Too much?

[hud3339]

I have a 58 oceanic with a 250w MH. I'm looking at a 400w MH would that be to much light? I know I would have to cut my lights period down till the coral could handle that upgrade. So what do yall think?

 

[KrisDeitz]

Hoang had a 400w over a 60 cube. His was like 20 inches form the top so i think you can do it

 

[Jaycen B.]

That will depend on the type of reflector, bulb, and ballast combo. what combo are you using with the 250?

 

[dawgface]

Depth of tank and height are what you need to look at. You could have 400w over a ten gallon therotically if it was far enough away.

Better question is, why do you feel the need to run a 400 over it? Do you have a certain look that requires the fixture to be further away than feasible for a 250?

 

[hud3339]

It's a 36" fixture with pc and moonlights. It's a de phoniex 14k bulb. And its inside a canopy. Another issue is would I have to get a chiller because of the temp difference

Edit: It's a 36" fixture with pc and moonlights. It's a de phoniex 14k bulb. And its inside a canopy. Another issue is would I have to get a chiller because of the temp difference

 

[dawgface]

How far away is the bulbs from the water? Bulbs from the sand bed?

 

[hud3339]

DawgFace;668951 wrote: How far away is the bulbs from the water? Bulbs from the sand bed?

Bulbs to water is 4 1/2" and bulbs to sand 21 1/2"

 

[mph84]

Why are you thinking about changing? just curious...

 

[hud3339]

mph84;668975 wrote: Why are you thinking about changing? just curious...

Better par mainly

 

[hnguyen]

I think you'll be fine with a 250 over your tank. I had a 400w over my 60g with a galaxy ballast and lumen bright reflector. It grow corals like crazy but I had to be very careful with where I place my corals. The light fixture was about 18" above water line and my tank was 24" deep. So it was 42" from the sand bed. I didn't have a par meter at the time so I couldn't tell you hoe much oar I was getting.

Now I have the same light over my 93 marineland cube and the tank is also 24" high. Lights are about 16" above waterline and I'm getting close to 300 par on my sand bed. And anywhere between 700-800 par about 6" below the water. So if those are the par numbers your looking for then go for it. If not then you should stick with the 250w


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[hud3339]

Hnguyen;668978 wrote: I think you'll be fine with a 250 over your tank. I had a 400w over my 60g with a galaxy ballast and lumen bright reflector. It grow corals like crazy but I had to be very careful with where I place my corals. The light fixture was about 18" above water line and my tank was 24" deep. So it was 42" from the sand bed. I didn't have a par meter at the time so I couldn't tell you hoe much oar I was getting.

Now I have the same light over my 93 marineland cube and the tank is also 24" high. Lights are about 16" above waterline and I'm getting close to 300 par on my sand bed. And anywhere between 700-800 par about 6" below the water. So if those are the par numbers your looking for then go for it. If not then you should stick with the 250w


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Ok cool I guess I'm gonna stick with my 250

 

[cr500_af]

Good choice. In a tank of that size a 250w in a good reflector/bulb combo will do anything you need it to do.

 

[db366]

Yea, IMO I'd do 2 150's over that tank over 1 400. Reason being unless you have one of those huge reflectors the light doesn't get all the way over to the sides of a 36 inch tank.