MH watt selection? - Aquarium Advice

whitetiprs · 11-25-2005, 11:08 PM

I am planning on upgrading my lighting and would like to know if I should go with 175 watt or 250 watt [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5]. My tank is a 46 BF which currently has a single 150 watt [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] and 2X 65 watt acintics. I will be upgrading to 2X 20000k [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] with 2X 55 watt 10000k [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Compact Flourescent"]CF[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5]. I currently have a mixed reef but I am in the process of building a propagation system so most of my softies and [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral"]LPS[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] will go into that and I will be left with my [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] and some zoos.

So should I go with the higher watts since it is not that much more expensive, Or will that much light be over kill?

theatrus · 11-25-2005, 11:15 PM

If you're going with 20k bulbs, I'd shoot for the 250W. 20k bulbs have less light output than 175s.

Its not much more expensive except in utilities

11-25-2005, 11:08 PM	#1
whitetiprs Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Palmetto, FL Posts: 140 Images: 7	MH watt selection? I am planning on upgrading my lighting and would like to know if I should go with 175 watt or 250 watt [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5]. My tank is a 46 BF which currently has a single 150 watt [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] and 2X 65 watt acintics. I will be upgrading to 2X 20000k [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] with 2X 55 watt 10000k [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Compact Flourescent"]CF[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5]. I currently have a mixed reef but I am in the process of building a propagation system so most of my softies and [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Large polyped Scleractinian (stoney) coral"]LPS[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] will go into that and I will be left with my [acronym:bd76e0ffb5="Small Polyped Stoney"]SPS[/acronym:bd76e0ffb5] and some zoos. So should I go with the higher watts since it is not that much more expensive, Or will that much light be over kill?

11-25-2005, 11:15 PM	#2
theatrus Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 429	If you're going with 20k bulbs, I'd shoot for the 250W. 20k bulbs have less light output than 175s. Its not much more expensive except in utilities __________________ 55g reef, 2x250W 10k [acronym:7a5eabeab9="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:7a5eabeab9] + 2x96W [acronym:7a5eabeab9="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:7a5eabeab9] actninc, 10g sump, AquaC Urchin skimmer, 65lbs [acronym:7a5eabeab9="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:7a5eabeab9] xenia, mushrooms, wels. open brain, fungia radiata (orange), green eyed zoos flame angel, mated pair of false perc, 6-line, firefish 20gH electric yellow cichlid

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