Need lighting advice

[Glennrf38]

My new tank will be 24 x 27 x18, which according to Albert talking to my wife is a 200 Gallon . Personally I think it is much closer to 50. But who is she going to believe, right? I think I want to go with MH for the look. I have read that 250W is too much power, but have been told that with it I will be able to keep anything in the tank. So once again I have no idea what to do......

So, do I go with:

150W
175W (harder to come by I think)
250W
or do I just give up and grow mushrooms?


Second thing is I am looking for a lower cost version ( ie used).

Thanks

Glenn

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I don't think 250w is too much. Have you considered T5s at all?

[Dyspnea]

You won't regret going for more power. I run a 250watt HQI on my 20g long . G

With 250watt you should have no problems keeping nearly anything. 175 and 150 are good but 250 is better. You won't regret it

[Moogled]

You can scrap it and grow mushrooms. It's like an out-of-body experience, man! Contemporize!

...Oh, you meant corals.

[andsoitgoes]

my current tank is 24x24x18, 44g (45 depending on who you ask) so you're close. I've got a Coralife Aqualight Pro (150w) and from the last person who had it on the tank, there were a ton of possibilities.

I think the only problem with that shallow of a tank would be heat - You're running into dangerous territory come summer - My tank sometimes spikes as high as 82 - 84 if I'm not careful with the 150w

[golfbomber]

got a 400w on my 24x24x18h no problems with my softies and sps. i just have to keep it about 6 inches above the water. i would go with with the 150w aqualight pro.

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by golfbomber

got a 400w on my 24x24x18h no problems with my softies and sps. i just have to keep it about 6 inches above the water. i would go with with the 150w aqualight pro.

wow - Man, oh man - Have the cops come a-knockin asking if you have a grow op? 400w, insane!

Just goes to prove, no matter WHAT you have, you can ALWAYS have better

(any pics?? ^_^ and WHAT do you do in the summer? Chiller? )

[Glennrf38]

Originally Posted by Der_Iron_Chef

I don't think 250w is too much. Have you considered T5s at all?

My current setup(29G) has 5 24" T5s and while it seems to be doing well, I really like the look of the shimmering MHs. So I thought I would give them a try.

[Ruth]

IMO, if you want to go with MH you should go with the 250W. You have so many more options. If it is too much light you can raise the light higher or put some screening over the top of you tank to shield it a bit. If you go with a lower watt light system and find that it is not enough light for some of the corals/inverts that you wish to keep you are pretty well stuck with an upgrade which would mean that you have to buy 2 light systems instead of one.
I have a 250W penant over a 24g tank and it is just fine. In the summer you can always set up a fan to blow across the surface of your tank or just adjust you photoperiod to have your lights come on during the cooler part of the day.
175W can be somewhat difficult to find and your bulb choices are limited. IMO 150W are not all that useful and I think you would be better off sticking with your T5's.

[Glennrf38]

Well consensus seems to be to go with the 250W or T5s. So........ off we go to find some 250W MH that won't kill my limited bank account...... Maybe boxing day sales I saw some at Ocean City last time I was there. EVC Pendant 250W 14K.