jpg

[mcoomer]

So, drop a couple of 250's in there and call it good? I can do that...

Thanks all,
Mike

[reef_doug]

I have 3 x 250w on my 180 (6x2x2). Works great!

[Cultivatedcoral]

We run 14x T-5 Aquactinics Constellation over our 180g and have no problems keeping SPS color looking excellent.

[Stanley-Reefer]

3 Hamilton Reestars-250w over my 175; If I had a square 180, I'd squeeze 4 of them in there esp if you have a large glass brace in the center.

http://i49.*******.com/xu3vd.jpg
http://i47.*******.com/2lw9idz.jpg

MH are phoenix

[sminker]

on my 180G ive got 2x400 watt with coralvue ballasts and lumenmax elites about 20" above the surface. I like this, i can put LPS, acans, low light SPS on the outskirts and not worry about bleaching. I also run 4x80 watt T5's about 18" above the surface with 2 Blue+, Fiji Purple and a Aquablue special.

[LifeAquatic]

I have a 180 gal 60x30x24. Had two 250wt in a hamilton belieze reflector. It didnt cut it. Needless to say hamilton belieze reflectors are not to good for a 30" wide tank. Thankfully my new Stfiligoi XR6 pendant showed up yesterday!! Its in 400wt model but the ballast are fully dimable. I have the option set max power on the ballast so I can turn it down in my acans start frying. Im using the ACLS ballast if not farmiliar with stfiligoi products.


Anyway, 37" is pretty far from the tank bed. My 250's are prob 30" away from the tank floor and they are pretty maxed out. Tuff call on this.. Minimum three 250 wt with good reflector or 2 400wt should work great.

[mcoomer]

I just PM'd a guy about a dual 250 setup with a Blue Wave 7 ballast and pendants. He's local so I should hear back from him soon. If it works out I'll ditch the pendants and go with moguls sockets and run 20K Radiums in there with 14K Ushios in my PFO mag ballast.

Mike

[mcoomer]

Looks like I just bought a dual 250W HQI ballast. Sweeeeeet!