250 watters or 400 watters?

lukinrats · 03/30/2010, 04:35 PM

Alright Guys! It is starting to get down to the finish for me, as far as collecting all my equipment for THE UPGRADE :Smile:

I have a 120 gallon (24" Deep). So I have been thinking that I would go with 2 x 400w lumenbrights, with the Lumateck selectable, or dimmable ballasts. I have no height restrictions because I am not going to have a canopy.

My thoughts are that I want to switch over to halides, but I do not want the heat.

So to rememdy that problem, I thought I would get the 400w Mini Pendants. This way, I can raise them really high above my tank, but still get that PAR punching down deep.

I love the idea of having no lights in my way when I want to get in the tank. This is one benefit, and the other is hopefully to lessen the heat issues. I think that having the lights up high and out of my way, ALL THE TIME, will be better than trying to come up with some way of raising them, or having them on a rail system.

I know that most will probably tell me to go with the 250w pendants, but I really want to put these Mini reflectors up to around 20" from the surface, and I am not sure that the 250watters will be able to do that

What kind of advice can I get from you guys

dahenley · 03/30/2010, 04:41 PM

my LFS has a fantastic display tank (120 brick) and he runs 250's and they are about 20-24inches above the water.
your reflectors will help more than anything as far as gaining the par that you want, that far above the tank.

you can do 400's if you want, but that is a little excessive.

i hope that helps

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2010, 05:00 PM

250w should be fine for what you want to do.

lukinrats · 03/30/2010, 05:03 PM

Well that seems to be the more sensable conclusion when you think about it, but then I go and look at PAR results that were taken from the very same lighting that I intend to use, and it suggests otherwise

See this link shows 400w 12K Reeflux bulbs at 16" bulb to surface, and in the LumenBright Reflectors

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-0...tPARvalues.jpg

Now, take the same reflectors, and put 250 watters in there, and raise them to 14", and this is what you get

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-0...0ParTest12.jpg

So, the 250s are closer to the surface, and it really is a pretty drastic change. I don't know, I am having a hard time deciding. I guess if I don't like the 250 results, then I can go to 400

Later,
NathanS

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2010, 05:11 PM

Reeflux 12k bulbs are pretty low par, you might consider a different ballast bulb combo.

If you don't mind the energy usage, heat added to the house, and heat added to the tank then go with 400w. Raising the lights won't solve all of the heat issues but will help. halides heat the surfaces they light as well.

lukinrats · 03/30/2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Reeflux 12k bulbs are pretty low par, you might consider a different ballast bulb combo.

If you don't mind the energy usage, heat added to the house, and heat added to the tank then go with 400w. Raising the lights won't solve all of the heat issues but will help. halides heat the surfaces they light as well.

I am not going to use Reeflux. I just put those pics up, because #1 they came from a Reefkeeping Magazine article, and #2 because it showed the exact reflector and wattage bulbs that I plan to go with. I plan to run Radiums on my new tank

Thanks,
NathanS

bluface · 03/30/2010, 07:07 PM

I have two 400 watt bulbs on a 160 custom tank. 60 X 28 X 22. Bulbs are no name (14K) and so are the reflectors (hammertone).
I have had other issues in the past I had to deal with (AEFW, Crabs etc). Finally solved all that after 1 year.

Now with the bulbs being 1 year old the new corals are coloring up fast. Corals higher up in the tank and corals down below. I have never experienced this intense coloration before. I have a pink milli that i picked up only three weeks ago and now it's almost red and growing like crazy. Also picked up a wild colony of Loripes that was light green that now turned to a flourescent blue and growing very well.

400 watts all the way for me. I don't use supplemention. I have one small fan hooked up to a controller that turns on when temp hits 79. It blows across the water and keep the temp in check. 400 watt lamps are really not that hot...

I used to have 250 DE before with Phoenix bulbs and T5 supplementation.

And BTW my next bulbs will be Radium! I have asked enough questions about them and have seen it in action. I have seriously considered reeflux also. Many ppl like them for cost, par and color.

Best of luck!
My tank is very simple with a good strong skimmer and a Vertex calcium reactor.

03/30/2010, 05:00 PM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	250w should be fine for what you want to do. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2010, 05:11 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Reeflux 12k bulbs are pretty low par, you might consider a different ballast bulb combo. If you don't mind the energy usage, heat added to the house, and heat added to the tank then go with 400w. Raising the lights won't solve all of the heat issues but will help. halides heat the surfaces they light as well. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2010, 07:07 PM	#7
bluface Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 66	I have two 400 watt bulbs on a 160 custom tank. 60 X 28 X 22. Bulbs are no name (14K) and so are the reflectors (hammertone). I have had other issues in the past I had to deal with (AEFW, Crabs etc). Finally solved all that after 1 year. Now with the bulbs being 1 year old the new corals are coloring up fast. Corals higher up in the tank and corals down below. I have never experienced this intense coloration before. I have a pink milli that i picked up only three weeks ago and now it's almost red and growing like crazy. Also picked up a wild colony of Loripes that was light green that now turned to a flourescent blue and growing very well. 400 watts all the way for me. I don't use supplemention. I have one small fan hooked up to a controller that turns on when temp hits 79. It blows across the water and keep the temp in check. 400 watt lamps are really not that hot... I used to have 250 DE before with Phoenix bulbs and T5 supplementation. And BTW my next bulbs will be Radium! I have asked enough questions about them and have seen it in action. I have seriously considered reeflux also. Many ppl like them for cost, par and color. Best of luck! My tank is very simple with a good strong skimmer and a Vertex calcium reactor. Last edited by bluface; 03/30/2010 at 07:13 PM.

03/30/2010, 04:35 PM	#1
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	250 watters or 400 watters? Alright Guys! It is starting to get down to the finish for me, as far as collecting all my equipment for THE UPGRADE :Smile: I have a 120 gallon (24" Deep). So I have been thinking that I would go with 2 x 400w lumenbrights, with the Lumateck selectable, or dimmable ballasts. I have no height restrictions because I am not going to have a canopy. My thoughts are that I want to switch over to halides, but I do not want the heat. So to rememdy that problem, I thought I would get the 400w Mini Pendants. This way, I can raise them really high above my tank, but still get that PAR punching down deep. I love the idea of having no lights in my way when I want to get in the tank. This is one benefit, and the other is hopefully to lessen the heat issues. I think that having the lights up high and out of my way, ALL THE TIME, will be better than trying to come up with some way of raising them, or having them on a rail system. I know that most will probably tell me to go with the 250w pendants, but I really want to put these Mini reflectors up to around 20" from the surface, and I am not sure that the 250watters will be able to do that What kind of advice can I get from you guys

03/30/2010, 04:41 PM	#2
dahenley Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lubbock, Tx Posts: 3,165	my LFS has a fantastic display tank (120 brick) and he runs 250's and they are about 20-24inches above the water. your reflectors will help more than anything as far as gaining the par that you want, that far above the tank. you can do 400's if you want, but that is a little excessive. i hope that helps __________________ Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-) 240display, reef in progress Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

03/30/2010, 05:03 PM	#4
lukinrats Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Laurel, Mississippi Posts: 1,256	Well that seems to be the more sensable conclusion when you think about it, but then I go and look at PAR results that were taken from the very same lighting that I intend to use, and it suggests otherwise See this link shows 400w 12K Reeflux bulbs at 16" bulb to surface, and in the LumenBright Reflectors http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-0...tPARvalues.jpg Now, take the same reflectors, and put 250 watters in there, and raise them to 14", and this is what you get http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-0...0ParTest12.jpg So, the 250s are closer to the surface, and it really is a pretty drastic change. I don't know, I am having a hard time deciding. I guess if I don't like the 250 results, then I can go to 400 Later, NathanS