How much light is to much

[sgmorton]

First I have not decided on the animal load...

I have 200g currently that I am thinking of getting into reef mode. Despite having a good setup for a Berlin I am looking at spending another gob of money and going with a 'fuge. What am I thinking?!

Anyway the question at hand is how much light is to much light. I like the shimmer effect of the MH lights, but I have two IceCap ballasts... a 660 and 440 and enough URI bulbs in all flavors to light a small stadium, the question is should I add 2 or 3 250w MH lights to all that VHO or maybe get rid of the 440 or 660 and just have one VHO ballast and the MH lights.

Optionally I guess I could be talked out of the MH lights all together... I open for suggestions...

Next question, where to buy... my old LFS is apparently no longer in business and I'm more amicable to giving them livestock business and doing my drygoods at the best price I can.

thanks for ANY help!

 

[tpro]

hey sg morton,
If you are planing on growing sps corals you will need mh's I would keep the 660 and run 4- 4' vho actinic w/ it, even if you have to stagger them in your canopy. I don't know the length of your tank but I assume 6', if so go w/ 3 250 watt iwasaki's.

 

[sgmorton]

So you're saying 3 250 MHs and the 660? Help me out here, could the 440 then power the 'fuge? To save me some cost there? Can't the IceCaps do PC lights to?

 

[Anonymous]

http://www.championlighting.com
http://www.hellolights.com/
http://www.1000bulbs.com/

If you are planning on keeping sps or clams go with mh and vho actinics. If you still aren't sure, just start out with the vhos, you can always add mh later.

 

[tpro]

sgmorton,
You could use the 440 for the fuge even though not necessary, I use a home depot shop light fixture w/ 4-4' grw lights for about 5 bucks each and my fuge is overgrown w/ life

 

[tpro]

Almost forgot the pc's run the icecap very hot I lost 2 icecaps in a year running pc's, but if you want to chance it go to icecap.com they will show you how to wire it up w/ pc's.

 

[_range_]

and replace those brass valves

 

[sgmorton]

Those valves are why the tank has been dry for almost 2 years!