What would you do? - Tank Lighting Upgrade.

[michika]

I agree with the recommendation to go with an additional 2x250 or 175w MHs. I would advise against the 400s based on a) power consumption, b) increased evaporation, c) the oops I burned myself again factor.

I used to have 3x 400w over a 30" deep tank, and I didn't mind it then, but it was on the cusp of being too much for the tank. I loved 175w over 18" deep though, it worked amazingly well for me.

Check out Sanjay Joshi's website for more details on ballasts, bulbs, PAR, etc. Its a good place to start if you are sure you want to go with metal halide.

[fkshiu]

The cheapest route would be to try and squeeze and few T5s in with the teklight, but going all out with 250W MH with retrofit T5s for actinics is the best long term keep anything you want solution.

I second checking out Joshi's results. Careful selection of bulb/ballast along with good reflectors can save you a lot of electricity and heat while still giving you very good PAR.

[Koresample]

don't mean to hijack the thread, but i have a 24" deep tank and i am planning on running 1 X 250 MH HQI + 2 X 65w PC's, will that be sufficient for SPS and (hopefully) calms? total tank size is 24" wide X 24" tall X 18" deep (front to back)

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Koresample

don't mean to hijack the thread, but i have a 24" deep tank and i am planning on running 1 X 250 MH HQI + 2 X 65w PC's, will that be sufficient for SPS and (hopefully) calms? total tank size is 24" wide X 24" tall X 18" deep (front to back)

I would say definitely that would be fine for sps most any place in the tank.