175W enough for SPS? - Page 2

BlueAbyss · #11 02-08-2009, 08:57 PM

Hmm...

Well, the reason I'm going with MH to begin with is for the shimmer, I really like the effect and I think with the surge I will get some interesting caustics. The other option is to find a 70W MH to use as an accessory light, to provide that shimmer, and use 6 T5HO bulbs. Unfortunately, I've searched and searched for 70W MHs and they are impossible to find, so that idea is out... unless I call these guys http://www.venturelighting.com/NAindex.html. They have MH ballasts down to 50W, though I've never EVER seen a 50W MH bulb.

It all comes down to one thing... I need a wider tank

BlueAbyss · #12 02-08-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobsterboy

I used to be using 150wt MH, at a depth of 21in, and have switched to t5's. with the t5's at the same depth, i have experienced much more growth, and color in my SPS.

Hmm, a couple questions... what kind of bulbs were you using when you ran MH? How many T5s are you running now, at what wattage, with which bulbs?

Rbacchiega · #13 02-09-2009, 01:03 AM

I think if I remember he's running...okay I cant remember(I want to say 12 for some reason, but my brain is trying to recover from last night...) It's a big light unit though and the colour on his SPS are rediculous.

JDigital · #14 02-09-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lobsterboy

I used to be using 150wt MH, at a depth of 21in, and have switched to t5's. with the t5's at the same depth, i have experienced much more growth, and color in my SPS.

That's not surprising... 150W is pretty weak for a 21" depth..

BlueAbyss · #15 02-09-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

That's not surprising... 150W is pretty weak for a 21" depth..

How about 175 over 15" J? I guess what I'm asking here is will I get good growth and colour from 2 T5HOs (though they'll be 60/40 actinic and a Fiji Purple) and a 10K XM with a PFO electronic ballast?

At least, this is tentatively what I've decided I want...

It'll probably all change, who knows maybe I'll go with all T5HO in the end... that's like 200 W of T5 over a 24" long tank, if I go with 8 bulbs and I end up using the 20 gallon after all, making it 25 W less than the proposed metal halide and fluorescent combo. I'm not sure if that translates to 25 W less light, or less power consumed though...

JDigital · #16 02-09-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

How about 175 over 15" J? I guess what I'm asking here is will I get good growth and colour from 2 T5HOs (though they'll be 60/40 actinic and a Fiji Purple) and a 10K XM with a PFO electronic ballast?

At least, this is tentatively what I've decided I want...

It'll probably all change, who knows maybe I'll go with all T5HO in the end... that's like 200 W of T5 over a 24" long tank, if I go with 8 bulbs and I end up using the 20 gallon after all, making it 25 W less than the proposed metal halide and fluorescent combo. I'm not sure if that translates to 25 W less light, or less power consumed though...

Are you sure its a 20G tall?? I thought a 20G regular was 24x12x16...

Anyways, I had a 175W MH over my 20G (regular) and I had great Monti growth, as well as good growth on digitata, birdsnest... never kept the tank long enough for acroporas...

I doubt you will fit 8 bulbs over a 20G... 8 bulbs generally spreads to 24x24.. You'd be hard pressed to fit a 6 bulb unit over it..

High tide · #17 02-09-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueAbyss

Alright I'm stuck. Again

Is a 175W MH gonna be enough to have SPS?

The tank is only a 20 tall, and I'd rather not have a more powerful light than I need, since I do plan on running them for 8 hours a day. But if I get the 30 tall which has the same dimensions but longer, I might want something more powerful... any thoughts would be helpful.

Yes, a 175w MH will be ample on a 20 gal. aquarium. Your SPS will be fine at different levels of the aquarium. The Iwasaki was a good recommendation.

BlueAbyss · #18 02-09-2009, 08:40 PM

Indeed, upon further reading the Iwasaki bulb is very white when run with a good electronic ballast. So that's what I'm going with

BlueAbyss · #19 02-09-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDigital

Are you sure its a 20G tall?? I thought a 20G regular was 24x12x16...

Anyways, I had a 175W MH over my 20G (regular) and I had great Monti growth, as well as good growth on digitata, birdsnest... never kept the tank long enough for acroporas...

I doubt you will fit 8 bulbs over a 20G... 8 bulbs generally spreads to 24x24.. You'd be hard pressed to fit a 6 bulb unit over it..

Yup you're right, each reflector for a T5 is about 2.5 inches wide, but I can totally fit a MH and 2 T5s over my tank. This would also work if I get that 30 gallon

Though one end would be slightly darker.

On a side note, you're more than likely right about the way I labelled this tank... it probably is just a normal 20G, but most of the other 20s I've seen in the past (not many) were longer and only 12" deep.