would this be overkill lighting?

_dilly · 05/26/2011, 01:56 PM

i have a 75g cube and have been running a 250w DE-MH setup for the 2 years it has been running...cleaning the garage last weekend i found a PFO 400w SE MH setup in the garage from a previous tank...would it be crazy to build a canopy and use both of them? tank is starting to lean more toward sps dominant from mixed and since this is sitting in the garage doing nothing i figure maybe it could help....my tank is 20" deep

Alec · 05/26/2011, 02:13 PM

why dont you just use the 400w

JustinM · 05/26/2011, 02:17 PM

What I was thinking too.

t4zalews · 05/26/2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alec

why dont you just use the 400w

+1, 1x400w is all you would need

_dilly · 05/26/2011, 02:39 PM

makes sense...the tank i had the 400w on was an sps dominated tank...i moved and decided to quit reefing for a bit...next thing i know im starting up another one...and the only reason i didnt go w the 400 was because i wasnt originally planning to go sps...and didnt want to build a canopy for the reflector...so i bought the 250 de aqua media spacelight...figured i would sell the pfo set

the main reason i ask about using both is...i have no supplemental lighting..just the 250...if i end up bringing the 400w into the mix...why not go 20k with the 250 and something like a 12k on the 400?

wineman · 05/27/2011, 02:31 PM

Using both lights seem like over kill. use the 400 with a 20k and there should be no need to supplement. Maybe a few LEDs to start the day and end it.

_dilly · 05/30/2011, 03:44 PM

i was thinking about trying a 400w XM 15k....i've been running the phoenix 14k de with my 250w and want something close to that spectrum-wise

shifty51008 · 05/30/2011, 04:30 PM

I would go with the 20k XM's better par than the 15K's

_dilly · 05/30/2011, 06:58 PM

they do? didnt know that...i used to run xm 20k on this 400w pfo and always wanted to drop to 15k for growth....i guess ill take a look at sanjays charts

grigsy · 05/30/2011, 07:49 PM

+1 just go with the 400 watt halide bulb. That will be sufficient.

Also, I agree - XM 20K would be a better choice than XM 15K which has terrible PAR.

musicman1968 · 05/30/2011, 07:54 PM

Overkill to run both imo, not to mention you'll have heating issues. 900 watts on a 75 is great if you want to bleach your sandbed.

shifty51008 · 05/30/2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman1968

Overkill to run both imo, not to mention you'll have heating issues. 900 watts on a 75 is great if you want to bleach your sandbed.

over kil,l yes. but I ran 2 400's over my 75 gal. for 5 years with no problems with anything my heater was kicking on much more than my fans.

Felixc395 · 05/30/2011, 10:12 PM

One 400 watt 20k something should do the trick. Seems like the general consensus is XM.

_dilly · 05/30/2011, 11:13 PM

thanks guys

_dilly · 06/07/2011, 11:45 AM

so i decided to just get a whole new mh system.....

going w the 400w lumatek ballast and the sunlight supply lumen max pendant

planning on using a 20k bulb....which one should i get....radium or xm?

05/26/2011, 01:56 PM	#1
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	would this be overkill lighting? i have a 75g cube and have been running a 250w DE-MH setup for the 2 years it has been running...cleaning the garage last weekend i found a PFO 400w SE MH setup in the garage from a previous tank...would it be crazy to build a canopy and use both of them? tank is starting to lean more toward sps dominant from mixed and since this is sitting in the garage doing nothing i figure maybe it could help....my tank is 20" deep

05/30/2011, 04:30 PM	#8
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	I would go with the 20k XM's better par than the 15K's __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

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05/26/2011, 02:13 PM	#2
Alec Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: denver,co Posts: 27	why dont you just use the 400w

05/26/2011, 02:17 PM	#3
JustinM Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,215	What I was thinking too.

05/26/2011, 02:39 PM	#5
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	makes sense...the tank i had the 400w on was an sps dominated tank...i moved and decided to quit reefing for a bit...next thing i know im starting up another one...and the only reason i didnt go w the 400 was because i wasnt originally planning to go sps...and didnt want to build a canopy for the reflector...so i bought the 250 de aqua media spacelight...figured i would sell the pfo set the main reason i ask about using both is...i have no supplemental lighting..just the 250...if i end up bringing the 400w into the mix...why not go 20k with the 250 and something like a 12k on the 400?

05/27/2011, 02:31 PM	#6
wineman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: atlanta Posts: 45	Using both lights seem like over kill. use the 400 with a 20k and there should be no need to supplement. Maybe a few LEDs to start the day and end it.

05/30/2011, 03:44 PM	#7
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	i was thinking about trying a 400w XM 15k....i've been running the phoenix 14k de with my 250w and want something close to that spectrum-wise

05/30/2011, 06:58 PM	#9
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	they do? didnt know that...i used to run xm 20k on this 400w pfo and always wanted to drop to 15k for growth....i guess ill take a look at sanjays charts

05/30/2011, 07:49 PM	#10
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	+1 just go with the 400 watt halide bulb. That will be sufficient. Also, I agree - XM 20K would be a better choice than XM 15K which has terrible PAR.

05/30/2011, 07:54 PM	#11
musicman1968 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Taft, CA Posts: 89	Overkill to run both imo, not to mention you'll have heating issues. 900 watts on a 75 is great if you want to bleach your sandbed.

05/30/2011, 10:12 PM	#13
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	One 400 watt 20k something should do the trick. Seems like the general consensus is XM.

05/30/2011, 11:13 PM	#14
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	thanks guys

06/07/2011, 11:45 AM	#15
_dilly Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 64	so i decided to just get a whole new mh system..... going w the 400w lumatek ballast and the sunlight supply lumen max pendant planning on using a 20k bulb....which one should i get....radium or xm?