150 or 250?

[reefngeek]

Im getting a 24inx24inx16in(lwh) rimless square tank and was wondering on suggestions for a ballast and reflector. On my current tank I have T5s so im new to MHs and am unsure if i should get a 150 watt ballast and reflector or a 250 ballast and reflector. Any suggestions?

[allsps40]

I have a 250 over my standard 40 breeder tank. It gives great coverage.

[Saltwatercoral2]

a 16 inch deep tank, 150 watts will be plenty. no need to run a 250 watter, unless you plan to hang really high,

[sirreal63]

You can do either, I run a single 150 on a 40x40x17and just took some par readings earlier this week...the right bulb, ballast and reflector combination can do wonders.

[Nanook]

I have a 30x30x12 frag tank and run dual 250 watt Phoenix bulbs over it. However, on a 24"x24" tank, a single bulb will work just fine.

[Dan49]

I'm going to be running 2 150 watt vipers [ as soon as my rock cooks] on my 40 gallon breeder I would think 250 watt might be a little strong

[profntbtr]

at 16"tall i'd use a 150. i have the same footprint, only in a cube. my 250 serves me perfectly, but it gets pretty hot.

[Chyendra]

I have a 24"x24"x18" deep tank and I run a 250w DE MH. It seems to be enough light for softies, zoas and LPS, but I sometimes wonder if it isn't enough for my SPS. I run a pheonix 14k DE w/ ARO electronic ballast and a simple parabolic reflector, just for reference.

[reefngeek]

I'm planning on having mostly SPS corals also does that change the playing field at all?

[reef_reis]

My tank is 24x24x16 too, I run 250 Giesemen MH, i think 150w with some LEDs or T5 should be awesome too.

[dzfish17]

I was just looking at the Lumatek dimmable, multi-wattage ballast in marine depots new catalog before I saw your thread. This would give you some options because you can use it for either 150w or 250w. I've never used them so I dont know if they're any good but something to consider.

[acro-ed]

Try the Iwasaki 15k 175 watters....they have more par then many of the 250s

[solitude127]

I used to run a single 150 on my 24x24x12 frag tank and got horrible PAR readings. 6" down in the center, I was barely in the 200s. I was using a Magnetic ballast, Phoenix bulb, and a lumen max 3 reflector.
My vote would be for the 250

[wineman]

Reef -n- Geek,

The Lumen Bright mini, would give you a very nice 24" x 24" foot print. Run it @ 250 w/ Radium bulb, will be plenty of light for SPS in only 18" of depth, and you will not need any other supplement.

[wineman]

Here is a link to a review from a few years ago, talking about how high to mount for best results:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-06/review/index.php

[sirreal63]

I used to run a single 150 on my 24x24x12 frag tank and got horrible PAR readings. 6" down in the center, I was barely in the 200s. I was using a Magnetic ballast, Phoenix bulb, and a lumen max 3 reflector.
My vote would be for the 250

Mike...something had to be wrong with the setup. I just tested the par on my 150 Radiums, Aqua Medic Cube HQI Ballast and a LAIII Mini, the results were greatly different than you had. I tested two bulbs, the 20K Radium, and an old 10K XDE, in the pic below, the fist number is the Radium and the second number the XDE 10K, if there is only one number, it is the Radium. The pic is poor, I had to over expose it a little to get the back to show up for the text, my old camera isn't up to the task.

40x40x17" Pentagon, rock arranged in a 24-30" cove. Most corals reside around the perimeter of the cove. Most of the corals are 18-20" in height from the bulb.

Par at the glass shield was 1200 for the Radium and 2200 for the 10K
Par at the water surface, 9" from the bulb, Radium at 780 and the 10K at 1900. The purple Milli is directly under the bulb.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/110%20DSA%20Pentagon/150Par.jpg
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To the OP, I would go with 250 watters, it leaves you with more options for tank upgrades in the future. I already have a 250 setup but in my case, I don't think I am going to need more PAR than my setup is giving me. Keep in mind that the ballast, bulb and reflector have a huge impact on what reaches the tank and how.
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[reefngeek]

Wineman is that pendent DE or SE?? Are radiums good bulbs? Any suggestions on a ballast to go with that pendent?

[OregonReefer]

My wife says bigger is always better... not sure what she ment by that

[reefngeek]

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=M3-LK1221&Category_Code=

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=20K-250WG&Category_Code=

http://premiumaquatics.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PA&Product_Code=SL-904328&Category_Code=


This is my decision so far. Good reviews on these products?

[sirreal63]

The ballast is not HQI...it is electronic and not good with Radium bulbs, go here...
http://www.aquacave.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=284 and think either the Reeflex Cube or Blue Wave, both are M80 and will drive you Radium correctly.