180 Lighting Help Please.....

ron burgandy · 10/30/2006, 09:58 AM

I'm setting up a 180gl - 72"24"25". I'm trying to decide between 4 250w mh's with standard reflectors, or 3 250w mh's with LumarcIII minis. I want a nice even distributation of light, no shadows. I'm also undecided about my supp. lighting. T5's or VHO's. I really want the tank to "pop" and look good. It will be a mixed reef with sps also. I'm purchasing this afternoon so your replies will be greatly appreciated.

ron burgandy · 10/30/2006, 12:40 PM

Anybody?

EnderG60 · 10/30/2006, 12:59 PM

if its a aga style tank with two braces do 3x250w's or 3x400's if its got a single brace go with either 4x250's or 2x400's or hell 4x400's

depends what color bulb you want to run and what corals you want to keep

TrojanScott · 10/30/2006, 01:44 PM

I have 3 250W halides and think they provide plenty of light. I have ReefOptix reflectors, and they seem to distribute the light just fine. I have 2 VHO's for actinic light. I don't think you can go wrong with either set up, but 4 halides, at least IMO, would be a ton of light, and probably overkill. Should be able to keep whatever you want, (I do anyways) with 3 halides, and the Lumenaric reflectors are top of the line, so you should be okay.

marinelife · 10/30/2006, 02:54 PM

I have 3 400s with 2 vhos on my 180, I like it

jag1979 · 10/30/2006, 03:39 PM

I have a aga 180 and have 3x250's and 3x80 t5's. Plenty bright! i really like the t5's, I got the icecap t5 retro kit and overlapped two in front of my mh's and put 1 in the middle behind them.

remember if you go 400's instead of the 250's you will almost certanly need a chiller. W/ my 250's I just have one 4.75" fan in the canopy and 1 6" fan in the sump and the temp has not risen above 83, it normally stays below 82.

ron burgandy · 10/30/2006, 03:53 PM

Great. Jag's setup sounds about perfect. Thanks for the help fellas.

Wiskey · 10/30/2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EnderG60
if its a aga style tank with two braces do 3x250w's or 3x400's if its got a single brace go with either 4x250's or 2x400's or hell 4x400's

depends what color bulb you want to run and what corals you want to keep

Agreed.

Whiskey

10/30/2006, 09:58 AM	#1
ron burgandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 101	180 Lighting Help Please..... I'm setting up a 180gl - 72"24"25". I'm trying to decide between 4 250w mh's with standard reflectors, or 3 250w mh's with LumarcIII minis. I want a nice even distributation of light, no shadows. I'm also undecided about my supp. lighting. T5's or VHO's. I really want the tank to "pop" and look good. It will be a mixed reef with sps also. I'm purchasing this afternoon so your replies will be greatly appreciated. __________________ 60% of the time, it works every time. Current Tank Info: 180 gal starphire mixed reef, 75gal sump, 3 250 mh w/10k Reeflux bulbs, Coralvue e-ballasts,and lumenarc reflectors, MR2 skimmer, MRC CR-5 calcium reactor, Two Little Fishies phosban reactor closed loop with a Dart, Barracuda for system.

10/30/2006, 12:40 PM	#2
ron burgandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 101	Anybody? __________________ 60% of the time, it works every time. Current Tank Info: 180 gal starphire mixed reef, 75gal sump, 3 250 mh w/10k Reeflux bulbs, Coralvue e-ballasts,and lumenarc reflectors, MR2 skimmer, MRC CR-5 calcium reactor, Two Little Fishies phosban reactor closed loop with a Dart, Barracuda for system.

10/30/2006, 02:54 PM	#5
marinelife Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Union, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,590	I have 3 400s with 2 vhos on my 180, I like it __________________ I'm a SaltGeek are You? All LED since 2010. Current Tank Info: 375 Gallon Reef with siporax, all LED lighting, and Red Dragon 3 and Abyzz A200 on 2 closed loops.

10/30/2006, 03:39 PM	#6
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	I have a aga 180 and have 3x250's and 3x80 t5's. Plenty bright! i really like the t5's, I got the icecap t5 retro kit and overlapped two in front of my mh's and put 1 in the middle behind them. remember if you go 400's instead of the 250's you will almost certanly need a chiller. W/ my 250's I just have one 4.75" fan in the canopy and 1 6" fan in the sump and the temp has not risen above 83, it normally stays below 82. __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

10/30/2006, 03:53 PM	#7
ron burgandy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 101	Great. Jag's setup sounds about perfect. Thanks for the help fellas. __________________ 60% of the time, it works every time. Current Tank Info: 180 gal starphire mixed reef, 75gal sump, 3 250 mh w/10k Reeflux bulbs, Coralvue e-ballasts,and lumenarc reflectors, MR2 skimmer, MRC CR-5 calcium reactor, Two Little Fishies phosban reactor closed loop with a Dart, Barracuda for system.

10/30/2006, 12:59 PM	#3
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	if its a aga style tank with two braces do 3x250w's or 3x400's if its got a single brace go with either 4x250's or 2x400's or hell 4x400's depends what color bulb you want to run and what corals you want to keep

10/30/2006, 01:44 PM	#4
TrojanScott Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,229	I have 3 250W halides and think they provide plenty of light. I have ReefOptix reflectors, and they seem to distribute the light just fine. I have 2 VHO's for actinic light. I don't think you can go wrong with either set up, but 4 halides, at least IMO, would be a ton of light, and probably overkill. Should be able to keep whatever you want, (I do anyways) with 3 halides, and the Lumenaric reflectors are top of the line, so you should be okay.