400w MH over 75g tank. Overkill???
 

Need opinion about this since I dont want to spend to much money on lighting im thinking of just using my old 400w MH system over my 75g tank.

how deep and what are you keeping? It's going to throw a lot of heat, do you have good AC or a chiller? Auto top off to handle the evaporation?

400w
 

A friend of mine has a 400 over his 72 bowfront and it's been good for him.Clint

Still setting up the tank its atleast 2' deep, planning to put acro's and different kind of softies. no auto top off but if really needed will set-up one and I have a old chiller I can use for cooling. so do you guys think 400w will be ok.

What are the dimensions of the tank? Is it a 4' long tank? What are you planning on using for a reflector - this can impact how effective the MH lighting will be.

I have a hamilton 400w de and a 250w de over a 65 gallon. I have heat issues in the sense that a run a chiller all year round and go through about 8 gallons of water a week due to evaperation. I do have good colour and growth thou.

too many watts
 

Here's my american buddy Phils tank,just a hair over 56 gallons,lit with a 400.He a zoa shroom ric guy and he blasts em with light and everything loves it.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

I had 1x 400 Watt, 1x175 Watt MH's + 2x96 Watt URI VHO actinics over a 36"x18"x18" tank. I ran two fans one blowing inside the hood other one outside. I didn't have a chiller and didn't have any heat isues. If you use a Luminarc reflector probably one 400 Watter will be good for 24"-30" but if your tank is longer and wider you may need other bulbs.

I'm running 65g 400w mh with 36" canopy air hockeyfan rigged to cool the bulb it was fine until last week tank was sittin at 30+ had to get a chiller so I think it would be fine since you have all the equip and if you mount it a foot off the tank better light spread.

ok thanks guys.