New light setup for my 300 gallon sps tank. What setup to use?

ReefNOut · 06/01/2008, 02:35 PM

Im swapping out my lighting setup for my 300 gallon tank. It is 30" tall, 24" deep and 8' long. Im thinking about five 400w SE bulbs with some supplemental t5s or vhos. I want to staggar 14ks with 20ks. So there will be 3 14ks and 2 20ks. What setup would everyone go with? I do not know much about ballasts or bulbs as I have 2 Current fixtures that arent enough light for my tank. I also want to use fan cooled reflectors like the lumenarc 3 minis. So I guess the question is....

What SE 400w 20k bulb and 14k bulb to use? What ballast to go best with each bulb?

What t5 or vho bulbs to use to supplement the mhs? What ballast to use to power them.

I am going to put the t5s or vhos infront of the mh fixtures so I am going to be able to get away with two t5s or one vho. Maybe someone also knows of a good fixture for them that is not too wide so I can fit it all within 24 inches. Thank you sooo much for all your help.

corals b 4 bills · 06/01/2008, 02:59 PM

I bet most people will tell you to go with 4 250 watt 10 or 12K bulbs, 5 400 watt would mean that you are a co-owner in an electric company, plus you will bleach out every coral with that much juice in a 24" tank.

250 watt bulbs will light a 2'x2' area just nicely.

My new tank is 30" wide and I will be using my same 3-250's but I'm adding three Luminarc's.

ReefNOut · 06/01/2008, 03:41 PM

My tank is 30 inches tall not 24 and I currently have 4 250 watt bulbs and it is not nearly enough. Also look at the tank of the month if you think it is too much light and will bleach out the coral.

corals b 4 bills · 06/01/2008, 04:12 PM

Ah oh, Don't you just hate it when we don't read carefully through the post before spouting advice, Sorry you are right, ............ my bad.

sditch · 06/01/2008, 05:46 PM

I think 5 400watters are alittle extreame with 14k and 20k bulbs. I think 4 will do well for you with the new refleactors, I would also use VHO for Actinic's.

DaveMorris · 06/01/2008, 06:47 PM

I have a tank with the exact same dimensions and I am running 2 Hamilton 400w, 14,000k lamps in the middle and 2 Hamilton 250w, 14,000k lamps on the outside. All four are in Lumenarc mini reflectors. I am also running 8' of T5 URI super blue actinics with Tek reflectors. I'm not sure that the tank is long enough for five of the Lumenarc mini's. They are a great reflector.

Jayreefer · 06/01/2008, 07:15 PM

My tank is 36 wide x 24 deep x 24 tall and I use a 1 400w SE on HQI ballast in a fullsize reflectore and it covers great. If I were you I would do 3 Lemanrc (20X20) with 400W SE and you will get great coverage. My tank is BB and Ihave SPS growing perfectly off the glass.

06/01/2008, 02:35 PM	#1
ReefNOut Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 80	New light setup for my 300 gallon sps tank. What setup to use? Im swapping out my lighting setup for my 300 gallon tank. It is 30" tall, 24" deep and 8' long. Im thinking about five 400w SE bulbs with some supplemental t5s or vhos. I want to staggar 14ks with 20ks. So there will be 3 14ks and 2 20ks. What setup would everyone go with? I do not know much about ballasts or bulbs as I have 2 Current fixtures that arent enough light for my tank. I also want to use fan cooled reflectors like the lumenarc 3 minis. So I guess the question is.... What SE 400w 20k bulb and 14k bulb to use? What ballast to go best with each bulb? What t5 or vho bulbs to use to supplement the mhs? What ballast to use to power them. I am going to put the t5s or vhos infront of the mh fixtures so I am going to be able to get away with two t5s or one vho. Maybe someone also knows of a good fixture for them that is not too wide so I can fit it all within 24 inches. Thank you sooo much for all your help.

06/01/2008, 02:59 PM	#2
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	I bet most people will tell you to go with 4 250 watt 10 or 12K bulbs, 5 400 watt would mean that you are a co-owner in an electric company, plus you will bleach out every coral with that much juice in a 24" tank. 250 watt bulbs will light a 2'x2' area just nicely. My new tank is 30" wide and I will be using my same 3-250's but I'm adding three Luminarc's. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

06/01/2008, 04:12 PM	#4
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Ah oh, Don't you just hate it when we don't read carefully through the post before spouting advice, Sorry you are right, ............ my bad. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

06/01/2008, 06:47 PM	#6
DaveMorris VP, SDMAS Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,309	I have a tank with the exact same dimensions and I am running 2 Hamilton 400w, 14,000k lamps in the middle and 2 Hamilton 250w, 14,000k lamps on the outside. All four are in Lumenarc mini reflectors. I am also running 8' of T5 URI super blue actinics with Tek reflectors. I'm not sure that the tank is long enough for five of the Lumenarc mini's. They are a great reflector. __________________ Dave My 130g tank: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2387989 Current Tank Info: 130g build in progress

06/01/2008, 03:41 PM	#3
ReefNOut Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 80	My tank is 30 inches tall not 24 and I currently have 4 250 watt bulbs and it is not nearly enough. Also look at the tank of the month if you think it is too much light and will bleach out the coral.

06/01/2008, 05:46 PM	#5
sditch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston,Texas (USA) Posts: 750	I think 5 400watters are alittle extreame with 14k and 20k bulbs. I think 4 will do well for you with the new refleactors, I would also use VHO for Actinic's.

06/01/2008, 07:15 PM	#7
Jayreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Peoria Az Posts: 2,022	My tank is 36 wide x 24 deep x 24 tall and I use a 1 400w SE on HQI ballast in a fullsize reflectore and it covers great. If I were you I would do 3 Lemanrc (20X20) with 400W SE and you will get great coverage. My tank is BB and Ihave SPS growing perfectly off the glass.