10w/PG of MH too Much?

Blutowski · 05/31/2006, 02:04 PM

I stumbled on a deal today, I'm getting a 55g w/ stand, and 2 250w MH lights, complete with ballasts, caps, hoods and bulbs for $200. This would give me almost 10w per gallon of MH lighting. Is this too much light for that tank? The guy who services our reef tank at our office said I would need to move to at least a 90g to make that light configuration work or I would fry any SPS and clams I try to introduce into my system. Can't I adjust the lights up enough to lessen the intensity.

The guy I'm buying this from currently has FW in the 55g and bought the lights new in order to move to corals. He never had the time to set it up and basically wants out of the hobby. So he never had the lights setup on this particular tank either.

shawnaus17 · 05/31/2006, 02:14 PM

I think it would really depend on how close you have it off your tank. Also how long you leave them on could be another facter.

Blutowski · 05/31/2006, 02:28 PM

I was on a thread the other day titled "lets see your 55g" or something like that, and I noticed that one of the nicer looking tanks had dual 250's and 110 pc Actinics on their 55g. I thought of that after I posted this, however I am just breaking into this and do not have any practical experience so I have to be careful. I'm assuming based on this response that I would want at least 12 inches between the bulbs and water surface, and want to go on the low end of the 6-8 hour light cycle.

parothead22 · 05/31/2006, 03:33 PM

You could do it! What kind of coral do you plan on getting? You could have 400watt halides if you wanted too. Having the proper way to cool your tank water is essential though. Also, you can adjust the corals in your tank to receive more or less light and can also raise or lower your lights depending on the light requirements of each type of coral.
The thing to remember is not to stress and overpower them with an increase in light or they will burn/bleach and possibly die!!!!Gradually acclimate them either by light duration(how long the lights are on per day) or place them low in your tank for a couple weeks and gradually raise them up.

smcdonn · 05/31/2006, 03:36 PM

You could run those. You would need to keep them a little farther away from your tank. I have a 75 gallon with dual 250's and my temps run up to 83-84 if I don't open my hood (closed hood with no fans). I feel heat will be your biggest issue. Thats a steal though.

Blutowski · 05/31/2006, 03:57 PM

parothead

It'll primarily be an SPS/clam tank. I'd like to through some LPS in for balance. I figure I will have a lot of evaporation, luckilly there is good auto top off thread on here today as well.

Thanks for the heads on acclimating corals to my light source.

smcdonn

What would you suggest a good light cycle would be?

05/31/2006, 02:04 PM	#1
Blutowski Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 69	10w/PG of MH too Much? I stumbled on a deal today, I'm getting a 55g w/ stand, and 2 250w MH lights, complete with ballasts, caps, hoods and bulbs for $200. This would give me almost 10w per gallon of MH lighting. Is this too much light for that tank? The guy who services our reef tank at our office said I would need to move to at least a 90g to make that light configuration work or I would fry any SPS and clams I try to introduce into my system. Can't I adjust the lights up enough to lessen the intensity. The guy I'm buying this from currently has FW in the 55g and bought the lights new in order to move to corals. He never had the time to set it up and basically wants out of the hobby. So he never had the lights setup on this particular tank either.

05/31/2006, 02:14 PM	#2
shawnaus17 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 520	I think it would really depend on how close you have it off your tank. Also how long you leave them on could be another facter. __________________ To see a world in a grain of sand, And a Heaven in a wild flower, To hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And an eternity in a hour. -William Blake- Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon

05/31/2006, 03:33 PM	#4
parothead22 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: connecticut Posts: 170	You could do it! What kind of coral do you plan on getting? You could have 400watt halides if you wanted too. Having the proper way to cool your tank water is essential though. Also, you can adjust the corals in your tank to receive more or less light and can also raise or lower your lights depending on the light requirements of each type of coral. The thing to remember is not to stress and overpower them with an increase in light or they will burn/bleach and possibly die!!!!Gradually acclimate them either by light duration(how long the lights are on per day) or place them low in your tank for a couple weeks and gradually raise them up. __________________ 125g 250wattMH's 14000kHQI. 20gal.sump, dual megaflows AquaCEv180skim mag7,9.5 5gal. refug 35g 175w 10000kwactinic pc's, AquaC Remora skim75gal. Sealife skimAsst. LPS,SPS,Octocorals.inverts, reef fish Current Tank Info: 125gal and 35 gal. hex reef tanks, 75 gal fish only w/lr.

05/31/2006, 03:36 PM	#5
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	You could run those. You would need to keep them a little farther away from your tank. I have a 75 gallon with dual 250's and my temps run up to 83-84 if I don't open my hood (closed hood with no fans). I feel heat will be your biggest issue. Thats a steal though. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

05/31/2006, 02:28 PM	#3
Blutowski Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 69	I was on a thread the other day titled "lets see your 55g" or something like that, and I noticed that one of the nicer looking tanks had dual 250's and 110 pc Actinics on their 55g. I thought of that after I posted this, however I am just breaking into this and do not have any practical experience so I have to be careful. I'm assuming based on this response that I would want at least 12 inches between the bulbs and water surface, and want to go on the low end of the 6-8 hour light cycle.

05/31/2006, 03:57 PM	#6
Blutowski Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 69	parothead It'll primarily be an SPS/clam tank. I'd like to through some LPS in for balance. I figure I will have a lot of evaporation, luckilly there is good auto top off thread on here today as well. Thanks for the heads on acclimating corals to my light source. smcdonn What would you suggest a good light cycle would be?