SPS in 28g?

[OCDP]

400w over 20-28g tanks? That's nuts! I have a hard enough time keeping up with evap. on my 20g, AND heat.. especially in the summer.

I think that's pretty brave haha.. and without sumps and so on. But, hopeully your fans help you out, in turn though.. only to have more evaporation. And in a small system, topping off is really important, because one day without topping off will seriously increase your salinity, and then that just stresses the SPS out.

Good luck!

[TheReefGeek]

I will be running a sump, and and auto-top off, with two fans in the hood.

I can also add fans over the sump if needed. This should be enough cooling.

[OCDP]

Well if you have a sump and auto top-off then I'd say your set. The fans will definately be a big, big help.

When do you plan on setting this up?

[TheReefGeek]

I dunno yet, lemm think out loud!

I just picked up the tank and stand earlier this week.

I am ordering some diamond drill bits today as I dont have the smaller sizes required for a tank this small. Thill will take some time to get here, then I have to drill and plumb.

I ordered the bulb and reflector today, and have the ballasts. But I need to build the DIY hood. The pumps, filter, skimmer, and heater I have.

The sump I have, but need to baffle it. I need to order the DIY auto-top off parts today. The rock and sand I have.

Biggest roadblock for me will be the DIY hood, I hate woodworking when it is so cold outside, I never got my garage furnace up and running before winter.

My goal is by the end of March or so, I will try to post pics as I go.

[rickjames]

If you put 400W on a 28 Gallon tank you are either going to have to run so many fans that the noise will drive you nuts, or have to run a chiller. I had a 250W bulb over my 30G with two computer fans in the canopy and in the summer I fought to keep the temp under 84F. And the 400W puts out WAY more heat. I have two over my 150G that drains into a 75G sump in the basement. I know the canopy has almost no ventilation but I need a full size room fan over my sump to keep it under 81F. And that is in a basement! And last summer it went up higher, so I have to get a chiller myself this year.

Anyways, 400W is not necessary on such a small tank, you would be much better off with a nice 250W configuration, at the maximum. Plus there are so many bulbs to choose from in that wattage, in both double ended and single ended configurations.

JMO...

EDIT: I see you already bought the 400W. Now all you have to do is buy a chiller!

[OCDP]

Heh, I agree with you rickjames.

My opinion? Don't use a hood.. keep it open, pendant style. Way less heat!

[TheReefGeek]

In my hood I am going to seperate the bulb from the surface of the water with acrylic, and will be running a 4" fan that will move way more air than computer fans. So essentially it will be like hanging the unit. I would hang it if I could, but there would be too much light leakage for my co-workers. My office building is air conditioned, so summer wont be as much of an issue as in a house.

I would run 250w but the ballast I have spare is 400w. My 250 ballast are dual PFO in 1 box, so cannot easily pull 1 out.

I can add a 3" fan if that is not enough, plus misc. fans over the sump if required.

The 1 thing that might halt this plan though, is the noise of the fans. If it is too disturbing then I will have to go with VHO lighting, but I want to try out SPS corals, and I dont think VHO would be good enough for that, although I have never tried.