Opinion Needed: Lighting Purchase

[Funkytone]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 75g with a bunch of softies right now and want to make the switch from PC over to MH. I've got the opportunity to purchase the following but just wanted to get your opinion if this is adequate for my setup or overkill?

Ice Cap 250w Electronic Ballast
XM 250w 20,000K MH Bulb
Mogul Reflector 175-400w

$200 for all.

Is this too much for my tank?
Will I have to keep everything towards the bottom or top of the tank?
Would I still require the Actinic's PC's?

Any input is appreciated guys.

Thank You
-Tony

[fencer]

I have 300 watts of MH on my 72g and actinics as well. I would like more wattage on the MH for SPS

[kwirky]

the 250W is quite versatile and with the 20k bulb it'll meet your needs. It'll be nice and blue and be a good intensity for your softies and some stony corals. I have a 150W on my 24 gallon and will be upgrading to 250W if I get heavily into SPS.

If you want to change to SPS or high-light corals of the like you just go to a good 10k bulb for a higher intensity.

That's just fine and a great price. Find out how old the bulb is though, you may have to buy one if it's time to be replaced.

[Funkytone]

Fencer - Thanks for the knowledge

Kwirky - All of its brand new in the box, never used, so it sounds like a good deal.

Do you guys think I would need a chiller?

[fencer]

I don't have a chiller...temp with lights on about 29C and light off 27C...I also run a 33gal sump

[Skimmerking]

I have 2x 250 HQI on my 120 with mixed running 13K megachromes on mine and i have never needed a chiller..

[mark]

No sure what PCs you have (wattage wise) but if your intent is to keep with softies what you have for light may be enough already.

[ron101]

- A 20000K bulb will be very blue and consequently have relatively low PAR output. It will be roughly equivalent to a 150W 10000K but with the heat output of a 250W. Depends on your current lighting setup but I doubt your inhabitants will have much prob adjusting. As always, shorten the photoperiod and gradually increase it to be safe.

- IMO Tanks don't really need actinics. People need actinics. But the 20000k should be blue enough by itself.

- Temperature issues are very specific to each individual system. Ambient temperature, tank dimensions, and configuration of pumps/powerheads are significant factors in addition to lighting. Just because someone has the same lighting and doesnt have temp probs does not mean that you will not.

HTH

[Skimmerking]

And don't forget that a canopy will have an huge effect on the water keeping a high temp too, along with a humid place. My tank is placed in the basement in the spare bedroom and the sump is in a back room where ist cool all the time. having the sump in the basement is a great place for the sump you can usually have the humidity around 30-40% lower in the basement then under the tank in the stand.

P.S. OMI I think that Pc dont keep thier strenght very good, the power is usually gone around the 5-6 month period


HTH

[Funkytone]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm going to hold off for now and revisit this in a month or two when the funds are there to do it exactly how I want to.

-Tony