opinions needed...

schmidt01 · 08/15/2008, 10:55 AM

I set up my first tank about a year ago and I upgraded to a 120 gal about 6 months ago. I currently have a light fixture with 2 250w MH's and 4 54w T-5's about 4 inches or so above the water. I bought those lights because I wanted to keep a clam and I thought I might get into SPS, but now I've decided not to keep SPS (I still want the clam though). I currently only have some zoas, a finger leather, and some fuzzy mushrooms in my tank. I've had the fuzzy mushrooms for several months now and they used to be a cream color with green tips, but now they're completely red. The lights were too strong for them when I put them in the tank and they shrivelled up, so I moved them to a shady area, and now I'm wondering if it's a bit TOO shady. Do you think that would be why they changed colors?

The other thing I wanted to ask is if you think my lights are too strong to keep soft corals and LPS corals happy. If so, can I replace my 250 MH with 150w MH without risking some sort of electrical issue?

cabbage2003 · 08/15/2008, 11:14 AM

most recommend running MH 8-12" off the water.

sassafrass · 08/15/2008, 11:20 AM

Corals change colors frequently due to varying conditions. The only way you can change your mh wattage is to change the ballasts along with the bulbs , I agree with cabbage2003 raise your lights some and you should have no problem keeping LPS and softies just don't put them directly under the light at the top of the tank

crvz · 08/15/2008, 11:54 AM

Agreed with the others, start by raising the lights up. 4" is pretty close for MH. You can also knock down the amount of time the MH bulbs run, relying on just the T5s for most of the photoperiod if you really think you're getting too much light (generally speaking, that setup should be fine).

billdogg · 08/15/2008, 12:48 PM

+1 - move the lights up! the inverse square law states that double the distance = 1/4 intensity - you don't have to raise them very far to make a huge difference in amount of light energy they recieve

schmidt01 · 08/15/2008, 04:20 PM

How do you recommend I raise the lights? The fixture is made by Outer Orbit.... do they make longer legs for their lighting systems? I don't see that sort of thing on my LFS's website.
I don't have a canopy and my husband doesn't want to hang the lights from the ceiling.

08/15/2008, 10:55 AM	#1
schmidt01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmyra, PA Posts: 105	opinions needed... I set up my first tank about a year ago and I upgraded to a 120 gal about 6 months ago. I currently have a light fixture with 2 250w MH's and 4 54w T-5's about 4 inches or so above the water. I bought those lights because I wanted to keep a clam and I thought I might get into SPS, but now I've decided not to keep SPS (I still want the clam though). I currently only have some zoas, a finger leather, and some fuzzy mushrooms in my tank. I've had the fuzzy mushrooms for several months now and they used to be a cream color with green tips, but now they're completely red. The lights were too strong for them when I put them in the tank and they shrivelled up, so I moved them to a shady area, and now I'm wondering if it's a bit TOO shady. Do you think that would be why they changed colors? The other thing I wanted to ask is if you think my lights are too strong to keep soft corals and LPS corals happy. If so, can I replace my 250 MH with 150w MH without risking some sort of electrical issue?

08/15/2008, 11:54 AM	#4
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	Agreed with the others, start by raising the lights up. 4" is pretty close for MH. You can also knock down the amount of time the MH bulbs run, relying on just the T5s for most of the photoperiod if you really think you're getting too much light (generally speaking, that setup should be fine). __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/15/2008, 12:48 PM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	+1 - move the lights up! the inverse square law states that double the distance = 1/4 intensity - you don't have to raise them very far to make a huge difference in amount of light energy they recieve __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/15/2008, 11:14 AM	#2
cabbage2003 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dexter, MI Posts: 65	most recommend running MH 8-12" off the water.

08/15/2008, 11:20 AM	#3
sassafrass Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: capitola ca Posts: 1,729	Corals change colors frequently due to varying conditions. The only way you can change your mh wattage is to change the ballasts along with the bulbs , I agree with cabbage2003 raise your lights some and you should have no problem keeping LPS and softies just don't put them directly under the light at the top of the tank

08/15/2008, 04:20 PM	#6
schmidt01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Palmyra, PA Posts: 105	How do you recommend I raise the lights? The fixture is made by Outer Orbit.... do they make longer legs for their lighting systems? I don't see that sort of thing on my LFS's website. I don't have a canopy and my husband doesn't want to hang the lights from the ceiling.