buying MH is this the right one for my tank??

[reefobsessed]

MH are to spendy not to get this right the first time so thanks for your help in advance. I have a 45 gallon that is 19 to 20 inches deep. I have two clams on bottom that the light needs to reach and want to add acropora for upper level. Thinking of getting 2 250 watt 10K bulbs in a ballast that is 19 inches long and since my tank is a pentagon it would run the length of the tank.

 

[ohio reefer]

what is the depth of the tank?

i agree MH are to expensive to mess up!

here is a general rule that i have read on-line and it seem to work out (i hope anyways thats what i went with):

1 bulb for every 2 foot of tank length

BULB WATTAGE DEPTH OF TANK
175 w 18"-36"
250w 24"-48"
400w 36"-60"


HTH

mark

 

[captivereefs]

I have the same tank and you could actually get by with one 250 watt MH bulb. The spread from one MH bulb is good foor 2 square feet. That covers this tank nicely; you just have to get it on center. I had clams in mine with 1 250watt AB 10k and it grew nicely; to icely that i had to give it up as it got to big! The onl problem with this tank is fitting actinics above it if you do not have a custom canopy!