what's the smallest tank that I can run metal halides in?

Litespeeds · 04/04/2006, 08:52 PM

I currently have a 90 gallon reef/fish tank that originally started off with PC lighting and later switched to T-5 lighting.
Also have a 12 gallon JBL nano tank with pc lighting and another small 10 gallon with pc lighting.

I have always loved the look of MH lighting and was wondering what is the smallest size tank that I can safely run MH lighting in so I can maybe get rid of my two small nanos and run something slightly bigger.

What would you recommend? Glass or Plexi? 150 watt MH or 250 MH at what spectrum?

ste6168 · 04/04/2006, 08:55 PM

on the 10g you could def get away with a 70w bulb, the 12 maybe step up to a 150, but a 70 with some actinic support should also work. I have seen people on nano-reef.com run MH on 7g tanks and smaller, your 12 and 10 should e fine... Also i have come to realize that nano-reef.com seems to be a better place to ge advice about nano tanks, or the nano forum here on RC. HTH, Mike

demeyer2 · 04/04/2006, 08:59 PM

I had a 10K 175 watt SE Hamilton over my 29 gallon and loved it. Nothing bleached and everything grew like weeds.

Johnsteph10 · 04/04/2006, 09:15 PM

Any tank you want.

Just watch out for temperature and evaporation. Be careful about acclimating everything to the higher light and such.

04/04/2006, 08:52 PM	#1
Litespeeds Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 121	what's the smallest tank that I can run metal halides in? I currently have a 90 gallon reef/fish tank that originally started off with PC lighting and later switched to T-5 lighting. Also have a 12 gallon JBL nano tank with pc lighting and another small 10 gallon with pc lighting. I have always loved the look of MH lighting and was wondering what is the smallest size tank that I can safely run MH lighting in so I can maybe get rid of my two small nanos and run something slightly bigger. What would you recommend? Glass or Plexi? 150 watt MH or 250 MH at what spectrum?

04/04/2006, 09:15 PM	#4
Johnsteph10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The South Posts: 2,537	Any tank you want. Just watch out for temperature and evaporation. Be careful about acclimating everything to the higher light and such. __________________ John Current Tank Info: None

04/04/2006, 08:55 PM	#2
ste6168 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,066	on the 10g you could def get away with a 70w bulb, the 12 maybe step up to a 150, but a 70 with some actinic support should also work. I have seen people on nano-reef.com run MH on 7g tanks and smaller, your 12 and 10 should e fine... Also i have come to realize that nano-reef.com seems to be a better place to ge advice about nano tanks, or the nano forum here on RC. HTH, Mike

04/04/2006, 08:59 PM	#3
demeyer2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sausalito, CA Posts: 455	I had a 10K 175 watt SE Hamilton over my 29 gallon and loved it. Nothing bleached and everything grew like weeds.