150W or 250W MH?
 

Howdy folks,

Starting to set up a cube I picked up on Boxing day. 20 long x 18 Wide x 24 tall.

There is about 21" from the sandbed to the top of the water. I am debating if I should go with a 150W HQI MH or a 250W HQI MH.

I want to venture into SPS and clams and I am wondering if I get the water penetration with the 150 and avoid some of the heat issues if I were to go with the 250.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Greg

If you know you're wanting to get into really high light requiring species, then you should probably go for the 250w, especially if the tank is 24" deep. Then you're not light limited, right?

JMO,

Anthony

I have an 18x18x18 cube and I wish I went 250 over the 150 I bought.
Ditto on the 250

250! :mrgreen:

more power ....grunt

Sounds like a plan guys! I think 250 will be the way to go. (and then when I upgrade to a bigger tank - as much as I would like to deny already thinking ahead to a bigger tank- it will still be a good light) Any suggestions on lighting in a 250W I don't think I will be running any actinics so I was thinking a 20,000K bulb or is it better to go a little lower?

Thanks again for any help and advice!

Greg

My tank is 25" by 36" and I am running a 250 14K no supplemental lighting when it is on. I am thinking of buying another, one 250 14k is not enough. Have you thought about a 400 Watt :D

LOL! 400 watts? I would have to top off a couple gallons of water a day with that intensity!

I'm going to have 2x250 on mine soon LOL

get a 10k bulb and hqi ballast and you'll have no need for a 400w bulb