Tank size for one 400w MH

burton14e7 · 09/25/2008, 09:07 PM

As the title states....What would be the perfect tank for 1 400w MH pendant? Looking to downgrade because of energy costs.

pledosophy · 09/25/2008, 10:49 PM

60g Cube?

widmer · 09/25/2008, 11:05 PM

58 gallon SPS filled? The aquarium has to have the right relative dimensions so you can take full advantage of the light, but not have the spotlight effect

atwinparadox2 · 09/26/2008, 06:20 AM

agreed, ideally a cube will be the best, but you can get away with a long tank, you will just have less light concentration on the sides, but I have seen this look really nice because you can put the high intensity corals in the middle under the MH and corals that require less light or even no light on the outsides for a good mix. Even if you have a larger tank, I'm not talking like 200 or something like that, but you will still get decent light throughout the tank with a 400 watt because of the light diffusion. Just something to think about. Good luck!

burton14e7 · 09/26/2008, 02:29 PM

I was thinking a 60 cube or whatever 30x30x30 is but htat would probably have to be custom. Do you know who makes these sizes RR?

Ehgemus · 09/26/2008, 02:58 PM

I run one 250w over my 75G

Purple Haze · 09/26/2008, 03:46 PM

More like a 36" by 36" by less than 24". I'll be building something about that size and plan to run one 400 watt Radium.

DT's_Reef · 09/26/2008, 04:32 PM

Purple Haze has got it right.

I'd say a 400w Radium run by a galaxy e-ballast with a Lumenmax Elite fixture would fit the bill nicely. You'll get a nice spread of light, great color from the galaxy ballast (white with good bit of blue, but not too blue at all).

I have this set-up for the 37x27x20 tank I'm having built and tested it on my existing 120g system and visually, it was way more intense than my 2x250 DE Geisemann 13k bulbs on hqi ballasts (in a Geisemann hanging fixture).

Purple Haze · 09/26/2008, 08:00 PM

^To how many watts does the Galaxy ballast run a Radium to?

Thanks

burton14e7 · 09/26/2008, 09:03 PM

are you DIY the stand for that cube?

60Cubed · 09/26/2008, 09:20 PM

I have a 60cube with one 400w 12k reeflux on a PFO HQI. Looks sweet and has awesome growth!

reeftanktime · 09/26/2008, 09:39 PM

I like the 400 over my 58

DT's_Reef · 09/26/2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Purple Haze
^To how many watts does the Galaxy ballast run a Radium to?

Thanks

I used a watt meter on mine and I recall it being about 430w, so it's overdriven. The Radium looks it's best (more white and less blue) when overdriven. Of course the bulb won't last as long but I plan on changing it every 6 months regardless. They're only about $70 so better to be safe than sorry.

09/25/2008, 09:07 PM	#1
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	Tank size for one 400w MH As the title states....What would be the perfect tank for 1 400w MH pendant? Looking to downgrade because of energy costs. __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

09/25/2008, 10:49 PM	#2
pledosophy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Beaverton Posts: 5,290	60g Cube? __________________ 120g mixed reef 90g QT

09/26/2008, 02:29 PM	#5
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	I was thinking a 60 cube or whatever 30x30x30 is but htat would probably have to be custom. Do you know who makes these sizes RR? __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

09/26/2008, 04:32 PM	#8
DT's_Reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 3,083	Purple Haze has got it right. I'd say a 400w Radium run by a galaxy e-ballast with a Lumenmax Elite fixture would fit the bill nicely. You'll get a nice spread of light, great color from the galaxy ballast (white with good bit of blue, but not too blue at all). I have this set-up for the 37x27x20 tank I'm having built and tested it on my existing 120g system and visually, it was way more intense than my 2x250 DE Geisemann 13k bulbs on hqi ballasts (in a Geisemann hanging fixture). __________________ 85g starphire system, 38"x26"x20", 250w Radium SE + Galaxy Ballast + Lumenmax Elite reflector, Tunze Nano Wave Box, 2 Tunze Nano Streams, Profilux dosing system (2-part + vodka), ATB 840 Skimmer, Eheim 1262 return pump.

09/26/2008, 09:03 PM	#10
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	are you DIY the stand for that cube? __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

09/25/2008, 11:05 PM	#3
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	58 gallon SPS filled? The aquarium has to have the right relative dimensions so you can take full advantage of the light, but not have the spotlight effect

09/26/2008, 06:20 AM	#4
atwinparadox2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingston, PA Posts: 782	agreed, ideally a cube will be the best, but you can get away with a long tank, you will just have less light concentration on the sides, but I have seen this look really nice because you can put the high intensity corals in the middle under the MH and corals that require less light or even no light on the outsides for a good mix. Even if you have a larger tank, I'm not talking like 200 or something like that, but you will still get decent light throughout the tank with a 400 watt because of the light diffusion. Just something to think about. Good luck!

09/26/2008, 02:58 PM	#6
Ehgemus Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central City Ky Posts: 1,585	I run one 250w over my 75G

09/26/2008, 03:46 PM	#7
Purple Haze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: TX Posts: 1,156	More like a 36" by 36" by less than 24". I'll be building something about that size and plan to run one 400 watt Radium.

09/26/2008, 08:00 PM	#9
Purple Haze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: TX Posts: 1,156	^To how many watts does the Galaxy ballast run a Radium to? Thanks

09/26/2008, 09:20 PM	#11
60Cubed Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,518	I have a 60cube with one 400w 12k reeflux on a PFO HQI. Looks sweet and has awesome growth! __________________ "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g...radions/vortechs/apex/geo/ehiem/bubble magnus...all the good stuff and still want more!!!!

09/26/2008, 09:39 PM	#12
reeftanktime Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Twin cities, MN Posts: 60	I like the 400 over my 58