30" - 300G Lighing HQI/DE or Mougle ?

[Phxkeller]

Looking for feedback on sucess / failures with lighting on a 30" tank ..

DE/HQI or Mogul base ?

250W x 4 is my plan at the moment..

I will not have a cannopy over the top of the tank to hide retro fit kits.. SO Im looking for a clean open light.. (current USA/geissmann style light/ Hamilton)

[SWSaltwater]

I would go with 3x400W personally, Maybe 4x400 if it's an SPS tank.

[Elliott]

I can't speak from experience, but I decided to error on the side of higher intensities, especially since I plan to keep mostly sps. My canopy has:
4 MH 250W electronic (IceCap) with 14k hamiltons
8 VHO 110w lights 46.5" (ARO) with 4 URI superactinics, 2 URI Actinic Whites, and 2 URI 10k's
2 Dusk lights (10w Coralife 50/50)
2 LED moon lights

I figured it's easier to unscrew a bulb if less intensity is needed, rather than add/modify a fixture later.

I'm sure some of the experienced reefers here can give you better insight

[Fliger]

What are the exact dimensions? There are some good pendants out there. Sidewinder's tank (RC Tank of the Month) is lit by 4x250W and they're even using e-ballasts. Its working fine but it really depends on the exact dimensions.

Right now I have three pendants hanging around - a 2x400W + 54W Sfiligoi Infinity, an AquaMedic Sunlight NG 2x250W + 4x54W and an Elos 2x150W + 4x39W if you want to check them out. Giesemann Infinity is also a great fixture.

I love the pendant look!

[oct2274]

i really think it depends most on the reflector and bulb choices you make. I think you can easily get away with 250 DE's if you use 14k phoenix or 10k bulbs, but not with 20k bulbs. You might have to supplement with T5HO's, but still cheaper than running 4 x400's and it is nice to have the ability to change color by changing out supplemental T5HO's. Also T5's have been shown to penetrate deep as well as 250 watt halides with good reflectors, again depending on the bulbs. Just a thought :)