2x150w Metal Halide 60x18x18?

[FlyTekk]

Can i go with 2x150w Metal halide in a 60x18x18 aqaurium.

Dont want to go to 250w cause of heat and electric bill.
Dont want to go to 3x150w cause heat, electric bill and cost.
And dont want LED's cause i have them now and i honestly like the intensity look of the metal halides. May supplement with actinic LEds though.

Will i get the intense look on this tank with just 2 MH 150w?

 

[MatthewScars]

http://www.google.com/search?source...th+2x150w+Metal+halide+in+a+60x18x18+aqaurium.

I google'd your question and found a pretty close comparison answer!!! I literally copy and pasted the title into google and it answered your question! Also, check out the Equipment forum!

 

[FlyTekk]

Funny how ive been trying to google for an answer all morning but would never write it the way i wrote this title. And it would have never crossed my mind to do so either. Thanks!

 

[FlyTekk]

I see that i should be fine. But im wondering about intensity! I want it to be BRIGHT. With no dark areas. Will the reflectors get the light all over the place?

 

[MatthewScars]

I see that i should be fine. But im wondering about intensity! I want it to be BRIGHT. With no dark areas. Will the reflectors get the light all over the place?

If the fixture is high enough off the water, yes. But I mean, you will get shadows from the rocks in some places depending on the aquascaping.

 

[FlyTekk]

In one of those articles he said that 2x150 will be fine at 14k. But at 20k 250w may be needed. Why did he say this? I like the bluer look and am not keeping SPS. Maybe some LPS but mostly softies.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

You might get much better results from a 5' T5 fixture and save a few bucks since you should be able to find some on sale usually (they aren't a very popular size). You can also blend in whatever bulbs you want so you can get the bluer look and still have some of the better growth.

 

[FlyTekk]

I dont feel the t5's are capable of such intense light as MHs are.

 

[finksmart]

T5s have been proven to be as capable as MHs.

You never mentioned what you intend to keep but 2x 150w is definitely not ideal to keep SPS and clams in that size. Even if you're just keeping some softies and LPS with 2x 150w it will not give you the coverage you want.

My tank is very similar in size to yours, 61.5x19x18. I used to run 1x Maxspect 230w and 1x Maxspect 160w. Now I run 2x Orphek DIF-100 pendants (equivalent to a 400w MH) and soon will add probably another one. If I was to run MH I would put at least 3x 250w on it. Then again I keep mostly SPS.

I'm always a believer that no man-made light can match the sun they get in the wild so always give them the most you can in the most efficient way possible. Many LEDs out now can match if not out-match MH in intensity. If heat and electricity bills are your main concern, I would suggest putting in the time to research on LEDs.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

+1 finksmart

 

[FlyTekk]

I said i would keep softies and maybe some LPS. No SPS. As for t5 ive never seen one that can cause a shimmer. Or so bright with intensity that the tank looks like its not being man made lit. I agree i could possibly get that from LEDs but ive spent about 1k on leds so far and they cant do what a metal halide bulb can. Maybe if i had one LED for every square inch of the tank but that would cost me many more thousands.

Im not getting Metal Halides for any corals. Im getting it for that bright intense sun look that only a heck of alot of LEDS can match. T5 may be able to match the par of MH/LED but im not looking for PAR. Just intense brightnes and shimmer.

Hope i make sense. Thanks

 

[finksmart]

I said i would keep softies and maybe some LPS. No SPS. As for t5 ive never seen one that can cause a shimmer. Or so bright with intensity that the tank looks like its not being man made lit. I agree i could possibly get that from LEDs but ive spent about 1k on leds so far and they cant do what a metal halide bulb can. Maybe if i had one LED for every square inch of the tank but that would cost me many more thousands.

Im not getting Metal Halides for any corals. Im getting it for that bright intense sun look that only a heck of alot of LEDS can match. T5 may be able to match the par of MH/LED but im not looking for PAR. Just intense brightnes and shimmer.

Hope i make sense. Thanks

If you are adamant on the MH then I would put 4x 150w MH for proper coverage. If you don't care about dark corners then 3x 150w will work.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

2 of the orphek DIF-100s with 120 degree optics would give you all the shimmer and light you need over that tank and that's only 2 LED diodes. Or you could probably do 3 of the DIF-30s if you wanted to save a few bucks but you would only be able to really do softies unless you upgraded. Those lighst are way brighter than halides and you'll get the shimmer since it's a single diode on each unit. Plus either way you are saving electric draw.

 

[FlyTekk]

This sucks cause every 60" metal halide fixture i check only comes with 2 bulbs! I dont get it.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

5' tanks are the bastard child of tank sizes. There aren't that many of them and it's hard to get a good halide fixture for them because of that extra foot of length.

 

[FlyTekk]

DUDE!!!! THose things are awesome! Do you sell them? Its like best of both worlds!

 

[FlyTekk]

I can probably afford 3 diff-30's over 2 100's. You think 3x30s will give me a brighter tank than 3 150 metal halides? Also the tank isnt built yet. Should i get the tank 60x24x18 or even 60x30x18 as apposed to 60x18x18? Im worried the 120 optics will bleed past the tank front and back. Thanks soo much!

 

[FlyTekk]

Oh and im okay with just keeping xenia, gsp, mushroom.... etc. Only easy softies.

 

[dbriceno]

I have a Current USA Outer Orbit with 2 150w Metal Halides & 4 T5 aitenics in a 110 gallon 60"l x 24"h x 18"w and it works quite well for my SPS & LPS corals. I'm looking to upgrade to Acan Lighting led's and I'm selling the light fixture. I also have a 48" led strip that I use with it in the evening. Let me know if you are interested. I'm also selling the tank. I have it listed on the forum. Search for "110"

 

[lfsmarineguy]

3 of the DIF-30s would be fine for those corals and if you are using the 120 degree optics you would need to suspend them lower over the water anyway. The DIF-30s are considered to be a little more potent than a 150w halide and the spread with the 120 optics would allow you to go deeper front to back and still get all the light coverage you want.