150 watts versus 250 watts?

[Pete Harcoff]

I currently have my 56 gallon (30x18x24") tank set up. I bought the 250 watt MH Aqualight Pro, but because of the noise issues I'm having with it, I'm thinking of swapping it for the 150 watt version (if it's quieter).

I'd originally gone with the 250 watt version because I didn't want to be limited in what I could have in my tank. But would the extra 100 watts make that much of a difference?

For what it's worth, I have a deep sand bed (about 4-5"), so that means the bottom of the tank is only 20" from the top. And the live rock is stacked to about 4" from the top of the tank.

Opinions? Advice?

[scrmbld33]

what kind of noise issues?

[Pete Harcoff]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6956376#post6956376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scrmbld33
what kind of noise issues?

The fan is quite loud, and it's also making a loud buzzing noise from the electrical stuff inside the hood. I think it's coming from where the wires are hooked up to the ignitor (or the ignitor itself, I don't know).

If it was just the fan, I'd rig up a DIY cooling solution, but the buzzing of the electrical is really annoying and something I don't know how to fix.

And I've tried contacting Coralife, but haven't heard back yet.

[Pete Harcoff]

*bump*

[bertoni]

You'll likely not be able to keep as many high-light animals with the 150 W setup, but you should be able to have a very nice tank, IMO. I am not sure that it's going to be any quieter, though. I would either return the unit or have it fixed.

[Pete Harcoff]

But for corals and anenomes that require a lot of light, would they still be able to survive at the top of the reef structure?

[bertoni]

Most likely. I wouldn't try any of the very high-light anemones, but most of them won't fit in that size tank anyway.

[Blackgagt1]

250 watt version electronic ballast?

[mg426]

I would attempt to contact them again. I mean you paid your hard earned $$$$$$$ for something that truly appears to not be working properly.

[tedmc2]

I'm not familiar with that fixture but IMO any light fixture is going to need a fan or 2. If your fixture has an internal ballast, that is likely what's making the buzzing noise and that should be able to be replaced.

I use 150w 10k MH on my 75 gal (48x18x20) and have had good luck keeping most SPS and a Maxima clam. I use Icecap 10k bulbs for the high PAR. The only draw-back I've seen is that a couple corals have not colored-up as nicely as they may have under more powerful lights or higher k levels.