250w mh

[james00]

I have the SE bulb pointing downwards and I am not sure if enough light is entering into the tank. I am testing it with a ricordia but it wouldnt close up after the mh comes on, its been 4 hours and the ricordia seem to like it... I have it right up there. the light is a feet up and the tank is 46gal bowfront. I am not sure what to do, thanks in advance.

 

[MT79]

How is the light mounted, in a canopy? Does it have a reflector? A 250w over a 46 gal should be plenty. By the way, Ricordia prefer higher light levels than other mushrooms.

 

[james00]

There is a round reflector encasing it, but I couldnt get a pendant because I am cut from spending anymore on SW, Its like looking at a normal incandecent hood. The light is not focused on the tank.

 

[MT79]

A SE MH lamp mounted in a round reflector, hanging vertically would be extremely inefficient. Pendants use DE MH lamps. I'd recommend buying a spider reflector to mount it in, cost about $30, and it will give you MUCH more light, they are very efficient. Do you know the k of your MH lamp?