50g LPS/Soft Coral Tank 150w or 250w?

greaps · 11/21/2015, 07:42 PM

Hi, I'm looking to light up a 50g cube, 24x24x20. I plan to keep mangroves, soft corals including Sinularia, mushrooms, ricordias, zoanthids and lps, such as frogspawn and hammers.

150w or 250w? (would run on M81 or M80 respectively)

Aframomum · 11/21/2015, 10:35 PM

Have you considered using an electronic ballast instead? I run a Luxcore ballast on my 40b and it has the option of running 150, 175, and 250 bulbs. Nice to have the option to run 3 bulbs off one ballast.

Daniel62 · 11/22/2015, 08:52 PM

If that's all you are going to have, you do not need that much light 150 wield be plenty. But for less heat ,lots of good LED systems out there.

greaps · 11/22/2015, 09:14 PM

Yeah, I'm pricing things out, doing research. I appreciate the answers. The more I research the more options I dream up.

If looking at MH, 150W Bimini Sun +$90, M81 Ballast+$129, and a bulb +$50 up to+$80

Its roughly $250-300 to get setup. For $250-300 I could probably snag a used Kessil A360 with mounting arm.

Aframomum · 11/22/2015, 10:05 PM

Really comes down to if you want to do MH or LED. Need to also know if you'll need 1 or 2 LED's for your size tank - spread may not be enough for 1 LED.

11/21/2015, 07:42 PM	#1
greaps Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 500	50g LPS/Soft Coral Tank 150w or 250w? Hi, I'm looking to light up a 50g cube, 24x24x20. I plan to keep mangroves, soft corals including Sinularia, mushrooms, ricordias, zoanthids and lps, such as frogspawn and hammers. 150w or 250w? (would run on M81 or M80 respectively) __________________ 50g SCA Aquarium, build in progress.

11/21/2015, 10:35 PM	#2
Aframomum Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Clermont, FL (outside Orlando) Posts: 862	Have you considered using an electronic ballast instead? I run a Luxcore ballast on my 40b and it has the option of running 150, 175, and 250 bulbs. Nice to have the option to run 3 bulbs off one ballast. __________________ It can fly inverted Current Tank Info: no current tanks running

11/22/2015, 08:52 PM	#3
Daniel62 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: kingman, AZ Posts: 1,483	If that's all you are going to have, you do not need that much light 150 wield be plenty. But for less heat ,lots of good LED systems out there. __________________ Mind over matter, if you don't mind it doesn't matter Current Tank Info: 225 reef, 125 clown & haddoni tank, Haddoni's Big Bad & Beautiful, I Love Them!

11/22/2015, 09:14 PM	#4
greaps Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 500	Yeah, I'm pricing things out, doing research. I appreciate the answers. The more I research the more options I dream up. If looking at MH, 150W Bimini Sun +$90, M81 Ballast+$129, and a bulb +$50 up to+$80 Its roughly $250-300 to get setup. For $250-300 I could probably snag a used Kessil A360 with mounting arm. __________________ 50g SCA Aquarium, build in progress.

11/22/2015, 10:05 PM	#5
Aframomum Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Clermont, FL (outside Orlando) Posts: 862	Really comes down to if you want to do MH or LED. Need to also know if you'll need 1 or 2 LED's for your size tank - spread may not be enough for 1 LED. __________________ It can fly inverted Current Tank Info: no current tanks running