48x24x18....175's or 250's

[Ereefic]

Would you use 175w MH OR 250w MH on a 48x24x18 SPS tank?

[Wiskey]

I got a light meater and was able to find out that 2*250 on my 48*12*18 with the bulbs 12 inches off the water, put out the perfect amount of light. If I had a tank of your size, I would drop the lights 6 inches lower and still be good off. But this is with XM 10K's.

Whiskey

[drock59]

250's no question.

[Ereefic]

If 250's then, how high would you mount them?

[Weatherman]

Depends on bulb type (SE or DE), color and reflector.

DE 10,000K Ushio or AB in a PFO Mini or Reefoptix III, I'd put the center of the bulb 10 1/2" above the water.

[Ereefic]

SE 10k Reeflux or XM in PFO Parallel Reflectors

[CaptiveReef]

I'm installing a 120 short 48wide 24deep 25high I'm going with 650 watts 20,000k MH, I'm also going to use 4-96 watt PC'S to recreate a Dawn-Afternoon-Dusk photo period.
The actinic bulbs will come on at 6:30am, then the 10,000k's will come on at 7:00am. The MH's will come on at 11:00 and the PC's will go off.
The MH's will go off at 7:00pm and then the actinic's will come on and then go off at 7:30pm.
Go with two 250's one for each 2ft of tank space, and keep them about 14 inches above the tank.

:D CaptiveReef

[merlock116]

250's because there are much more bulb choices

[my2girls]

Who uses 175s for an SPS tank? 250 or 400

[Jpharr]

I use 175's DE on my standard 75 gallon, and I have no complaints. All of my SPS are growing just as fast as those with 250's. My lights are probably 10 inches off the tank. I will agree, however, that bulb choices are limited. That to me is my only regret.

[my2girls]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6516663#post6516663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by my2girls
Who uses 175s for an SPS tank? 250 or 400

I didn't mean to disrespect any 175 guys/gals. When I read my post back it sounded negative.

[PL-Reef]

250 14k ....at least thats what i use.i love them

[Jpharr]

I didn't think anyone was being negative. I just wanted him to know that you can do it, but just beware of the bulb choices. No harm...no foul. Happy reefing

[tgranber]

Well what I dont understand is I thought you couldnt just use whatever you wanted.

Example- I have a 55G tanks. I have 2 175 watt lamps and 2 96 watt acitiinics. that is 542 watts to my tank. That is 10 watts per gallon.

If I did 250 then that would be 150 watts more total. Isnt that bad? that would be about 13 watts per gallon

[CaptiveReef]

All the suggestions are fine, It goes by tank depth and what are your choices in aquatic life. All aquatic life have requirements to thrive, the choice in lighting has to reflect on the aquatic life.


:D CaptiveReef

[joefish]

Yo Eric !

I was using the 150 DE's on my 58 that was 22" deep .

Now hows that for confusing ........:D

I think the 22" depth can go either way , Under I would use the 150's and over I would use 250's .


JMO from the peanut gallery .http://smilieshq.com/smilies/party0010.gif (http://www.smilieshq.com)

[fritzdawg21]

i vote for neither, put 400's on there and be done with it, the more the better!!!

[Ereefic]

400's are not an option.

[musty baby]

my god, I love your avatar ereefic

[manderx]

i'm doing a 3x3 and going to run 4 175s in luminarc minis. i'd love to be able to do 250s, but can't do the heat or the power draw in the new apartment. but i think it'll work out just fine. using luminarc minis so the spread and overlap from the other bulbs should make up for the lower wattage, plus i'm going to use the new iwasaki aqua2 bulb, which is apparently by the numbers as bright as many good 250w bulbs.

one of the best sps tanks (playfair) on the web is (or at least was the last time i saw of it) a 120 lit by 2 175s + vho.

[college429]

I have a standard 55 gallon reef ready AGA. I run two 175 watt SE XM 10ks and a 55 watt pc actinit. I have a mixed reef. I have run this succesfully for years with good growth.

I don't run a chiller, my max temp in the summer is about 83 degrees. I considered upgrading to 250s but feared I would then need a chiller. So your decision may include consideration as to whether you want the expense of a chiller.

[The Reefist]

I would go with Two 250 XM 15K and 4 110 VHO

[Kent E]

I have forgotten everything in the thread and I am too mezmerized by the avatar. I don't get it? what is happening there. :lol:

You may now resume.

[Kent E]

Always go 250s better bulb choices, like xm 10k. 175xm10k are green.

[Funky_Fish14]

I'd go with 400's, but thats just me, lol. I have 400's on my 75 which is the same size but 4 inches shallower.

Chris

[SunnyX]

Inlight of recent testing by Sanjay of the 175W Iwasaki 14k's,
I would go with the 175W.
In the test, the Iwasaki 14k's actually had higher PAR than quite a few 250W bulbs.
With only 18" of height, the 175W would fit the bill.

[want2reef]

Would be nice if Iwasaki came out with a 250W 14K bulb. :)