i know not more lighting!

[micah_deane]

all i am wanting is an answear, i have a 150 gal im going to setup in the near future. its 48in long and i believe about 30 tall. what i am wanting to know would 440 watts by using power compacts be sufficent? all i am wanting to have is LR and some corals. thanks for your time

 

[Tackett]

Heres the deal with powercompacts man. I have 260 watts on my 55 and I dont think its enough. I am going to switch over to MH lighting soon and wish I would have got a setup instead of dropping the money on powercompacts that are just going to sit in the garage after I get the other lights. Especially when I have to drop 100 dollars on 4 new bulbs every 8 months. Personally, if you want my opinion, I would scrap the PC idea and spend some extra beans on a 2 or 3 250watt HQI halide pendants or retrofit kit. Its expensive, dang its expensive, but it will save you from having to buy lights over again, which is probably what you will end up doing if you go with the PC's.

 

[Bdubbya]

Are you maybe talking about using 440 watts VHO. Which would be four, 4 ft bulbs, or are you talking about 8 55 watt power compacts? If you decide against the Metal halides I would recommend the VHO.
Good luck.

 

[shellshocked]

440 watts of VHO or PC is definitely not over lighting a 150. If anything it might be low.

 

[Anonymous]

and wish I would have got a setup instead of dropping the money on powercompacts that are just going to sit in the garage after I get the other lights

Man, been there done that...My old PC light sits on the back porch...I may use it again for another 20 gal tank i have sitting back there too..Its a custom built canopy...

 

[Anonymous]

A 150 that is 48x24x30? Correct? If you are going to be keeping softies and LPS then 440 VHO is the way to go. I had those lights on my 110 48x18x30 and the softies and LPS did great,even on the bottom. If SPS I would not skimp and go with 400 or 250 watt metal halaids from the get go. If you are doing just SPS get the 400 and be done with it. It will give you max flexability for coral placement.

 

[Mihai]

I agree - 440 in a 48" tank is enough for soft corals and perhaps for LPS in the upper part. However, most SPS (hard corals) will not do well under this light (they need more) - like Wazzel said, 2x400 or 2x250 will do the trick.

M.

 

[Anonymous]

30" is a tall tank. Halides definitely.

 

[Mihai]

30" is a tall tank. Halides definitely.

It depends if you insist on putting SPS down there. If you restrict the SPS on tops and put softies on the bottom you can go with PCs... just my 2c.

M.