250watt se halide on 20g?

Starry · #1 06-10-2010, 04:43 AM

Would 250watts on a 20 gallon frag tank be overkill? its a 14k Giesman on a magnetic ballast if that matters. (be suspended about 6-8" above surface)

Thinking of useing all my spare parts to build a fragtank. Will have a sump w/ quiet-one 3000 return, and use a coralife 65 super skimmer.

ReeferMush · #2 06-10-2010, 05:22 AM

well I run a odyssea 24" light using a 250 watt halide at 20,000k and two power compacts at 65 watts over my 20 gallon and at an average of 19 watts a gallon. This ok as long as you cater towards the high intense lighting, some corals will enjoy the heavy light while other coral and fish will not, so just be cautious with what is in your tank, what level your corals are at compared to the light, and what live stock you keep

Starry · #3 06-10-2010, 06:01 AM

no fish are planned at this time, just corals and a few snails. was thinking sps on a egg crate rack. zoas, maybe a colt on the bare bottom under the rack. all rock will be in the sump. if algea gets its foot in i might think of adding a mower blenny.

StirCrazy · #4 06-10-2010, 01:43 PM

as long as you can keep it cool it will be a good set up.

Steve

lorenz0 · #5 06-10-2010, 02:16 PM

250 mh is over kill for a 20gal

i would be looking into a 150 for a 20gal if i were you. your going to have issues with evap and heat and on this note, is a $400 chiller really worth it in your 20gal??

ReeferMush · #6 06-10-2010, 05:00 PM

its not overkill

I have never had any heat problems what so ever, and don't run a cooler. My light sits 4" above my 20 gallon and my corals are freakin' loving the amonut of light being shed above the tank(19 Watts per Gallon). Plus i've fragged one piece of Xenia and its doubling in size almost every second week , so just keep an eye on your water temperature/evaporation and phosphate levels because with that much light, algea growth is to be known to be a problem(if using normal tap water like i do)