Need lighting advice for new 240g tank

Slickdonkey · 02/27/2006, 04:38 PM

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me out here and provide a few suggestions. I've had a FOWLR tank for about 5 years and am in the process of planning a 240-gallon reef setup (96x24x24). Although fish are going to be the highlight of the tank, I'm planning to also start with softies and LPS. I'd like to have the proper equipment to do SPS if I choose to in the future.

For the most part, I know what kind of equipment I'll be using. I'm still working out the design of the sump, and haven't yet chosen a skimmer. This is more due to lack of time than understanding, so I'm asking for help on LIGHTING. This is the area that really has me stumped and where I feel most out of my element. I've read so many different opinions and articles on lighting and I don't feel I'm any closer than when I started looking into this.

After my first pass at this, I'm planning to install 4x250W metal halides (at 2-foot intervals), and probably some T5's to supplement. I figured I would start with 10K bulbs and see how I like the look. But I still need a ballast, reflector, and I don't know whether to use single or double-ended bulbs. There are so many options it's overwhelming.

The search function here seems to be constantly overloaded so I'm not having much luck with that. Any help is appreciated! I don't want to switch equipment later so I'm willing to spend extra money to do this right.

I forgot to mention that the tank has a hood with maybe 12" of clearance, so I won't be using pendants.

bertoni · 02/27/2006, 06:17 PM

A lot depends on what you want to grow. I'd go for the 4x250W MH as you suggested, but I'd use VHO actinics currently, since the T5 bulbs I've seen are pretty ugly to my eyes. That might improve over time, though.

The single-ended Iwasaki bulbs are the most efficient for PAR out there, but they do have a yellowish cast. Some of the DE bulbs are fine, though. I wouldn't worry about single or double-ended, but instead try to pick some bulbs that you like. I know, hard to say, but the ballast and the bulbs can be matched for a bit more performance.

jimbo045 · 02/27/2006, 06:54 PM

I like and use 14,000s, stick with the Halides it will give off some heat. JD

FDinPA · 02/27/2006, 07:14 PM

I think that you will have very good results with the 250w metal halides. I personally prefer 10K bulbs but I'm not really sure that the difference between 10K and 14K bulbs makes much difference to most corals. I use 10K Halide bulbs and 03 actinics. Nothing beats glitter lines off of the halides (IMO). I also happen to love the fluoresence off of corals when the actinics are on by themselves.
The setup that you choose for the fluoresent bulbs is not really crucial (at least I do not believe that it is). Try surfing for used equipment and buy the bulbs to fit whatever you happen to get.
I agree with Jimbo that heat could be an issue. 1000w of french fry lights is substantial! If the hood is not open top I would consider fitting a fan and exhaust.
I'm so jealous. I can only dream of having the space for a 240!

Slickdonkey · 02/27/2006, 11:32 PM

Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I will go with the 10K's and some VHOs to supplement the blue. I know there are both blue and white VHOs, so I think the blue will give me the color I'm looking for.

I think I will like this combination better that straight up 14K's, so I can run the VHOs alone for dawn/dusk simulation. I don't care if this doesn't help the corals, I like the effect

I may try the Iwasaki bulb; the extra blue from the actinics may help alleviate some of the yellow. Does anyone have personal experience with this combination?

Slickdonkey · 02/28/2006, 10:22 AM

Hey, how many bulbs can I run off a single ballast? I was looking at the IceCap 660. It looks like it can do four bulbs but I'm not positive about that (wired in series, I assume)?

bertoni · 02/28/2006, 02:56 PM

Usually, it's one bulb per ballast. You might be able to find some wiring diagrams for multiple bulbs per ballast, but you'd have to cut the wattage to fit the ballast.

02/27/2006, 04:38 PM	#1
Slickdonkey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 375	Need lighting advice for new 240g tank Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me out here and provide a few suggestions. I've had a FOWLR tank for about 5 years and am in the process of planning a 240-gallon reef setup (96x24x24). Although fish are going to be the highlight of the tank, I'm planning to also start with softies and LPS. I'd like to have the proper equipment to do SPS if I choose to in the future. For the most part, I know what kind of equipment I'll be using. I'm still working out the design of the sump, and haven't yet chosen a skimmer. This is more due to lack of time than understanding, so I'm asking for help on LIGHTING. This is the area that really has me stumped and where I feel most out of my element. I've read so many different opinions and articles on lighting and I don't feel I'm any closer than when I started looking into this. After my first pass at this, I'm planning to install 4x250W metal halides (at 2-foot intervals), and probably some T5's to supplement. I figured I would start with 10K bulbs and see how I like the look. But I still need a ballast, reflector, and I don't know whether to use single or double-ended bulbs. There are so many options it's overwhelming. The search function here seems to be constantly overloaded so I'm not having much luck with that. Any help is appreciated! I don't want to switch equipment later so I'm willing to spend extra money to do this right. I forgot to mention that the tank has a hood with maybe 12" of clearance, so I won't be using pendants.

02/27/2006, 06:17 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A lot depends on what you want to grow. I'd go for the 4x250W MH as you suggested, but I'd use VHO actinics currently, since the T5 bulbs I've seen are pretty ugly to my eyes. That might improve over time, though. The single-ended Iwasaki bulbs are the most efficient for PAR out there, but they do have a yellowish cast. Some of the DE bulbs are fine, though. I wouldn't worry about single or double-ended, but instead try to pick some bulbs that you like. I know, hard to say, but the ballast and the bulbs can be matched for a bit more performance. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/27/2006, 07:14 PM	#4
FDinPA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 34	I think that you will have very good results with the 250w metal halides. I personally prefer 10K bulbs but I'm not really sure that the difference between 10K and 14K bulbs makes much difference to most corals. I use 10K Halide bulbs and 03 actinics. Nothing beats glitter lines off of the halides (IMO). I also happen to love the fluoresence off of corals when the actinics are on by themselves. The setup that you choose for the fluoresent bulbs is not really crucial (at least I do not believe that it is). Try surfing for used equipment and buy the bulbs to fit whatever you happen to get. I agree with Jimbo that heat could be an issue. 1000w of french fry lights is substantial! If the hood is not open top I would consider fitting a fan and exhaust. I'm so jealous. I can only dream of having the space for a 240! __________________ Illegitimous non-carburendum Current Tank Info: 120

02/28/2006, 02:56 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Usually, it's one bulb per ballast. You might be able to find some wiring diagrams for multiple bulbs per ballast, but you'd have to cut the wattage to fit the ballast. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/27/2006, 06:54 PM	#3
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	I like and use 14,000s, stick with the Halides it will give off some heat. JD

02/27/2006, 11:32 PM	#5
Slickdonkey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 375	Thanks for the advice, guys. I think I will go with the 10K's and some VHOs to supplement the blue. I know there are both blue and white VHOs, so I think the blue will give me the color I'm looking for. I think I will like this combination better that straight up 14K's, so I can run the VHOs alone for dawn/dusk simulation. I don't care if this doesn't help the corals, I like the effect I may try the Iwasaki bulb; the extra blue from the actinics may help alleviate some of the yellow. Does anyone have personal experience with this combination?

02/28/2006, 10:22 AM	#6
Slickdonkey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 375	Hey, how many bulbs can I run off a single ballast? I was looking at the IceCap 660. It looks like it can do four bulbs but I'm not positive about that (wired in series, I assume)?