210 g tank, how much MH watts?

dngspot · 04/08/2007, 06:59 PM

I am setting a 210 g tank. I do not want light to be a problem in the future, for any coral. I will be using 4 72" vho actinic bulbs from the old system. I was planning on using 3 400 watt MH but would like to know if this is over kill with the vho, or should I use 250 watt mh? The tank is 6 feet long.

MercZ · 04/08/2007, 08:03 PM

Unless you are dead set on the MH I would seriously consider using T5's. You could do a nice IC retro and get more light with less watts and a cheaper power bill. Not to mention it looks really nice with T5's and VHO actinics. Since you already have the VHO's just use 2 of the 36" 4 bulb retro's or even 6 bulb retro if they fit. Then you could just use Aquablues, Blue+'s and AquaSuns. You would get better penatration and equal light coverage.

anydarnthing · 04/08/2007, 08:51 PM

I have a 220gal with a Current 3x250W Mh and 8x39W T5's and I have had no problems with any type of corals and I have 10 clams in the tank growing and thriving. In my opinion you don't need the 400W MH but in this hobby better safe then sorry hope that helps.

danskim · 04/08/2007, 09:05 PM

T5 or 250w MH is fine.

Jasonincuritiba · 04/08/2007, 09:14 PM

The problem with T5's is that they don't come in 72" lengths so you have to either be short with a 60" or two 36" for full tank length coverage. So you are looking at 16 to 20 bulbs for full coverage.

If you like the 20k look then run three 20k Radiums 400watt SE, otherwise three 14k 250watt DE bulbs at eithe

dngspot · 04/09/2007, 06:24 PM

I will be using 3 400 watt MH with 4 160 watt actinic vho bulbs. No problems with lighting in the future. I think that this will solve any problem that I might have.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/09/2007, 06:31 PM

With the 29" of heighth you need to penetrate i'd go with 3x400's or a center 400w and side 250's.(i ran 3x400's in my old 210g)
If you don't mind losing the shimmer and hot spots of high par near the surface, then quality T5's would work well also.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 04/09/2007, 06:32 PM

Oops, didn't see your last post.

04/08/2007, 06:59 PM	#1
dngspot Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 851	210 g tank, how much MH watts? I am setting a 210 g tank. I do not want light to be a problem in the future, for any coral. I will be using 4 72" vho actinic bulbs from the old system. I was planning on using 3 400 watt MH but would like to know if this is over kill with the vho, or should I use 250 watt mh? The tank is 6 feet long.

04/08/2007, 08:51 PM	#3
anydarnthing Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha Posts: 657	I have a 220gal with a Current 3x250W Mh and 8x39W T5's and I have had no problems with any type of corals and I have 10 clams in the tank growing and thriving. In my opinion you don't need the 400W MH but in this hobby better safe then sorry hope that helps. __________________ No good deed goes unpunished... Current Tank Info: 240gal softy Reef, 220gal Reef, 29gal Nano reef, 75gal holding tank, H&S A200 3xF2001 & A250 2x1260, 2x 72" Current Orbit 250W MH actinic T5's. Geo Calcium Rx.

04/08/2007, 09:05 PM	#4
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	T5 or 250w MH is fine. __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

04/09/2007, 06:24 PM	#6
dngspot Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 851	I will be using 3 400 watt MH with 4 160 watt actinic vho bulbs. No problems with lighting in the future. I think that this will solve any problem that I might have. __________________ A real man builds it... Then his wife shows him what he did wrong. Current Tank Info: 210 RR, 75G sump, 350lbs DIY rock, DIY dual chamber calcium reactor, 7500 gph flow

04/09/2007, 06:31 PM	#7
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	With the 29" of heighth you need to penetrate i'd go with 3x400's or a center 400w and side 250's.(i ran 3x400's in my old 210g) If you don't mind losing the shimmer and hot spots of high par near the surface, then quality T5's would work well also. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

04/08/2007, 08:03 PM	#2
MercZ Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: California Posts: 117	Unless you are dead set on the MH I would seriously consider using T5's. You could do a nice IC retro and get more light with less watts and a cheaper power bill. Not to mention it looks really nice with T5's and VHO actinics. Since you already have the VHO's just use 2 of the 36" 4 bulb retro's or even 6 bulb retro if they fit. Then you could just use Aquablues, Blue+'s and AquaSuns. You would get better penatration and equal light coverage.

04/08/2007, 09:14 PM	#5
Jasonincuritiba Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 240	The problem with T5's is that they don't come in 72" lengths so you have to either be short with a 60" or two 36" for full tank length coverage. So you are looking at 16 to 20 bulbs for full coverage. If you like the 20k look then run three 20k Radiums 400watt SE, otherwise three 14k 250watt DE bulbs at eithe

04/09/2007, 06:32 PM	#8
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	Oops, didn't see your last post. __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.