MH's on a 72 bow

blakeoe · 09/22/2006, 04:12 PM

Would 2 400 watt HQI Halides in spider reflectors be too much for a 72 gallon bow? Im going to keep a variety of hard and soft corals.

jamal-188 · 09/22/2006, 05:44 PM

IMO you wouldn't need that much light.. I had 2x150W HQI's on my 72 bow and could keep anything. You could even go with 250W HQI's or 250W SE's but even that is probably more than enough.

fishdave739 · 09/22/2006, 06:39 PM

I ran 2 400's and 2 vho's on my old 72. VERY BRIGHT, Crocea clams on the bottom bright! Could grow anything, but be prepared to deal with the heat!

drives300 · 09/22/2006, 08:09 PM

...and the electric billl!

blakeoe · 09/22/2006, 10:32 PM

I know about the heat. Im building a custom "tall" canopy with a bunch of fans. Im just wanting to know if too much light can be bad for some stuff. I seem to be able to find better deals on 400w and 150w systems and i would rather have too much (if it doesn't hurt) than not enough.

fishdave739 · 09/23/2006, 06:24 AM

I'll admit there were a few corals I felt I burned by just putting them up high on the reef. Start at the bottom and move them up a little weekly to get used to it. Tort's, Hoke's and the like will grow like weeds under that lighting. literally outgrew that tank in less than 2 years! Would also recommend not to run 10k's, too much, 14k did much better. Currently running 3 400's on my new 180, 14k and I think I'll go 20k when it's time to change bulbs. Funny we're talking about too much light when most are after all the par they can get!

whalloper · 09/23/2006, 09:39 AM

I run 2 250W HQI on my 72 bow and it seems too much for some and maybe not quite enough for others. My shrooms hate it (which doesnt bother me much - keeps them from spreading). zoos depend on the type (the brighter ones dont mind as much). Xenia took off when these went in. Montis I think its perfect for. Acros could maybe use a little more - Ive moved them way up to the top with the bulbs about 6" from the water. I have croceas at the bottom and they are doing great.

The PAR of my bulbs is not that much. They are Aqualine with a 45 PAR rating. Eventually, I might add a higher PAR bulb like a mogul XM 10K which is about 115 above the acros.

09/22/2006, 04:12 PM	#1
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	MH's on a 72 bow Would 2 400 watt HQI Halides in spider reflectors be too much for a 72 gallon bow? Im going to keep a variety of hard and soft corals. __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

09/22/2006, 08:09 PM	#4
drives300 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 961	...and the electric billl! __________________ Water Param 79 degrees nit 0 amm 0 phos 0 salifers Calcium 450 salifer alk 11 dkh Ph 8-8.1 Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon,reef octopus nw150, 2 oceanflow mods, 2x 250w 10k mh, phos reactor

09/22/2006, 10:32 PM	#5
blakeoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 370	I know about the heat. Im building a custom "tall" canopy with a bunch of fans. Im just wanting to know if too much light can be bad for some stuff. I seem to be able to find better deals on 400w and 150w systems and i would rather have too much (if it doesn't hurt) than not enough. __________________ Somethings Fishy Around Here!! Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow front

09/23/2006, 09:39 AM	#7
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	I run 2 250W HQI on my 72 bow and it seems too much for some and maybe not quite enough for others. My shrooms hate it (which doesnt bother me much - keeps them from spreading). zoos depend on the type (the brighter ones dont mind as much). Xenia took off when these went in. Montis I think its perfect for. Acros could maybe use a little more - Ive moved them way up to the top with the bulbs about 6" from the water. I have croceas at the bottom and they are doing great. The PAR of my bulbs is not that much. They are Aqualine with a 45 PAR rating. Eventually, I might add a higher PAR bulb like a mogul XM 10K which is about 115 above the acros. __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

09/22/2006, 05:44 PM	#2
jamal-188 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,480	IMO you wouldn't need that much light.. I had 2x150W HQI's on my 72 bow and could keep anything. You could even go with 250W HQI's or 250W SE's but even that is probably more than enough.

09/22/2006, 06:39 PM	#3
fishdave739 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 152	I ran 2 400's and 2 vho's on my old 72. VERY BRIGHT, Crocea clams on the bottom bright! Could grow anything, but be prepared to deal with the heat!

09/23/2006, 06:24 AM	#6
fishdave739 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 152	I'll admit there were a few corals I felt I burned by just putting them up high on the reef. Start at the bottom and move them up a little weekly to get used to it. Tort's, Hoke's and the like will grow like weeds under that lighting. literally outgrew that tank in less than 2 years! Would also recommend not to run 10k's, too much, 14k did much better. Currently running 3 400's on my new 180, 14k and I think I'll go 20k when it's time to change bulbs. Funny we're talking about too much light when most are after all the par they can get!