MH on a soft coral tank

peircer · 11/21/2007, 12:18 AM

I got an offer to buy someone's 2 250 watt metal halides for $300. Good deal as far as I can tell, the question is should I?

I've got a soft coral 125 tank (6 feet), that right now has a 6 96 watt bulb fixture. Will 2 250 watt bulbs cover that ok for soft coral and easy LPS? I know they usually say that you go one bulb for every 2 feet of tank, can I stretch it to three feet per?

I really love the look of having a high K value lights and the shimmer that MH gets, but I guess I'm paranoid about if it will be successful.

Thanks!

flipcyd · 11/21/2007, 01:34 AM

Is your 125g 6' long or is it 60" long? Is it's 60" two 250's should work fine.

peircer · 11/21/2007, 07:34 AM

6 feet, that's one of the reasons I'm a little concerned.

BreadmanMike · 11/21/2007, 07:53 AM

They will cover it just fine if you use ReefoptixI reflectors and run them parallel to the front of the tank.

11/21/2007, 12:18 AM	#1
peircer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids Posts: 51	MH on a soft coral tank I got an offer to buy someone's 2 250 watt metal halides for $300. Good deal as far as I can tell, the question is should I? I've got a soft coral 125 tank (6 feet), that right now has a 6 96 watt bulb fixture. Will 2 250 watt bulbs cover that ok for soft coral and easy LPS? I know they usually say that you go one bulb for every 2 feet of tank, can I stretch it to three feet per? I really love the look of having a high K value lights and the shimmer that MH gets, but I guess I'm paranoid about if it will be successful. Thanks!

11/21/2007, 01:34 AM	#2
flipcyd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 94	Is your 125g 6' long or is it 60" long? Is it's 60" two 250's should work fine.

11/21/2007, 07:34 AM	#3
peircer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids Posts: 51	6 feet, that's one of the reasons I'm a little concerned.

11/21/2007, 07:53 AM	#4
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	They will cover it just fine if you use ReefoptixI reflectors and run them parallel to the front of the tank.