250w vs 400w

digidana · 01/03/2008, 10:04 AM

we have a 96x24x25 we're in the process of setting up. the plan was to get 4 250w mh and a couple actinics, but i found a great deal on 2 400w electronic ballasts. would two 250w and two 400w lights work out ok? we'd like to keep a mixed reef. i'm thinking the sps could live under the 400w? or would this be overkill? would there be a huge difference in the electric bill? thanks!

Fish_wiz2 · 01/03/2008, 10:13 AM

No, 2x400watt MH is enough for anything in your tank and it wouldn't do much damage to your bill (soon).

m2434 · 01/03/2008, 10:34 AM

The tank is long, but not deep. In all honesty you could probably keep a mixed reef with 4x175W. 4x250W should be plenty.

01/03/2008, 10:04 AM	#1
digidana Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: GO VOLS! Posts: 921	250w vs 400w we have a 96x24x25 we're in the process of setting up. the plan was to get 4 250w mh and a couple actinics, but i found a great deal on 2 400w electronic ballasts. would two 250w and two 400w lights work out ok? we'd like to keep a mixed reef. i'm thinking the sps could live under the 400w? or would this be overkill? would there be a huge difference in the electric bill? thanks!

01/03/2008, 10:34 AM	#3
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	The tank is long, but not deep. In all honesty you could probably keep a mixed reef with 4x175W. 4x250W should be plenty. __________________ Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. ~Richard Feynman

01/03/2008, 10:13 AM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	No, 2x400watt MH is enough for anything in your tank and it wouldn't do much damage to your bill (soon).