150g reef...need tips on lighting.

[btldreef]

Okay so i have had numerous tanks in the past year. I have had nothing but t5ho bulbs on all of them. I want to upgrade to metal halides but, I just do not know what wattages/bulbs I will need. Right now on my 155g 72x18x28 there are two 36" current nova extremes w/ 4x 39w each. I know this is on the lower lighting side but all I have right now is a lot of lps, fish, and 1 monti cap that are all thriving and doing pretty well.

I want metal halides so I can have some more sps but I am afraid of the heat thats going to be generated and I really do not want to have a chiller. I have read a couple of tank threads from this forum and other forums that common lighting is 72" fixture w/ 3 x 250w mh and 2 96w pc/ho. Most of the people have stated try that setup on a 125-150g and if the temps go up then worry about getting a chiller, I do not want to worry about anything... I want to make sure the tank stays at 77 to 80 without getting a chiller. I have also read that people have done t5hos w/ icecap ballasts and have had good results w/ their sps corals. 155g from what I have seen, seems to be a very uncommon size. any advice/input... thanks in advance.

 

[Awibrandy]

I can't talk on T5's since I've never had them. I am currently running 3 X 250watt MH with 4 X 24watt pc on my 155 bow front.

 

[btldreef]

I can't talk on T5's since I've never had them. I am currently running 3 X 250watt MH with 4 X 24watt pc on my 155 bow front.

Do you run a chiller? What brand lighting? What brand bulbs?

 

[Awibrandy]

Do you run a chiller? What brand lighting? What brand bulbs?

I don't run a chiller. I live 3 blocks from the ocean, and about 10 blocks from the bay. My tank does hit about 84 - 85 during the Hottest day of the summer. One of these days I will get the outlet for my A/C installed.

I am currently running Helios & corallife pc's on a Odyssea light fixture. The fixture sits 8" above the water surface on a custom built canopy. I have 2 - 4" fans installed in the canopy; one blows across the surface, and the other pulls the hot air out, and away from the canopy. Both fans are on a controller, and only come on if and when the water temp goes above a preset temp.

 

[isgon26]

If you intend to keep SPS i suggest 250W halides. However, as far as the temps of your tank that depends on the temps in your home. If you have central air or leave an ac running you can get by with fans to difer the heat of the halides. But if not you will definately need a chiller. A better way is to go with DIY LED's. It is a large investment but will pay off at the end. I run 3 250w halides on my 150 and have fans and a chiller to keep it cool along with a house ac. However, I dont pay electricity. If i did i would definatley go with LED's. There are several threads on how to make them. Or you can contact some of the members on MR that have made their own LED fixtures.