enough light?

Cpl_usmc · 01/24/2010, 07:07 PM

Im looking into gettin a 75 or a 120 gallon, will 2x175 watt mh's be enough light for corals?

Sisterlimonpot · 01/24/2010, 07:08 PM

Oh yeah, plenty of light.

Cpl_usmc · 01/24/2010, 07:17 PM

Thanks, I was thinkin about gettin some maxi jets and modding them for flow, I hear they do pretty well on controllers too.. Anyone have good success with them on controllers?

J.P.Reef · 01/24/2010, 08:36 PM

I ran modded maxi's on a controller for awhile, they burnt out in less than a year. they aren't really meant for controllers and they are loud on the start up.

birdman1979 · 01/24/2010, 09:26 PM

I think that would work. If you don't have the equipment yet i'd go with 2x250. better bulb selection and more par for about the same price.

SaltwaterAdict · 03/18/2011, 06:17 PM

175's would be more than enough light. I'd also consider 150's if I were you. I'm running 175's on my 180, to give you an idea.

FormulatedFire · 03/18/2011, 08:16 PM

How's it going devil dog....I'm curious as to what type of corals are you looking to keep? If your trying to keep clams and SPS I'd suggest going with 250's, but if your looking to go for a softies based tank you while be fine with 175's.

RonMidtownStomp · 03/19/2011, 01:16 AM

250W Metal Halides produce as much as 4x the PAR for very little more power consumption. I wouldn't consider 175W's. The other consideration is that reflectors have a tremendous impact on both appearance and PAR.

almostazoo · 03/19/2011, 09:39 AM

I have 2 150hqi on a 90L and the spread is not enough(looks like cones of light), I am currently building T5HO to add on for better coverage.

SaltwaterAdict · 03/19/2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonMidtownStomp

250W Metal Halides produce as much as 4x the PAR for very little more power consumption. I wouldn't consider 175W's. The other consideration is that reflectors have a tremendous impact on both appearance and PAR.

Ushio's (10k, 14k), xm's (10k/20K), and iwasaki (15k) have excellent par readings for 175w's. I think 250's are nice, but way overkill on a 75g. With the increased power comes increased heat and typically more problems. I'd go with the 175's and forget the chiller! Reflectors do have an impact but two spider reflectors over a 75 would cover the whole tank easily. I wouldn't drop a few hundred on lumenarc/max unless I had a 'huge' tank!

Going with spider reflector allows you to put the light closer to the water, increasing par. Whereas, with the high end reflectors need to be mounted at least 10"-12"..

SaltwaterAdict · 03/19/2011, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by almostazoo

I have 2 150hqi on a 90L and the spread is not enough(looks like cones of light), I am currently building T5HO to add on for better coverage.

What reflectors are you using? Supplemental lighting is always a nice touch with metal halides and I always recommend it.

RonMidtownStomp · 03/19/2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltwaterAdict

Do you have any data to back this up? I know certain 175w bulbs which can get more par than 250's. Ushio's (10k, 14k), xm's (10k/20K), and iwasaki (15k) have excellent par readings. I think 250's are nice, but way overkill on a 75g. With the increased power comes increased heat and typically more problems. I'd go with the 175's and forget the chiller! Reflectors do have an impact but two spider reflectors over a 75 would cover the whole tank easily. I wouldn't drop a few hundred on lumenarc/max unless I had a 'huge' tank!

Going with spider reflector allows you to put the light closer to the water, increasing par. Whereas, with the high end reflectors need to be mounted at least 10"-12"..

DIY Mini Lumenarc vs spider reflector:

Both sides for comparison:

RonMidtownStomp · 03/19/2011, 02:04 PM

The numbers speak for themselves. Spider reflectors are garbage.

As far as 175W vs 250W, just look at Sanjay's numbers. Peak output for an Ushio 10k, for instance is ~.2 W/m^2/nm, an Iwasaki 15k peaks out at about .38 with a similar spectrum to 250W Radiums, BUT the Radium provides .62. Although not double the Iwasaki, it sure is close.

For 30% more power and heat, there is no reason, especially when taking future upgradability into account, to buy 175's over 250's, ESPECIALLY if you like the look of Radiums.

I can't recommend enough a 4x2x2 120 gallon tank with a pair of Lumenmax Elites with Radiums. It would be a perfect long term solution for a tank with nice dimensions.

SaltwaterAdict · 04/06/2011, 03:34 PM

Wanted to do a follow up and say I switched to 250W and can't believe my eyes! 250W are probably 3 times brighter and fish and corals look incredible. Now I'm a believer when it comes to choosing 250's over 175's. If you go with a nice bulb like radium then you don't need supplemental and looks great! I heard phoenix is a pretty nice bulb as well..

01/24/2010, 07:07 PM	#1
Cpl_usmc Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 381	enough light? Im looking into gettin a 75 or a 120 gallon, will 2x175 watt mh's be enough light for corals?

01/24/2010, 07:08 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Oh yeah, plenty of light. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

03/19/2011, 01:16 AM	#8
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	250W Metal Halides produce as much as 4x the PAR for very little more power consumption. I wouldn't consider 175W's. The other consideration is that reflectors have a tremendous impact on both appearance and PAR. __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

03/19/2011, 09:39 AM	#9
almostazoo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Avondale Posts: 241	I have 2 150hqi on a 90L and the spread is not enough(looks like cones of light), I am currently building T5HO to add on for better coverage. Last edited by almostazoo; 03/19/2011 at 09:40 AM. Reason: description

03/19/2011, 02:04 PM	#13
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	The numbers speak for themselves. Spider reflectors are garbage. As far as 175W vs 250W, just look at Sanjay's numbers. Peak output for an Ushio 10k, for instance is ~.2 W/m^2/nm, an Iwasaki 15k peaks out at about .38 with a similar spectrum to 250W Radiums, BUT the Radium provides .62. Although not double the Iwasaki, it sure is close. For 30% more power and heat, there is no reason, especially when taking future upgradability into account, to buy 175's over 250's, ESPECIALLY if you like the look of Radiums. I can't recommend enough a 4x2x2 120 gallon tank with a pair of Lumenmax Elites with Radiums. It would be a perfect long term solution for a tank with nice dimensions. __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

01/24/2010, 07:17 PM	#3
Cpl_usmc Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 381	Thanks, I was thinkin about gettin some maxi jets and modding them for flow, I hear they do pretty well on controllers too.. Anyone have good success with them on controllers?

01/24/2010, 08:36 PM	#4
J.P.Reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New York Posts: 106	I ran modded maxi's on a controller for awhile, they burnt out in less than a year. they aren't really meant for controllers and they are loud on the start up.

01/24/2010, 09:26 PM	#5
birdman1979 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 373	I think that would work. If you don't have the equipment yet i'd go with 2x250. better bulb selection and more par for about the same price.

03/18/2011, 06:17 PM	#6
SaltwaterAdict Moved On Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Strongsville Posts: 3,208	175's would be more than enough light. I'd also consider 150's if I were you. I'm running 175's on my 180, to give you an idea.

03/18/2011, 08:16 PM	#7
FormulatedFire Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 138	How's it going devil dog....I'm curious as to what type of corals are you looking to keep? If your trying to keep clams and SPS I'd suggest going with 250's, but if your looking to go for a softies based tank you while be fine with 175's.

04/06/2011, 03:34 PM	#14
SaltwaterAdict Moved On Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Strongsville Posts: 3,208	Wanted to do a follow up and say I switched to 250W and can't believe my eyes! 250W are probably 3 times brighter and fish and corals look incredible. Now I'm a believer when it comes to choosing 250's over 175's. If you go with a nice bulb like radium then you don't need supplemental and looks great! I heard phoenix is a pretty nice bulb as well..