I visited my local LFS again today, they happen to be a pretty good one, Oceans Reef in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They told me a single 175 MH would be fine to light my 38 AGA (36"l x 12" w x 20" deep) and that any more MH than that would produce massive heat and evaporation. They said it would be fine for LPS and SPS. Any opinions? They freaked when I said 250 or dual 175's. ( we live in florida, cooling is a problem)
Lighting the 38 again
- Thread starter squeezix
- Start date
No heat problems here, but this is Vermont
. I have a 4" fan blowing on my 2x28 watt PC, 175 watt MH lighting. Check out my tank specs for corals I have thriving under this light. I lose about a 1/2 gal a day and keep my tank in the upper 70's in the winter and low 80's in summer. My lighting is enclosed in a hood with a cover glass. I think if you went the dual 175 route, used a fan or two and elevated the hood off the water surface, you should be fine.
When I just had the 175 watt alone, I had a hard time keeping xenia alive on the opposite side of the tank, but it grew great directly under the bulb. I had the the bulb on one side of the tank. The shadow it cast from the center brace was too much for my liking so I added the PC. It have evened out the tank well.
When I just had the 175 watt alone, I had a hard time keeping xenia alive on the opposite side of the tank, but it grew great directly under the bulb. I had the the bulb on one side of the tank. The shadow it cast from the center brace was too much for my liking so I added the PC. It have evened out the tank well.
Hi Sqeezix, I also live in S. Fla. IMO if you used 2 175MH. you would have a heat problem but the tanks lighting would be balanced. You could go with 1 175MH. and mabye 2 VHO's to help even out the light on the sides of the tank where the MH. didn't reach and the tank wouldn't be as hot. Good luck and keep the A/C running.
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