210 gallon softie tank, will 175 watt MH do?

streetjudge79 · 07/25/2008, 07:01 AM

I'm trying not to kill my electric bill, if I'm doing a 21 (72x24x29) with all soft corals, maybe some LPS , mushrooms and zoos, will
3 175 watt MH with a combination of PC/t5 actinics be suffice?
Or do I need to go 250 watt on the MH?

Adam G · 07/25/2008, 07:26 AM

I am running 3 175watt 10k Halides with LPS and SPS on my 155 and it is plenty of light. I also have 2 140 watt VHO actinics. I don't need a chiller and my SPS grows very well.

Vegas RN · 07/25/2008, 07:49 AM

I also have a 3 175watt mh and 2 140watt vho system over my 150 gallon mixed reef and besides placing my sps up higher in the tank eveything is working out great. Sorry for the color in the pics it looks much better in person.

streetjudge79 · 07/25/2008, 08:52 AM

Adam G, do you have a Canopy on your tank or is it open top. I would like to stay away from a chiller, but I fear that having a canopy would keep the water warm.

mikeu · 07/25/2008, 09:46 AM

You should be fine with 175s on a softy tank. I would think that any heat issues should be able to be resolved with some fans.

streetjudge79 · 07/25/2008, 11:02 AM

Thanks guys.

perrl · 07/25/2008, 01:16 PM

You may want to try the Lumenbright reflectors with your 175 MH. 29inches may still be to deep for SPS at the bottom but you get a lot more light reflected down with these reflectors and would give you more options down the road

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1384067

nick18tjetta · 07/25/2008, 01:34 PM

I run Dual 175's on a 120 and they do great for SPS, LPS and softies. I also run 2 4ft uri super actinic VHO's. I like the Iwasaki 14k bulbs, they look great and have par ratings simular to many 250k bulbs.

streetjudge79 · 07/25/2008, 02:07 PM

Well I'm definitley not doing SPS corals, strictly soft coral and a few Lps like Torch and grapes.

07/25/2008, 07:01 AM	#1
streetjudge79 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miami Beach, Fl Posts: 1,970	210 gallon softie tank, will 175 watt MH do? I'm trying not to kill my electric bill, if I'm doing a 21 (72x24x29) with all soft corals, maybe some LPS , mushrooms and zoos, will 3 175 watt MH with a combination of PC/t5 actinics be suffice? Or do I need to go 250 watt on the MH?

07/25/2008, 07:26 AM	#2
Adam G Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 208	I am running 3 175watt 10k Halides with LPS and SPS on my 155 and it is plenty of light. I also have 2 140 watt VHO actinics. I don't need a chiller and my SPS grows very well. __________________ If reefing was easy, everyone would be doing it! Current Tank Info: 150g Miracles Rimless, AI Hydra 52's, Tunzes, & tons of Anthias!

07/25/2008, 07:49 AM	#3
Vegas RN Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 286	I also have a 3 175watt mh and 2 140watt vho system over my 150 gallon mixed reef and besides placing my sps up higher in the tank eveything is working out great. Sorry for the color in the pics it looks much better in person. __________________ I'd rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

07/25/2008, 08:52 AM	#4
streetjudge79 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miami Beach, Fl Posts: 1,970	Adam G, do you have a Canopy on your tank or is it open top. I would like to stay away from a chiller, but I fear that having a canopy would keep the water warm.

07/25/2008, 09:46 AM	#5
mikeu Moved On Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 67	You should be fine with 175s on a softy tank. I would think that any heat issues should be able to be resolved with some fans.

07/25/2008, 11:02 AM	#6
streetjudge79 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miami Beach, Fl Posts: 1,970	Thanks guys.

07/25/2008, 01:16 PM	#7
perrl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesquite, NV Posts: 51	You may want to try the Lumenbright reflectors with your 175 MH. 29inches may still be to deep for SPS at the bottom but you get a lot more light reflected down with these reflectors and would give you more options down the road http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1384067

07/25/2008, 01:34 PM	#8
nick18tjetta Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 643	I run Dual 175's on a 120 and they do great for SPS, LPS and softies. I also run 2 4ft uri super actinic VHO's. I like the Iwasaki 14k bulbs, they look great and have par ratings simular to many 250k bulbs.

07/25/2008, 02:07 PM	#9
streetjudge79 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Miami Beach, Fl Posts: 1,970	Well I'm definitley not doing SPS corals, strictly soft coral and a few Lps like Torch and grapes.