150W or 250W MH?

[Chin_Lee]

Originally Posted by Invigor

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

........... amen

[StirCrazy]

I am going to echo and disagree with some here at 24" deep a normal 250 is not enuf for high light corals unless they are all in the top 1/2 of the tank. a good guide line is 18" 250 watt, 24" 250 HQI or 400 watt. I would recomend the 250 watt HQI over the 400 watt and I would also sugest you get normal 250 watt single ended bulbs and only the HQI ballast.

Steve

[digital-audiophile]

I think the 250 HQI 14k will be the best choice based on what you guys are saying. Any SPS that I will do will be up towards the top of the tank, I want to save to lower half for LPS and softies that are a little better out of the bright light. The only big light consumers that will be near the bottom will be any clams that I might add.. but I will run any clam purchase though the "experts" to make sure that my conditions are right for them.

Thanks again... and any further advice is welcomed!

Greg

[digital-audiophile]

Is this a good choice? - with the Geismann 14.5k bulb option?


http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...t_ID=pfo-hp8q2

[Murminator]

I would go the 20w 14K....BTW that cube sounds familar did you buy it at Petsmart my wife is picking hers up tomorrow.....to use for FW

[Reefhawk1]

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

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

I Have a 30 gallon cube tank running at the moment with a 150 watt Hqi pendant. I have mostly softies but the light output with a 10 k bulb is very nice. I just switched the bulb to a 20K for a little more blue color. If you would like to see some pictures give me your e mail adress and I will send some your way

[digital-audiophile]

Originally Posted by Murminator

I would go the 20w 14K....BTW that cube sounds familar did you buy it at Petsmart my wife is picking hers up tomorrow.....to use for FW

I picked mine up at Big Als on boxing day, but I did see the same ones at Petsmart so I wouls imagine it is the same cube It's pretty high, and is proving a little tricky to aquascape, but it was the perfect tank for me since I wanted to upgrade but had a small space to squeeze a new tank into.

[Saltysteve]

I see Coralife has a new 36 inch 250 Watt HQI Pro light out
I may have to look into one!

http://www.esuweb.com/cardfile.asp?I...lationship=313

Perfect for us guys that have no center brace

[Invigor]

14k and 20k bulbs offer far less (useable by sps) output compared to 10000k bulbs. the giesmann 13000k is supposed to have good output and a nice blue to it.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Invigor

14k and 20k bulbs offer far less (useable by sps) output compared to 10000k bulbs.

with 250HQI on a 24" tank it won't matter much you will still have plenty of PAR on the bottom of the tank with 14 or 20K bulbs.

Steve