The Billionth lighting question

[CoralReefDreamer]

I'm wanting to change my55G FOWLR NO lighting over to MH to enable clams, maybe a couple soft corals (all fish are reef compatible) Livestock is as follows:

1 yellow tang (before you yell at me, I'm getting a 220 for Xmas from my other half - he's less than 2 inches now and is quite happy)
2 False Percs
2 Blue Green Reef Chromis
3 yellow tail damsels
1 male lyretail anthias

Anyway, any opinions on if 2 175W MH Pendants will be enough to keep clams in the 55? That's like 7W per gallon? should I do the 250? tank has quite a few ledges I can put the clams on if sandbed is too far down for adequate lighting. Tank is about 10 months old..sandbed is well established and tank is very healthy. Any opinions would be greatly appricated.... Thans in advance :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

IMO the 175s would be more than adequate for the 55. When you get the bigger tank, the 55 will remain set up? Otherwise, I would go with the brighter ones with the 220 in mind.

 

[CoralReefDreamer]

yes the 55 is staying up... only thing coming out of the 55 is the yellow tang.

 

[Bubafat]

I would do 250's for a 55 just cause of depth unless you are satisfied with deresa's, squamossa's and gigas's.

Buba

 

[AgentSPS]

I would do 250's for a 55 just cause of depth unless you are satisfied with deresa's, squamossa's and gigas's.

Buba

500 total watts is going to create heat problems on a 55. Just like that your $400 investment will turn into a $1000 investment (chiller time)

 

[wildbill]

I wouldn't go any smaller than a 250w. Heat could be a problem, You need to consider this first.

Bill

 

[Man-grove]

Fellas, I am in the same boat. I wanna go MH in my 55gal tank. I was going to buy a dual 250w fixture and hang it above the tank. If heat is an issue why not raise the fixture a little higher?? :?: Whats the probability of the 250's raising the temp too high? I cannot afford a chiller no way shape or form.

 

[wombat1]

I use one 250W Iwasaki over my 12" deep 30 gal. The ballast and bulb end up costing the same amount, so why not?? You can use them on your 220 if you ever decide to upgrade that to a reef (Although some would say use 400W on a tank that deep). My hood hangs about 6 inches above my tank and the bulb is about 12" above the water, and I have no overheating problems. I say go for the 250s.

 

[Pierce09]

I'm going through the same thing, with a FOWLR and switching to MH. I was wondering if it would be possible to set the lights about 16" above the surface of the water, would they still hold their effectiveness (Dual 175W bulbs)? Thanks

 

[Brvheart5]

You won't have heat problems IMO, espscially with pendants. I could see heat issues with retrofitting a low-circulation canopy. But as long as you've got an open top, you'll be fine.

I was very wary when I did the same switch you are considering. I was worried about heat. But heat has not been an issue whatsoever. In fact, there was absolutely no change in tank temp.

The tank is a 55g acrylic. The lighting is 2x175w MH plus 220w of VHO. It is all in a Hamilton hood. The hood is enclosed with a plexiglass bottom. The bottom of the hood is probably 5" above the water, with the bulbs another 3" above the bottom of the hood. There are 2 50CFM fans on either end, one blowing in, the other out.

So basically, if you keep an open top on the tank, and there is open air between the pendant and the top, you're fine!

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[houstonreefer]

Go for 250 DE. you will get the most out of it.