MH's and Corals

dodgersfan25 · 05/14/2006, 05:02 PM

ok, so im setting up a 90 reef tank (mixture of SPS, LPS and softies) with a depth of 17".

im going to buy a dual 400 W MH system from a friend but was wondering if 800W of lighting was too intense for only a 17" deep tank? should i get something a little taller?

it comes with a 10K XM bulb and a 20K XM bulb. sholud i supplement with actinics or do you think that's a good combo? or would more actinic PC's be too much?

thanks!

starseed · 05/14/2006, 05:18 PM

400s are strong, I would go deeper if you are keeping softies and LPS - my softies burn inder 175s at the same depth and there are not soo make shadded areas for them.

I would add actinics, MH alone are a little bright and the blue brings out colors and gives it a more natural light (and I think the corals like it too).

Sounds like great lights, but you could go deeper if you are really commited to softies.

mg426 · 05/14/2006, 06:04 PM

400s are going to rock at that depth. Might be a bit much.

dodgersfan25 · 05/14/2006, 08:24 PM

ok, thinking about upgrading that too then? how about the 400's on a 25" deep tank?

six.line · 05/14/2006, 08:30 PM

that depth and lighting doesn't sound so bad. either get lower powered metal halides or get a deeper tank, i suppose it depends on whether or not you want a a smaller tank.

dodgersfan25 · 05/14/2006, 09:16 PM

question:

sorry im new to metal halides, but can i use a lower wattage bulb (maybe 150W or 175W) on the 400 W ballast without any danger?

Blown 346 · 05/14/2006, 09:23 PM

400 watters are typically for tanks that are 48 inches deep, you will rock the corals, then you have a heat problem.

In my 90 I have 2 250 watt halides and my SPS,LPS, Clams, softies are doing great. In my opinion 400 watt halides are overkill.

The softies burning under those light could be from several reasons, one being they werent acclimated properly.
The second being maybe they are too high.
I have softies mid level and high in my tank without problems, they love all the light.
My gallery has pics.

spoiledcats · 05/15/2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

sorry im new to metal halides, but can i use a lower wattage bulb (maybe 150W or 175W) on the 400 W ballast without any danger?

No.

Anemonebuff · 05/15/2006, 08:52 AM

Use 20 K bulbs(no need for actinic supplements and a weeker bulb than 10-14K) and raise the lights higher so they are further from the surface. Keep the softies to the sides and in the shade.

I would get a deeper tank, but you can still use them on a 17" tank. Get some fans or heat issues.

anthony34 · 05/15/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starseed
400s are strong, I would go deeper if you are keeping softies and LPS - my softies burn inder 175s at the same depth and there are not soo make shadded areas for them.

I would add actinics, MH alone are a little bright and the blue brings out colors and gives it a more natural light (and I think the corals like it too).

Sounds like great lights, but you could go deeper if you are really commited to softies.

It will be ok, I run 2x400 20k Radiums also have 2x VHO but never run them together they are not needed the Radiums give the best of both worlds already in color the only time my VHOs are on is when my MH are off they run for about 2hrs then for then dawn effect

They look great on my 90g and my corals love it and I did not have to do anything special no moving things around or hiding some things from light they simply did not mind the lighting.

but it is overkill as far as wattage, but will not harm anything, as I stated my corals look awsome and do not mine the extra wattage.

05/14/2006, 05:02 PM	#1
dodgersfan25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Valencia (So Cal) Posts: 757	MH's and Corals ok, so im setting up a 90 reef tank (mixture of SPS, LPS and softies) with a depth of 17". im going to buy a dual 400 W MH system from a friend but was wondering if 800W of lighting was too intense for only a 17" deep tank? should i get something a little taller? it comes with a 10K XM bulb and a 20K XM bulb. sholud i supplement with actinics or do you think that's a good combo? or would more actinic PC's be too much? thanks!

05/14/2006, 06:04 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	400s are going to rock at that depth. Might be a bit much. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

05/14/2006, 08:24 PM	#4
dodgersfan25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Valencia (So Cal) Posts: 757	ok, thinking about upgrading that too then? how about the 400's on a 25" deep tank? __________________ -rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Mixed Reef

05/14/2006, 08:30 PM	#5
six.line Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 775	that depth and lighting doesn't sound so bad. either get lower powered metal halides or get a deeper tank, i suppose it depends on whether or not you want a a smaller tank. __________________ This post approved by Mrs. Sixline. assign <= six.line(#FFFFFF && string("nerdy")) Current Tank Info: 30 gallon with 10 gallon sump

05/14/2006, 09:16 PM	#6
dodgersfan25 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Valencia (So Cal) Posts: 757	question: sorry im new to metal halides, but can i use a lower wattage bulb (maybe 150W or 175W) on the 400 W ballast without any danger? __________________ -rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Mixed Reef

05/14/2006, 05:18 PM	#2
starseed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 275	400s are strong, I would go deeper if you are keeping softies and LPS - my softies burn inder 175s at the same depth and there are not soo make shadded areas for them. I would add actinics, MH alone are a little bright and the blue brings out colors and gives it a more natural light (and I think the corals like it too). Sounds like great lights, but you could go deeper if you are really commited to softies.

05/14/2006, 09:23 PM	#7
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	400 watters are typically for tanks that are 48 inches deep, you will rock the corals, then you have a heat problem. In my 90 I have 2 250 watt halides and my SPS,LPS, Clams, softies are doing great. In my opinion 400 watt halides are overkill. The softies burning under those light could be from several reasons, one being they werent acclimated properly. The second being maybe they are too high. I have softies mid level and high in my tank without problems, they love all the light. My gallery has pics.

05/15/2006, 08:52 AM	#9
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Use 20 K bulbs(no need for actinic supplements and a weeker bulb than 10-14K) and raise the lights higher so they are further from the surface. Keep the softies to the sides and in the shade. I would get a deeper tank, but you can still use them on a 17" tank. Get some fans or heat issues.