250 watss over a 30 cube?

harrisagogetter · 06/08/2006, 12:00 PM

Right now I am running 96w 10k w/ 460 and a 40 watt 460 also? Was thinking of going with this to boost it up a little and to have a light for upgrades later on.

Smart idea or dumb?

thereefgeek · 06/08/2006, 01:14 PM

Do it man! A 250w in a Luminarc Mini would be sweet.

Ti · 06/08/2006, 01:55 PM

Yeh lumen max it with a 250, it'll be nice.

harrisagogetter · 06/08/2006, 02:28 PM

are there any precautions that I should know of before I put the light over my 30? Height requirements? screens ? any help?

Thanks
Aaron

jimcoman · 06/08/2006, 02:53 PM

You may also need some fans or a chiller depending on how hot your summer is in FL.

thereefgeek · 06/08/2006, 02:55 PM

You may look into a fixture with a glass sheild, keep it about 10-12" off the water surface, and if you use the Luminarcs, get the A/C (vent option) to keep the fixture cool.

http://www.pacificgardensupply.com/p...?prod=L3&cat=2

smatter · 06/10/2006, 11:58 PM

Mine is 12 inches above the surface, but it does get warm. I use aqua macro's small clip on fan and the temp stays locked at 78. Before the fan I had to keep the room at 72 to keep the tank below 80.

asmujica · 06/11/2006, 12:44 AM

Are you having trouble growing the stuff you have or are you just looking to upgrade?

oct2274 · 06/12/2006, 10:30 AM

depending on how tall the tank is.......in most instances on an aquarium that small a 150 de is plenty. 250 might actually melt corals depending on depth of the tank and would just be a waste of electricity.

Ti · 06/12/2006, 10:32 AM

Go 175 if you are hesitant about the 250

smatter · 06/12/2006, 11:30 AM

Careful acclimation is the key. Go with the 250w, it is still nowhere close to the light output of our local star.

joeycadre · 06/12/2006, 12:21 PM

i have a 250 hqi over my 45 cube-ish (24x24x18). it works great and the sps's love it. it's about 10" over the water and i did just add a chiller. the temp would reach 83 or so after 8 hours of light.

smatter · 06/12/2006, 04:15 PM

Mine stays at 78 with a tiny simple fan, cost: $30. The light is a little farther away too.

joeycadre · 06/12/2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smatter
Mine stays at 78 with a tiny simple fan, cost: $30. The light is a little farther away too.

i brought my temp down with a fan as well but i was putting in 2+ gallons a day due to evap.

i work at an lfs so getting the chiller wasn't quite as expensive with the employee discount, and now i don't have to pour so much water in everyday.

next stop ato.

but yeah a fan will work fine but you will be lugging a lot of water.

smatter · 06/12/2006, 07:40 PM

I do go through some water, I only have to lug once a week thanks to my Osmolator.

bmac · 06/12/2006, 08:01 PM

I have a 37 cube with a 250 on it...I love it...I had a 400 on it prior but was habving probs with heat

smatter · 06/12/2006, 08:41 PM

I just hope this new Phoenix bulb I put in the other day works out. Its growing on me and it seems to be losing some of the blue cast as it burns in.

reefknight · 06/23/2006, 01:18 PM

I have a PFO fixture with a Ice Cap 250W ballast, 2 32W actinics and a SE Ushio 10k above my 30gal Oceanic. I love this set up, it has made my corals thrive. It is suspended 12" above the surface. I have mainly LPS currently with a few zoo's and 'shrooms. Sps will fill my top in soon and after I add a Ca reactor then a clam will be added. I have not burnt a coral yet, but you do have to watch and acclimate them to the light. My Trachphyllia has to be shaded somewhat as do the 'shrooms. My acans, blastos, and all others have shown no problems. Hope this helps.

Bill

harrisagogetter · 06/23/2006, 03:05 PM

I was thinking of also adding 40 watts of actinic for the whole dawn/dusk appearance. Right now everything is going very well. All corals and sps seem to like it. I just wanted an upgrade. I have an aqua medic fixture that will be gettingan electronic ballast in it. With that being said what bulbs are best for this situation?

Pillz · 06/25/2006, 06:59 PM

I have a pfo mini pendant with a icecap ballast (250) mine is only 5 inches from the water level, tank never gets over 82 w/o fans.. I would just say watch it for the first 2 weeks just to make sure.

06/08/2006, 12:00 PM	#1
harrisagogetter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 226	250 watss over a 30 cube? Right now I am running 96w 10k w/ 460 and a 40 watt 460 also? Was thinking of going with this to boost it up a little and to have a light for upgrades later on. Smart idea or dumb?

06/08/2006, 01:55 PM	#3
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Yeh lumen max it with a 250, it'll be nice. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

06/08/2006, 02:53 PM	#5
jimcoman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rancho Santa Margaritia, CA Posts: 63	You may also need some fans or a chiller depending on how hot your summer is in FL. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 50 gallon cube, 30g disply 20g sump, Euro reef es5-2, 250w 14k Pheonix on PFO M80, Lumen Max 3...

06/11/2006, 12:44 AM	#8
asmujica Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Monterrey, México Posts: 5,580	Are you having trouble growing the stuff you have or are you just looking to upgrade? __________________ Where has the tank gone?

06/12/2006, 10:32 AM	#10
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Go 175 if you are hesitant about the 250 __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

06/08/2006, 01:14 PM	#2
thereefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Folsom Posts: 2,217	Do it man! A 250w in a Luminarc Mini would be sweet.

06/08/2006, 02:28 PM	#4
harrisagogetter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 226	are there any precautions that I should know of before I put the light over my 30? Height requirements? screens ? any help? Thanks Aaron

06/08/2006, 02:55 PM	#6
thereefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Folsom Posts: 2,217	You may look into a fixture with a glass sheild, keep it about 10-12" off the water surface, and if you use the Luminarcs, get the A/C (vent option) to keep the fixture cool. http://www.pacificgardensupply.com/p...?prod=L3&cat=2

06/10/2006, 11:58 PM	#7
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Mine is 12 inches above the surface, but it does get warm. I use aqua macro's small clip on fan and the temp stays locked at 78. Before the fan I had to keep the room at 72 to keep the tank below 80.

06/12/2006, 10:30 AM	#9
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	depending on how tall the tank is.......in most instances on an aquarium that small a 150 de is plenty. 250 might actually melt corals depending on depth of the tank and would just be a waste of electricity.

06/12/2006, 11:30 AM	#11
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Careful acclimation is the key. Go with the 250w, it is still nowhere close to the light output of our local star.

06/12/2006, 12:21 PM	#12
joeycadre Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: jackson Posts: 1,371	i have a 250 hqi over my 45 cube-ish (24x24x18). it works great and the sps's love it. it's about 10" over the water and i did just add a chiller. the temp would reach 83 or so after 8 hours of light. __________________ "it's not the heat, it's the humility" Current Tank Info: 90 gal. sps mostly. bubble master 200. pci cl-300 chiller

06/12/2006, 04:15 PM	#13
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Mine stays at 78 with a tiny simple fan, cost: $30. The light is a little farther away too.

06/12/2006, 07:40 PM	#15
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I do go through some water, I only have to lug once a week thanks to my Osmolator.

06/12/2006, 08:01 PM	#16
bmac Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Montoursville, Pa Posts: 467	I have a 37 cube with a 250 on it...I love it...I had a 400 on it prior but was habving probs with heat

06/12/2006, 08:41 PM	#17
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	I just hope this new Phoenix bulb I put in the other day works out. Its growing on me and it seems to be losing some of the blue cast as it burns in.

06/23/2006, 01:18 PM	#18
reefknight Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Warner Robins, GA Posts: 626	I have a PFO fixture with a Ice Cap 250W ballast, 2 32W actinics and a SE Ushio 10k above my 30gal Oceanic. I love this set up, it has made my corals thrive. It is suspended 12" above the surface. I have mainly LPS currently with a few zoo's and 'shrooms. Sps will fill my top in soon and after I add a Ca reactor then a clam will be added. I have not burnt a coral yet, but you do have to watch and acclimate them to the light. My Trachphyllia has to be shaded somewhat as do the 'shrooms. My acans, blastos, and all others have shown no problems. Hope this helps. Bill

06/23/2006, 03:05 PM	#19
harrisagogetter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 226	I was thinking of also adding 40 watts of actinic for the whole dawn/dusk appearance. Right now everything is going very well. All corals and sps seem to like it. I just wanted an upgrade. I have an aqua medic fixture that will be gettingan electronic ballast in it. With that being said what bulbs are best for this situation?

06/25/2006, 06:59 PM	#20
Pillz Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 83	I have a pfo mini pendant with a icecap ballast (250) mine is only 5 inches from the water level, tank never gets over 82 w/o fans.. I would just say watch it for the first 2 weeks just to make sure.