is 150W MH overkill for non-SPS?

FUA · 07/07/2007, 08:08 PM

your thoughts please, is a 150W metal halide overkill on a 29g tank if I have no plans of keeping SPS in the near future. Won't Zoanthids and most other corals benefit and do awsome under this light or should I save some money and go with PC's or T5s.

pledosophy · 07/07/2007, 08:20 PM

I think the 150 would be fine on a tank with no SPS. I run one on my 20g, all is well. Some of the LPS can't be placed towrds the top, but the rest of the corals love it. Can't beat the shimmer.

wrott · 07/07/2007, 08:21 PM

I've got 150W MH over a 20g high. There's an anemone and that's it (plus fish).
I like the shimmer and PAR of MH and the tank is cooler than when I had PCs over it (I also have a small fan blowing over the tank on the light timer)

melev · 07/07/2007, 08:32 PM

That would be fine. It is not too much. If anything, I'd supplement it with a pair of VHO actinics (MH would be a 150w 10,000K bulb).

snulma1 · 07/08/2007, 06:56 AM

Plus, if down the road you do get bit by the SPS bug, as a lot of us do. Then you're road to an upgrade won't be so bad! My old 55 I had 4 96w PC's out of 6 that I had to take out to fit my 2 MH's when the bug bit me!

07/07/2007, 08:08 PM	#1
FUA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 863	is 150W MH overkill for non-SPS? your thoughts please, is a 150W metal halide overkill on a 29g tank if I have no plans of keeping SPS in the near future. Won't Zoanthids and most other corals benefit and do awsome under this light or should I save some money and go with PC's or T5s.

07/07/2007, 08:20 PM	#2
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	I think the 150 would be fine on a tank with no SPS. I run one on my 20g, all is well. Some of the LPS can't be placed towrds the top, but the rest of the corals love it. Can't beat the shimmer. __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

07/07/2007, 08:21 PM	#3
wrott Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,912	I've got 150W MH over a 20g high. There's an anemone and that's it (plus fish). I like the shimmer and PAR of MH and the tank is cooler than when I had PCs over it (I also have a small fan blowing over the tank on the light timer) __________________ OK, but where does the meat go! ------------------------------------------------ 120g SPS, 125g mix, 56g FOWLR, 20g qt

07/07/2007, 08:32 PM	#4
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That would be fine. It is not too much. If anything, I'd supplement it with a pair of VHO actinics (MH would be a 150w 10,000K bulb).

07/08/2007, 06:56 AM	#5
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	Plus, if down the road you do get bit by the SPS bug, as a lot of us do. Then you're road to an upgrade won't be so bad! My old 55 I had 4 96w PC's out of 6 that I had to take out to fit my 2 MH's when the bug bit me!