250 Watt vs 400 Watt Metal Halides

[Rizano01]

Hi Everyone:

My 120 gallon 48x24x24 marine aquarium with chiller and DSB has been up and running for 6 months now. My 150 watt double ended halides have been running about 4 hours a day on average for 5 months. I have been thinking about upgrading my ballasts and two MH bulbs from 150 watt 10k to either 250 or 400 10k(before I start adding additional corals). I currently only have two soft corals and one LPS, Yellow Tang, crabs, snails, shrimp in the aquarium, but have dreams of a fully populated aquarium someday with soft, LPS, SPS corals, clams, and so on. I would like to upgrade to the 400 watt bulbs but I'm concerned it may be too much light for the current and/or future inhabitants. My current light system also includes two 96 watt PC bulbs which I will continue to use concurrently with the MH lights. Is a 400 watt system overkill? Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[prattreef]

There is absolutely no need for 400W MH on a system that size. Personally, I think you are fine with the 150W MH you already have. If you think you need more light, just increase the photoperiod as 4hrs. a day is really quite short.

 

[masterswimmer]

There is absolutely no need for 400W MH on a system that size. Personally, I think you are fine with the 150W MH you already have. If you think you need more light, just increase the photoperiod as 4hrs. a day is really quite short.

For the most part +1, but I think a 24" deep tank could easily use 250w if you're planning to keep clams and sps. Absolutely no reason for 400w though. And 4 hrs a day for lighting is rather brief.

Russ

 

[pecan2phat]

The only time I would recommend dual 400 watters are for reefers that have had some time in the hobby and are have a thriving SPS 120g tank that the corals are colonies. Most of the scenerios are that they are switching to a higher kelvin bulb such as a 20k and want the same PAR that they were getting from a 10k 250 watter.

 

[charliethetuna88]

I have a 120 I run 2 250 watt mh I always run either 12k or 14 k bulbs but I think I might switch over to a raduim 20k bulb next

 

[THEDLO]

I have a 120 I run 2 250 watt mh I always run either 12k or 14 k bulbs but I think I might switch over to a raduim 20k bulb next

+2 i use 14k bulbs, 250w is good if ur going the sps route, but 400w would deff be over kill. thats more for a +3' depth.

 

[charliethetuna88]

thedlo have u ever thought of using 20k bulbs I usually use 14 k but I might switch to 20k

 

[THEDLO]

thedlo have u ever thought of using 20k bulbs I usually use 14 k but I might switch to 20k

i have, but i run my atinics all day and its a nice touch i get a nice balance between white and blue, i dont want it to be TOO blue lol who knows tho i have to change my bulbs in the next month or so.

 

[charliethetuna88]

What 14k u running hamiltons

 

[THEDLO]

phoenix i think lol my sps like them so im happy