MH HQI Questions - Aquarium Advice

Enygma_0 · 01-02-2008, 04:37 PM

All,

I was pondering buying a MH HQI retro kit for my 30g tank and wanted to know or find out any reccomendations. I was thinking of buying an icecap kit. What bulb wattage should I use to keep the most variety of corals in my tank? AS well if I buy a 250W ballast and put it on a 150W bulb that is not going to hurt anything would it? I would ideally like to plan for future growth and that is why I was thinking of going higher wattage....

ccCapt · 01-02-2008, 05:44 PM

A 175 is plenty IMO for a 30. 250 is for deeper tanks (20"+) and is overkill for you, not to mention the potential heat issues. You can not mix wattages for bulbs and ballasts.

PC · 01-02-2008, 11:28 PM

I have a 150HQI over a 29G and its quite bright. Its actually too bright for some soft corals and polyps. From experience I would say that anything more than 150 would be far too bright and cause heat issues.

GL!

usmcmarc · 01-03-2008, 06:44 PM

150W HQI 14K, and 72W Actinic PC....more than enough for my 29G

01-02-2008, 04:37 PM	#1
Enygma_0 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 29 Images: 6	MH HQI Questions All, I was pondering buying a MH HQI retro kit for my 30g tank and wanted to know or find out any reccomendations. I was thinking of buying an icecap kit. What bulb wattage should I use to keep the most variety of corals in my tank? AS well if I buy a 250W ballast and put it on a 150W bulb that is not going to hurt anything would it? I would ideally like to plan for future growth and that is why I was thinking of going higher wattage....

01-02-2008, 11:28 PM	#3
PC Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Memphis, Tn Posts: 727 Images: 5	I have a 150HQI over a 29G and its quite bright. Its actually too bright for some soft corals and polyps. From experience I would say that anything more than 150 would be far too bright and cause heat issues. GL! __________________ To fail to plan is to plan to fail.

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01-02-2008, 05:44 PM	#2
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,532 Images: 3	A 175 is plenty IMO for a 30. 250 is for deeper tanks (20"+) and is overkill for you, not to mention the potential heat issues. You can not mix wattages for bulbs and ballasts.

01-03-2008, 06:44 PM	#4
usmcmarc Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greenwood Lake, NY Posts: 532 Images: 13	150W HQI 14K, and 72W Actinic PC....more than enough for my 29G