Lighting for 300 cube

turtleman9100 · 10/07/2008, 04:12 PM

Just picked up my first BIG tank. 300 cube. The tank is 48X48X30. I already own 3 ice cap 250 watt MH ballast. I currently have a mixed reef tank with some sps. Should I upgrade to 400 watt MH or will the 250's work?

ankur1113 · 10/07/2008, 07:57 PM

It all depends on what kin of coral you are planning on keeping. If you plan on keeping SPS then I would say to upgrade it to 2 400 and some T5.

BreadmanMike · 10/07/2008, 08:01 PM

I have a 48x48x25 mixed reef. I'm using two large lumenarcs w/400's.

So you know what my vote is.

turtleman9100 · 10/07/2008, 08:35 PM

I have a question. Would you get more useable light from 2/250 watt next to eachother or 1 400?

grigsy · 10/09/2008, 10:37 AM

Go with the 2 x 400 watt

Paulairduck · 10/09/2008, 03:29 PM

Deffinitely the 400 watt, I love the reeflux 12k 400 watt bulbs, the colors are amazing.

jdolores · 10/09/2008, 05:18 PM

Depends on what your planning to keep. If its 70% SPS, then I'd go with another ice cap 250. So 4x250's with lumenbrights and radium bulbs. I think thats perfect since its a cube. I love my radiums but then again the replacement time period kills me, every 6-7 months. Then again I used mine up to a year but just lowered the lumenbrights. Also some VHO's for supplemental lighting too

Want to see some pics of the tank and the final lighitng structure you run with.

10/07/2008, 04:12 PM	#1
turtleman9100 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 570	Lighting for 300 cube Just picked up my first BIG tank. 300 cube. The tank is 48X48X30. I already own 3 ice cap 250 watt MH ballast. I currently have a mixed reef tank with some sps. Should I upgrade to 400 watt MH or will the 250's work?

10/07/2008, 07:57 PM	#2
ankur1113 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: ATL Posts: 18	It all depends on what kin of coral you are planning on keeping. If you plan on keeping SPS then I would say to upgrade it to 2 400 and some T5. __________________ Marineland 250gal (total 420) Bubbleking 300Ext 11x80watts overdriven T5 Geo618 Ca Reactor Current Tank Info: DeepSea 185 Mix

10/07/2008, 08:35 PM	#4
turtleman9100 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 570	I have a question. Would you get more useable light from 2/250 watt next to eachother or 1 400? __________________ Let's make better mistakes tomorrow....................... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon tall mixed reef, 1/2 HP Chiller, Bubble King Mini 180, GEO 818cr

10/07/2008, 08:01 PM	#3
BreadmanMike Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,886	I have a 48x48x25 mixed reef. I'm using two large lumenarcs w/400's. So you know what my vote is.

10/09/2008, 10:37 AM	#5
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	Go with the 2 x 400 watt

10/09/2008, 03:29 PM	#6
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	Deffinitely the 400 watt, I love the reeflux 12k 400 watt bulbs, the colors are amazing.

10/09/2008, 05:18 PM	#7
jdolores Moved On Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 177	Depends on what your planning to keep. If its 70% SPS, then I'd go with another ice cap 250. So 4x250's with lumenbrights and radium bulbs. I think thats perfect since its a cube. I love my radiums but then again the replacement time period kills me, every 6-7 months. Then again I used mine up to a year but just lowered the lumenbrights. Also some VHO's for supplemental lighting too Want to see some pics of the tank and the final lighitng structure you run with.