Lighting a 30" deep reef tank?

[tmc1313]

OK, I'm going with halides. This is going to be a mixed reef, with plenty of SPS (probably the majority). Should I go with two 250watt or two 400watt? I'm ordering this week, and I'm going with the "Hamilton Cayman Sun Reflectors", so please tell me what you guys/gals think. Thanks

[greg0385]

prob do 2-250watt, just my opinion

[GR214]

How wide is the tank?

[tmc1313]

It's a 144 half circle. Dimesions are L57.5" x 29" x 30".

[sasharotty]

Are the cayman reflectors de? If your set on 2 i would go se in a lumenarc III.And you could probably go with 250's.

[tmc1313]

Yes, the Hamiltons are DE fixtures.

[tmc1313]

Do you not think the DE have enough par?

[sasharotty]

Are you set on de's for a reason? Reason im saying if your only going to use 2 over a 5 ft tank the de's are kinda like spotlights whereas the se's have more spread.But you could keep sps under them and lower demanding coral to the outside if you use 250's.

[tmc1313]

No, I'm not set on them, but the top of the 144 is not fully open due to the frame. There is only an opening of 20" x 16" on either side of the cross bar. The Hamilton fixtures would fit nicely over these two openings. That's the only reason I was thinking about using them and they've gotten good reviews.

[jherrin215]

I'm glad you asked this question as I am planning on swapping out my 180 for a 225 that is 30 inches deep and just (2 weeks) finished building and installing my new hood containing 3 250 watt MH's. I was worried that the 250 at 30 inches might not be enough but it sounds like everyone here thinks it is.

[tmc1313]

So given my dimensions of where I can fit the lighting, would you go with the DE halides or the SE ones? I'm pretty sure that I'm going to go with two 250watts.

[GR214]

I will go with 2 350 watts DE suspended with lumenarc III nice set up a buddy of mine had one just like it.

[tmc1313]

Do you mean 2 250 watt?

[psusocr]

I have a 31" deep tank and i use 400 watters in lumenarc III's

[GR214]

Do you mean 2 250 watt?

lol yes sorry

[tmc1313]

I have a 31" deep tank and i use 400 watters in lumenarc III's

I was originally going to go with (2) 400 watters, but it seems most people think 250's are just fine also. Are you keeping alot of SPS at lower levels?

[psusocr]

I was originally going to go with (2) 400 watters, but it seems most people think 250's are just fine also. Are you keeping alot of SPS at lower levels?

Yes,I like the ability to keep sps or any corals for that matter at the bottom, to me it gives me more options, and the "tops" of my rockwork seem to get covered very quickly!! Honestly when looking at cost, it costs a few bucks more a month and a few more when replacing bulbs etc. but i figured i wouldnt regret it.

[tmc1313]

I understand what you're saying. Cost isn't my driving decision. I just don't want to "fry" anything that would be close to the top. That being said, I would like to start some SPS lower, (some staghorn species) and let them grow into some full branching colonies.

[psusocr]

In all honestly i notice when i get frags of sps from other people with T5's i will burn them if i mount them high, but they come right back within two weeks(thicker and nicer colors). When they come from 250 watt halide systems their fine anywere in my tank, and once again get a bit thicker of a coral

[tmc1313]

So from your experience, you don't see an issue using (2) 400 watters over (2) 250's?

[GR214]

only issue with have 2 400 watts is heat they put off it will get hot around the tank depending on where you have it this may be an issue and you will prob also want a chiller. If those are not factors for you than 400 watts may be the way to go.

[bwade209]

I had the same questions/concerns with my 300g and came across this article. I went with 3 Lumenbright reflectors powered with (2) 250 w ARO (1) 250 Coralvue Dimmable ballasts that run Radium 20Ks.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

I don't see any reason to go with 400's....they use more power and heat up the water. With the right reflectors, 250w should be more than enough.

[psusocr]

all in all i guess it just comes down to preference. I run 3x400watts with no chiller in a fish room

[bwade209]

all in all i guess it just comes down to preference. I run 3x400watts with no chiller in a fish room

+1 :thumbsup: This hobby is all about personal preferences. I run 250w because it's a little cheaper to run, bulbs are a little cheaper, it gets hot here in California and I don't have to run a chiller, and my tank is acrylic and I was worried about the braces on top getting too hot and warping...

[ericung]

AI SOL Blue x4:lolspin:

[tmc1313]

Heat is less of an issue with me. My tank is plumbed through the floor and into my basement (nice and cool). I guess if I go with the 400's, I would just have to monitor temp for awhile.

[tmc1313]

Hey everyone thanks for the suggestions and all the help. I'm going with two of the 400watt Hamilton Cayman fixtures with 14k bulbs. If I don't like the color I'm going to supplenment with actinic T5's.

[northbay-reefer]

I have a 30" deep tank and my lighting is 3-175 watt Iwasaki halides, t5 blue plus in the front and 1 VHO actinics in the back. This lighting configuration is very bright, much brighter than my original 250 radium and two VHOs but much less blue. This set up saved me about 200 watts of power.

If you aren't sure you can always buy those lumatek dial watt ballasts like I did so you can switch up to 250 if you need to.

[tmc1313]

Yes I thought about that to, but if I go that route, I would also have to purchase a fixture that had adjustable sockets if I decided to change wattage, no?

[Charlene]

What about the bulbs? I've heard 20k bulbs don't punch as deep as 12k. Any experts in this area?

[orientalexpress]

i run 3-400 watt hqi with radium bulbs on mine.The last thing i want to worry about is light.i guess one last thing to worry about.