Lighting help

[sstraub5150]

I have a 24 nano setup with a 150 watt sunpod metal halide. My question is I also have a 70 watt halide and was wondering if I could use both lights and if so is that too much light?

 

[jetchris]

no that will be great light

 

[skriz]

Too much!

Not only would it be difficult to fire them both over the tank, but it would create heat issues. Stick with the 150 with a good bulb and you can keep anything as far as coral goes.

so, what restaraunt do you manage?

 

[sstraub5150]

Skriz;193435 wrote: Too much!

Not only would it be difficult to fire them both over the tank, but it would create heat issues. Stick with the 150 with a good bulb and you can keep anything as far as coral goes.

so, what restaraunt do you manage?

I'm a GM of a Krystal.

 

[jetchris]

wow skirz, im surprised you disagree, in order to keep any kind of coral "primarily sps" you should have about 5 to 7 watts per gallon.

 

[skriz]

na, you can't determine your lighting on wpg..if so, I would need well over 3000 watts of lighting. I have half that amount and get phenomenol growth.

The wattage you need is better gauged by the depth of your tank. The shallower (is that a real word?) the tank, the less punch you need. In a 24g nano, a 150w iwasaki would be awesome! You could have brilliant growth and colouration with that light.

I had a 29g with a 250w mh and I had heat/evap issues, so the 24g will definately have issues.

 

[sstraub5150]

chrisjet;193441 wrote: wow skirz, im surprised you disagree, in order to keep any kind of coral "primarily sps" you should have about 5 to 7 watts per gallon.

I have acros, pocillepora, and 8 clams. 150 is plenty of watts?

 

[jetchris]

give it a shot, if it was me i would hook up both lights, and have a fan going over the top , also add an ATO. Just experiment with both - use the 150 for 2 months and then add the 70 for 2 months, i still believe you will get better growth with the 2 - of course it will look janky unless you are creative.

 

[sstraub5150]

here's a couple of photos:

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[skriz]

sstraub5150;193446 wrote: I have acros, pocillepora, and 8 clams. 150 is plenty of watts?

8 CLAMS????

You are going to need a MONSTER calcium reactor to keep up with those guys. That is waaaaay too many clams for a 24g tank!

 

[sstraub5150]

Calcium is under control. I like clams. I had 13 in my 10 gallon at one point and my acros and pocilleporas grew like crazy. The gigas is the only one I worry about.

 

[skriz]

sstraub5150;193453 wrote: Calcium is under control. I like clams. I had 13 in my 10 gallon at one point and my acros and pocilleporas grew like crazy. The gigas is the only one I worry about.

wow, how are you doing that? That's awesome!

Back to lighting...150w is more than fine. What bulb are you running?

 

[sstraub5150]

Skriz;193455 wrote: wow, how are you doing that? That's awesome!

Back to lighting...150w is more than fine. What bulb are you running?

I do kalkwasser drips 3 times a week and use walt smith fiji gold. I use a 14k bulb.

 

[sstraub5150]

And I have a refugium made out of a aqua clear with cheato and fiji mud.

 

[skriz]

If you are looking for more par, instead of wasting you money on the second light, just get the best bulb you can for the current 150w..cheaper and will work better

 

[sstraub5150]

Skriz;193459 wrote: If you are looking for more par, instead of wasting you money on the second light, just get the best bulb you can for the current 150w..cheaper and will work better

I already have a 70w that was on my 10 gallon. Thats why I was asking.

 

[jetchris]

with that calcium load, you could save some money by using pool calcium. It works as good as kent turbo calcium just alot cheaper. Also despite what dawgdude says 5 to 7 watts per gallon is just about right.

 

[sstraub5150]

chrisjet;193462 wrote: with that calcium load, you could save some money by using pool calcium. It works as good as kent turbo calcium just alot cheaper. Also despite what dawgdude says 5 to 7 watts per gallon is just about right.

Oh I'm not done. I plan on getting more clams and more acros. The ones I got 2 weeks ago are growing. I only have 2 fish so the waste load is very light. here's another good photo:

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[jetchris]

wow, looks great! I hope to get a clam , but i hear they are hard to keep?

 

[sstraub5150]

chrisjet;193469 wrote: wow, looks great! I hope to get a clam , but i hear they are hard to keep?

No they're easy if you give em enough light. Big misconception.