Is 400 watts too much for a 33 gallon?

dfcjr · 06/17/2006, 04:18 PM

Alright, I have a 33 gallon( 36x12.5x18) right now and I want to purchase a metal halide system. The problem is I'm going to be buying a house in 6-8 months and I'm going to upgrade to a bigger tank. I know 400 watts is alot for a 33, could I just hang the light higher or should I put some kind of screen to block some of the light? Thanks.

Sk8r · 06/17/2006, 04:20 PM

Even a 250 is pretty stiff. I use a 250 in my 52.

dfcjr · 06/17/2006, 04:58 PM

Is there no way to reduce the light?

Sk8r · 06/17/2006, 05:00 PM

You can use that black woven windowscreen. That would cut it down.

yamaha racer · 06/17/2006, 05:02 PM

hold it up higher away from the tank.

dfcjr · 06/17/2006, 05:17 PM

How high do you think it would have to be?

yamaha racer= nice sig

taku · 06/17/2006, 10:13 PM

I'd put it like 3ft up.. that water is going to be pretty shallow for a 400w. ANy way to hang the light from the ceiling so it doesn't look goofy?

Avast Marine · 06/17/2006, 10:51 PM

Put a 175 bulb in it.

dfcjr · 06/18/2006, 01:22 AM

I can hang it pretty muchas high as I want from the ceiling. I didnt know it was possible to run lower wattages than what the ballast is rated for, it wont burn the bulb out?

lastin1 · 06/18/2006, 03:39 AM

It is not possible to use a 175 watt bulb on a 400 watt ballast. I think he meant get a 175 watt setup. What do you have on your 33 right now? Seems like 400 watts is a big waste of energy. I think you should get the tank before you start worrying about accessories for it.

dfcjr · 06/18/2006, 10:25 AM

The whole point was so I didnt buy halides twice, I only have 130 watt PCs right now. I actually purchased a 175 watt setup 10 minutes ago. I figured to hell with it, I'll use this tank as my frag tank when I upgrade.

What is the best bulb for halides? Growth vs. color etc.?

minireef30 · 06/18/2006, 10:59 AM

You'll be fine as long as you can keep your water temp in check.
I had 400watt halide +PC's on a bowfront 29 for two years with no problems. Clams loved it!

zapata41 · 06/18/2006, 01:01 PM

run a 20k bulb in the 400w and you will be set.

for the 175w go with the iwasaki 14k bulb. it is quite nice

Tim

ahenson · 06/18/2006, 01:59 PM

I've got a 400w ballast and 20k bulbs and a dual 400w with 20ks I'm looking to sell.

dfcjr · 06/18/2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zapata41
for the 175w go with the iwasaki 14k bulb. it is quite nice

Tim

Thanks Tim, should I run any supplemental actinic? I'm thinking of overdriving a couple NO actinics if I need to. I have the fixtures laying around, all I would really need is the ballast which I can get for 20 bucks.

Ahenson= Thanks anyway, already paid for the 175. Probably wont upgrade to a bigger tank for awhile now (the S.I. is freaking out already cause were trying to save money for a house

).

Darrell

Avast Marine · 06/18/2006, 02:58 PM

A little late but what I actually meant was buy your 400 and for an additional $79 for hamilton 175 ballast, & $75 for ushio 14k and your done. By the time the bulb burns out you sell the ballast and swap back to the original config. No need to buy the whole package twice.

zapata41 · 06/18/2006, 03:11 PM

for the 175w saki i would run it on a electronic ballast, will yield the highest par with an evc ballast.
i would run some actinics on it too , i have it without actinics and while the light was burning in it was great but now that it is burned in it went a lot whiter than i would have liked
Tim

LBCBJ · 06/18/2006, 03:32 PM

I have a 150w on my 18g

06/17/2006, 04:18 PM	#1
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	Is 400 watts too much for a 33 gallon? Alright, I have a 33 gallon( 36x12.5x18) right now and I want to purchase a metal halide system. The problem is I'm going to be buying a house in 6-8 months and I'm going to upgrade to a bigger tank. I know 400 watts is alot for a 33, could I just hang the light higher or should I put some kind of screen to block some of the light? Thanks. __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

06/17/2006, 04:20 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Even a 250 is pretty stiff. I use a 250 in my 52. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/17/2006, 04:58 PM	#3
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	Is there no way to reduce the light? __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

06/17/2006, 05:00 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You can use that black woven windowscreen. That would cut it down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/17/2006, 05:17 PM	#6
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	How high do you think it would have to be? yamaha racer= nice sig __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

06/17/2006, 05:02 PM	#5
yamaha racer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gypsy Posts: 1,131	hold it up higher away from the tank.

06/17/2006, 10:13 PM	#7
taku Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orlando. FL Posts: 536	I'd put it like 3ft up.. that water is going to be pretty shallow for a 400w. ANy way to hang the light from the ceiling so it doesn't look goofy?

06/17/2006, 10:51 PM	#8
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	Put a 175 bulb in it. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

06/18/2006, 01:22 AM	#9
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	I can hang it pretty muchas high as I want from the ceiling. I didnt know it was possible to run lower wattages than what the ballast is rated for, it wont burn the bulb out? __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

06/18/2006, 03:39 AM	#10
lastin1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 92869 Posts: 784	It is not possible to use a 175 watt bulb on a 400 watt ballast. I think he meant get a 175 watt setup. What do you have on your 33 right now? Seems like 400 watts is a big waste of energy. I think you should get the tank before you start worrying about accessories for it.

06/18/2006, 10:25 AM	#11
dfcjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clinton Twp.,MI. Posts: 307	The whole point was so I didnt buy halides twice, I only have 130 watt PCs right now. I actually purchased a 175 watt setup 10 minutes ago. I figured to hell with it, I'll use this tank as my frag tank when I upgrade. What is the best bulb for halides? Growth vs. color etc.? __________________ R.I.P. David James Garrett, my little brother and the best friend I'll ever have, life will never be the same without you. Current Tank Info: 65gallon mixed reef, 20gallon refugium, 250w SE MH w/ 65w actinic PC

06/18/2006, 10:59 AM	#12
minireef30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bessemer City,NC Posts: 291	You'll be fine as long as you can keep your water temp in check. I had 400watt halide +PC's on a bowfront 29 for two years with no problems. Clams loved it!

06/18/2006, 01:01 PM	#13
zapata41 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 2,024	run a 20k bulb in the 400w and you will be set. for the 175w go with the iwasaki 14k bulb. it is quite nice Tim

06/18/2006, 01:59 PM	#14
ahenson Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rantoul Il Posts: 1,140	I've got a 400w ballast and 20k bulbs and a dual 400w with 20ks I'm looking to sell.

06/18/2006, 02:58 PM	#16
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	A little late but what I actually meant was buy your 400 and for an additional $79 for hamilton 175 ballast, & $75 for ushio 14k and your done. By the time the bulb burns out you sell the ballast and swap back to the original config. No need to buy the whole package twice. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

06/18/2006, 03:11 PM	#17
zapata41 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 2,024	for the 175w saki i would run it on a electronic ballast, will yield the highest par with an evc ballast. i would run some actinics on it too , i have it without actinics and while the light was burning in it was great but now that it is burned in it went a lot whiter than i would have liked Tim

06/18/2006, 03:32 PM	#18
LBCBJ Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 1,332	I have a 150w on my 18g __________________ Brent