Thinking about going from dual 400's to dual 250's

PelagicMagic · 07/06/2010, 07:39 PM

I have an oceanic tec series 120g tank. Its 48"x24"x25". With the sand bed the bulbs are aprox 28" above the bottom of the tank. I have the mini luminarc reflectors. The ballast is a dual PFO HQI ballast and the bulbs are ushio 20k+ SE. My problem is that I have to keep most of my lps in the shade. I almost keep my aussie scolys in the dark in order for them to achieve proper PE. On the other hand my sps grows like a weed and have great PE. I have had a few trachs, scolys and lobos show bleaching, poor PE, or recession. When I move them into my look down tank that has a single PFO 250w SE reeflux 10k 30" off the sandbed they rebound and are fine. The look down tank is connected to my 120g and has similar flow. I was thinking about going with two coralvue 250w ballasts or two coralvue 400w dimmable ballasts. I am looking for suggestions from others who have had a similar experience. Should I reduce my wattage, go with dimmable 400w ballasts or continue to keep my LPS well shaded?

Levels tested and logged daily.
Ca~420ppm
DKH~8.5
Sg~1.026
Temp~79F
pH~8.0 to 8.1
Mg~1200

As you can see there are many shaded areas where I am placing my lps. For every one scoly or trach that you see in the photo, there are two more out of view in the shade/dark.

Thanks

cthedaytrader · 07/06/2010, 08:35 PM

Nice tank, I don't have experience with 400W, I have used t5s, 250 and 150W MH and VHOS, and with my current tank which is rather small lighting was a pain, since my tank is only 12 inches deep I had trouble with the lower light corals like you had, and always had to shade them, move them to ends etc.

I am not sure if this is an option, but can you raise the lights a little higher, that helped me some with my tank. You also look like most of your sps starts mid way up, so I bet you would do fine with a 250W setup as well, I have seen plenty of 24inch deep tanks that run 250w with no problem. Even some TOTM run 250s

good luck with whatever you decide.

cthedaytrader · 07/06/2010, 08:38 PM

http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month

Here is one tank that runs 250s, maybe if he sees it he can chime in on how the lower light corals do.

Dooly · 07/13/2010, 12:40 AM

bump this one up, I have the exact same tank and wondering about 250's on it as well. I have the exact same issue that you have.. awesome SPS growth and lps are getting bleached, but I run all T5's...

07/06/2010, 07:39 PM	#1
PelagicMagic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,671	Thinking about going from dual 400's to dual 250's I have an oceanic tec series 120g tank. Its 48"x24"x25". With the sand bed the bulbs are aprox 28" above the bottom of the tank. I have the mini luminarc reflectors. The ballast is a dual PFO HQI ballast and the bulbs are ushio 20k+ SE. My problem is that I have to keep most of my lps in the shade. I almost keep my aussie scolys in the dark in order for them to achieve proper PE. On the other hand my sps grows like a weed and have great PE. I have had a few trachs, scolys and lobos show bleaching, poor PE, or recession. When I move them into my look down tank that has a single PFO 250w SE reeflux 10k 30" off the sandbed they rebound and are fine. The look down tank is connected to my 120g and has similar flow. I was thinking about going with two coralvue 250w ballasts or two coralvue 400w dimmable ballasts. I am looking for suggestions from others who have had a similar experience. Should I reduce my wattage, go with dimmable 400w ballasts or continue to keep my LPS well shaded? Levels tested and logged daily. Ca~420ppm DKH~8.5 Sg~1.026 Temp~79F pH~8.0 to 8.1 Mg~1200 As you can see there are many shaded areas where I am placing my lps. For every one scoly or trach that you see in the photo, there are two more out of view in the shade/dark. Thanks

07/06/2010, 08:35 PM	#2
cthedaytrader Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: LI Posts: 1,328	Nice tank, I don't have experience with 400W, I have used t5s, 250 and 150W MH and VHOS, and with my current tank which is rather small lighting was a pain, since my tank is only 12 inches deep I had trouble with the lower light corals like you had, and always had to shade them, move them to ends etc. I am not sure if this is an option, but can you raise the lights a little higher, that helped me some with my tank. You also look like most of your sps starts mid way up, so I bet you would do fine with a 250W setup as well, I have seen plenty of 24inch deep tanks that run 250w with no problem. Even some TOTM run 250s good luck with whatever you decide. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 75G Rimless 40x24x18

07/06/2010, 08:38 PM	#3
cthedaytrader Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: LI Posts: 1,328	http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month Here is one tank that runs 250s, maybe if he sees it he can chime in on how the lower light corals do. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: 75G Rimless 40x24x18

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07/13/2010, 12:40 AM	#4
Dooly Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,108	bump this one up, I have the exact same tank and wondering about 250's on it as well. I have the exact same issue that you have.. awesome SPS growth and lps are getting bleached, but I run all T5's...