Help me pick my lighting! Choose between two lighting options

Mr. Brooks · 09/09/2010, 03:33 PM

Hey guys, I'm picking up a 300 gallon tank today. It's 96" x 30" x 24". I already have two dual 250 watt HQI ballasts and three 400 watt Galaxy electronic ballasts. I'm thinking either four 250 watt Radiums in Sunlight Supply Lumenmax reflectors close to the water. Or three 400 watt Radiums in Lumenmax reflectors a little higher up. The Lumenmax reflectors offer a lot of light spread as apposed to say the Coralvue Lumenbrights which focus the light on a smaller area. There will be no supplemental lighting. I want the fastest growth possible. Mostly Acros and Montis. Which would you pick? I'm leaning towards the 400's. Thanks!

solitude127 · 09/09/2010, 04:49 PM

I say got with 4 and save some electricity.

Mr. Brooks · 09/09/2010, 05:08 PM

I really want to get a lot of intensity out of my lighting. With three 400 watt bulbs I'm thinking I'll have a greater range of super intense light and areas of less intense but still sufficient light.

dustinc · 09/09/2010, 05:24 PM

I would go with the 4x250 watts. I think you will be much happier. The tank is not too deep so I think you will get plenty of intensity with better coverage.

nikon187 · 09/09/2010, 05:52 PM

In the right reflector you could get the job done with 2 250w halides.. ( Lumenarc large will put out a 3' X 3' square 12" off the water.

Mr. Brooks · 09/11/2010, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikon187

In the right reflector you could get the job done with 2 250w halides.. ( Lumenarc large will put out a 3' X 3' square 12" off the water.

Even at 3' x 3' that would only cover 72". My tank is 96".

If I go with 3 - 400's, there will be 7 1/4" between each reflector. Each would bulb have to cover 32". I think this is the best option but keep voting, I'd like to see what you guys think.

Mr. Brooks · 09/11/2010, 05:01 AM

If I go with 4 - 250's there will be only 1 5/16" between each reflector.

I have galaxy select-a-watt ballasts.. I could do 4 - 400's in the winter and 4 - 250's in the summer..

mike_cmu04 · 09/11/2010, 09:17 AM

I would go with 3x250 they will be pleanty of light in a 24" I dont think you are gonna want the 400's. If you can do it with 3 400's you can do it with 3 250's. But then again if you are pretty set with the 400's do it!!

View Poll Results: Which lighting option would you pick for an 8' long tank
Four 250 watt Radiums in Lumenmax reflectors	12	75.00%
Three 400 watt Radiums in Lumenmax reflectors	4	25.00%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

09/09/2010, 03:33 PM	#1
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	Help me pick my lighting! Choose between two lighting options Hey guys, I'm picking up a 300 gallon tank today. It's 96" x 30" x 24". I already have two dual 250 watt HQI ballasts and three 400 watt Galaxy electronic ballasts. I'm thinking either four 250 watt Radiums in Sunlight Supply Lumenmax reflectors close to the water. Or three 400 watt Radiums in Lumenmax reflectors a little higher up. The Lumenmax reflectors offer a lot of light spread as apposed to say the Coralvue Lumenbrights which focus the light on a smaller area. There will be no supplemental lighting. I want the fastest growth possible. Mostly Acros and Montis. Which would you pick? I'm leaning towards the 400's. Thanks!

09/09/2010, 04:49 PM	#2
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	I say got with 4 and save some electricity. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

09/09/2010, 05:24 PM	#4
dustinc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Waxahachie, TX Posts: 1,096	I would go with the 4x250 watts. I think you will be much happier. The tank is not too deep so I think you will get plenty of intensity with better coverage. __________________ You might be too strong to surrender boy, but you're far too frail to fight! Current Tank Info: 120 Planet

09/09/2010, 05:52 PM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	In the right reflector you could get the job done with 2 250w halides.. ( Lumenarc large will put out a 3' X 3' square 12" off the water. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

09/09/2010, 05:08 PM	#3
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	I really want to get a lot of intensity out of my lighting. With three 400 watt bulbs I'm thinking I'll have a greater range of super intense light and areas of less intense but still sufficient light.

09/11/2010, 05:01 AM	#7
Mr. Brooks MASVC Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 3,477	If I go with 4 - 250's there will be only 1 5/16" between each reflector. I have galaxy select-a-watt ballasts.. I could do 4 - 400's in the winter and 4 - 250's in the summer..

09/11/2010, 09:17 AM	#8
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	I would go with 3x250 they will be pleanty of light in a 24" I dont think you are gonna want the 400's. If you can do it with 3 400's you can do it with 3 250's. But then again if you are pretty set with the 400's do it!!

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