Alright! My new 65..Hey there's a center brace, doh!

[Naturebatslast]

Excellent, I just picked up my new 65gal which I plan to do some SPS with a clam or two, and, DOH!, there's a center brace. This changes my lighting to one metal halide to two. My question, the tank is 2 feet deep and I planned one 250MH and 2 VHO actinics. Now with that center brace...would 2, 175watt MH, with 2 actinic VHO be enough, or not penetrate enough to the bottom? Or, would I have to go with 2, 250 watt MH. I'm try to keep down my electricity use, so I'm more attracted to 2, 175's -350watts plus compared to 500watts plus. Would anyone care to comment?. Thanks, NBL

[Naturebatslast]

This may be in the wrong forum.

[Naturebatslast]

But I'll bump anyway NBL

[boxfishpooalot]

I seen a big 500gal display at the lfs. Its 24" deep with 250 watt 14k hamilton bulbs on it. Seems to penetrate to the bottom fine. The halides, im guessing are most likely about 8" from the water surface though. On your tank, if no chiller is included I suspect you will need to raise the halide higher to avoid temperature changes.

Apparently some people can grow sps corals with only t5 lighting! You may want to consider that. There is an amazing tank somewhere here with only t5's. :) But, he uses zeo. So it may fool us into thinking that the corals are getting enough photosythesis from lights, when they may infact be consuming the bacteria that zeo helps create. So, they may use less light while eating more....

Id get the halides. 175

[6-line]

I have the 65 with the center brace and questioned whether or not I had to run two halides and I quickly decided to. I run 2x250 watters and the two vho 3' bulbs (actinic). I believe if you want to something near the bottom of the tank I'd stick with the 250s but if you just planned on LPS and softies then 175s would be enough.
The difference in electrical consumption between the two different wattages is minimal...

[donfishy76]

I have this same tank, a 3 ft 65 with center brace, and 2X175 Mh bulbs works great. Everything grows fast and the whole tank is bathed in light! Awesome way to do it.

[hdyoung]

I have a fairly new 65 with T5 lighting only. Several of the soft corals had to be moved to the bottom because they were getting fried. When all 6 bulbs are on, it lights the entire room up.

I added a bunch of SPS fragments a few weeks ago, and they all seem to be adapting well and growing. I feed with typical blender much and dose kalk, thats about it.

[fe342185]

This is my tank and I use only one 250W DE 14k. I have some SPS but I like the looks of softies. I thinks its more than enough light.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3800865_Gal_Center_Brace_Canopy.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3800865_Gal_Center_Brace_Canopy_2.jpg