need help lighting 125 gal

bigmike7544 · 02/14/2007, 02:51 AM

uh subject pretty much says it all haha. been looking at a bunch of diffrent halides but don't know which one to go with the 150w are quit a bit cheapier than the 250s but i was told that with the 150s if i wanted to grown sps or have clams the would have to be higher up in the tank i couldn't have them on the bottom of the tank. just asking for some suggestions. thanks

dadonoflaw · 02/14/2007, 03:14 AM

as a person who had a 125 who had to upgrade to a 180. same depth. if your is 24 in or higher do yourself a favor and get 250's. i am planning an expensive upgrade now because of the lack of placement options because of weak lights. save yourself some money and frustration and get the 250's

STsONpERs · 02/14/2007, 03:16 AM

3* 250 watt 10k xm halide ran on PFO/ICecap/coralvue ballast.

I would also run 2 or 4 6ft VHO actinics

I would look at www.reefexotics.com for reflectors.....Lumenarc seem to have the best spread.

If you are putting these in a canopy grab the minis, if not grab the large.

Definatly go with 250...why go with something that you have restrictions on...

Just my 2cent

bigmike7544 · 02/14/2007, 02:56 PM

any specific brand i should use. i was thinking about the outer orbit are they supposed to be any good?

GSMguy · 02/14/2007, 04:23 PM

outer orbit is a good light twice the t5 of the competition definetly go with 250s they make a huge difference

bigmike7544 · 02/15/2007, 12:42 AM

sweet i guess i buy them once i get $1140 to spend on lights

aclos3 · 02/15/2007, 01:04 AM

If you have a center brace, I would go with 2x400w halides. Just my 2 cents, but on our 125, a 3 halide option would be a very poor one.

bigmike7544 · 02/15/2007, 01:07 AM

how much would the 2 400watts run? and y would 3 be bad for a tank with a center brace?

aclos3 · 02/15/2007, 02:29 AM

Because, with 3 halides, you probably want one over the center of the tank.... directly over the brace. This causes the brace to get hot and for a bit of the halides light to be wasted. Yes, I know people cover their tanks with glass, but this is typically much thinner... plus, you'd have to keep the center brace clean. Our brace is about 3 times thicker than our glass panels and it is pretty opaque at this point if I remember correctly. People with acrylic braces have actually had problems with them melting.

Bottom line is. Take a good look at the thickness, type of material, how it is attached to the tank, and the general opacity of the brace before sticking a halide inches from it.

aclos3 · 02/15/2007, 02:31 AM

As for the price on the 2x400 halides.... probably cheaper than a 3x250 setup, but you'll have to price out what you really want... hellolights.com or oceanencounter.com probably has some good stuff for ya.

Also, at this point... I would shy away from DE 400w halides, unless enough true 400 des are on the market now. The de 400s I am aware of have been unreliable versions of SE bulbs.

02/14/2007, 02:51 AM	#1
bigmike7544 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake saint louis Posts: 57	need help lighting 125 gal uh subject pretty much says it all haha. been looking at a bunch of diffrent halides but don't know which one to go with the 150w are quit a bit cheapier than the 250s but i was told that with the 150s if i wanted to grown sps or have clams the would have to be higher up in the tank i couldn't have them on the bottom of the tank. just asking for some suggestions. thanks

02/14/2007, 03:14 AM	#2
dadonoflaw Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: dc Posts: 943	as a person who had a 125 who had to upgrade to a 180. same depth. if your is 24 in or higher do yourself a favor and get 250's. i am planning an expensive upgrade now because of the lack of placement options because of weak lights. save yourself some money and frustration and get the 250's __________________ smoke em if you got em pbitawa Current Tank Info: 55 gal freshwater and 180 gal reef

02/14/2007, 04:23 PM	#5
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	outer orbit is a good light twice the t5 of the competition definetly go with 250s they make a huge difference __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

02/15/2007, 02:29 AM	#9
aclos3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 394	Because, with 3 halides, you probably want one over the center of the tank.... directly over the brace. This causes the brace to get hot and for a bit of the halides light to be wasted. Yes, I know people cover their tanks with glass, but this is typically much thinner... plus, you'd have to keep the center brace clean. Our brace is about 3 times thicker than our glass panels and it is pretty opaque at this point if I remember correctly. People with acrylic braces have actually had problems with them melting. Bottom line is. Take a good look at the thickness, type of material, how it is attached to the tank, and the general opacity of the brace before sticking a halide inches from it. Last edited by aclos3; 02/15/2007 at 02:37 AM.

02/14/2007, 03:16 AM	#3
STsONpERs Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MN Posts: 395	3* 250 watt 10k xm halide ran on PFO/ICecap/coralvue ballast. I would also run 2 or 4 6ft VHO actinics I would look at www.reefexotics.com for reflectors.....Lumenarc seem to have the best spread. If you are putting these in a canopy grab the minis, if not grab the large. Definatly go with 250...why go with something that you have restrictions on... Just my 2cent

02/14/2007, 02:56 PM	#4
bigmike7544 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake saint louis Posts: 57	any specific brand i should use. i was thinking about the outer orbit are they supposed to be any good?

02/15/2007, 12:42 AM	#6
bigmike7544 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake saint louis Posts: 57	sweet i guess i buy them once i get $1140 to spend on lights

02/15/2007, 01:04 AM	#7
aclos3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 394	If you have a center brace, I would go with 2x400w halides. Just my 2 cents, but on our 125, a 3 halide option would be a very poor one.

02/15/2007, 01:07 AM	#8
bigmike7544 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: lake saint louis Posts: 57	how much would the 2 400watts run? and y would 3 be bad for a tank with a center brace?

02/15/2007, 02:31 AM	#10
aclos3 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 394	As for the price on the 2x400 halides.... probably cheaper than a 3x250 setup, but you'll have to price out what you really want... hellolights.com or oceanencounter.com probably has some good stuff for ya. Also, at this point... I would shy away from DE 400w halides, unless enough true 400 des are on the market now. The de 400s I am aware of have been unreliable versions of SE bulbs.