MH question

[Harif87]

Man i feel like a newb asking about this but...

Do halides have to be supplemented or could i just run something like 18 or 20K bulbs? Also would 400 watts of MH be too much for a 55g? Is it possible to have too much light(i never thought so)? I have an offer for a 400 watt pendant and had these questions.

Help would be appreciated

 

[digitalreefer]

Halides do not need to be supplemented, but for a 4' tank you'd be better off with (2) 250, 175, or 150 watt pendants. Also, I would probably look at a 12k or 14k bulb, as you will probably sacrifice growth going as high as 18-20k

 

[Harif87]

Dont MH's have a 2 by 2 foot range? So if i put in in the middle it should cover the whole tank?

 

[digitalreefer]

2 feet from center... one foot on each side. I have a pendant over my shallow 33g long tank (also 4 foot) and only my center is good for SPS. The sides are good for some LPS, softies, zoas and shrooms.

 

[TimberTDI]

Dont MH's have a 2 by 2 foot range? So if i put in in the middle it should cover the whole tank?

MH

Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

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MHs cover a 2x2 area, correct. The tank is 1x4; your going to be "wasting" a lot of the light. You should be ok, depending on what your keeping. Plus in the future you might find a sweet deal on a matching pendant and can add another.:biggrin:

Do halides have to be supplemented

From what I've read the actnics are for our own viewing pleasure and corals grow best under 10k but for must people that is just too yellow.

Steven

 

[reefman]

yes, u can have 2 much(intensity) lighting. 55g (4 feet long)=18" deep may be 2 shallow for 400 w. 250 would be max i would use. unless u raise it really high.

 

[junglebase]

yes, u can have 2 much(intensity) lighting. 55g (4 feet long)=18" deep may be 2 shallow for 400 w. 250 would be max i would use. unless u raise it really high.

Morris, not to mention the electricity consumption also....

 

[Harif87]

Good pont alex, havent really thought about that.

So i found a deal for a current USA 150 watt pendant w/ lunar lights and a 10 K bulb for $200, and if i get 2 of them itll be $380 together, does that sound decent? Im going to keep looking around at prices, never went halide shopping before <--- happy camper

 

[nyumpa]

10k

i think 14k is the happy mid-point of not requiring actinic lighting
but then again some 14k burn like 10k and some 14k burn blue.
the stock 14k from current that came with my Sunpod was closer
to 10k.