125gal SPS/clam tank lighting

[seansdad]

Hi all,

doing the research on a new 125 gal (20in high) in which i want to place SPS & clams. at 72in long i figure i need three MH plus some number of VHO, but i'm not sure if i should go with 400w or 250w? should i go with HQI? if so, what wattage. I've heard all the talk about X # of watts per/gal but this tank is shorter (20in deep) so do i need +10watts/gal?

 

[Unarce]

A 400w mogul is about equal to a 250w HQI, and the HQI would run cooler. Since the tank's only gonna be 20" high, just run 3 250w HQI's and order either an Arcadia 13000K or Giesemann 14000K bulbs. Than, you could skip the VHO's altogether and save a few hundred dollars.

Also, watts per gallon isn't really the best measurement to go by.

PAR, PAR, PAR, PAR, PAR!

 

[clwnphish]

On my 125 I run 2x400 20k XM's and my sps love it. I have run iwasakis in the past, but after these 20k's ill never go back. The color is amazing and growth hasnt slowed a bit.

 

[Ralphyhp]

I second reefnutz but with electronics ballast, why? Because you can run more kinds of M/H bulbs with this ballasts. Seansdad take a look to this i order two of them, i didnt find a better price to this compleate set up: http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/mer ... _Code=ICMH Hope this help. Ralphyhp.

 

[Len]

I switched from two 400W halides to two 250W DE "HQI" halides. The 250W provides as much intensity as the 400W halides, but in a more narrow distribution. Of course, reflectors could have a lot to do with it as well (400W was with spiderlights, 250W is in AB Aquaspacelight fixture). Sanjay's test in Advanced Aquarist Magazine confirm this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... eature.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... eature.htm

Overall, the 250W DE gives more light for the wattage and is subsequently cooler in operation. It is not a 400W replacement IMO, however, although it comes pretty darn close I would recommend either the 250W DE with Sunlight Reefoptix or Aqualine pendants or a 400W halide with Diamondarc reflector (ifyou have the room). The latter is the clear winner in terms of distrubtion and output, but it's also a big big reflector.

FWIW, I only use 10,000K bulbs with actinic supplementation. Matter of preference above anything else. Corals color up very well