400w 20K XM too much for lps?

[manderx]

i have a 30 cube that is lit by a 175w 20K xm at the moment. it's time for a new bulb, and i'm thinking of bumping up to a 400w 20k xm for the sebae anemone's sake (and to slip a clam back in and maybe some acro in there too if it'll fit). will this be too much for frogspawns, candycanes and a flat brain to handle? i would acclimate by raising the light of course.

heat won't be an issue at all, it's plumbed into a few other tanks.

there's a pic in my gallery.

[bkiba]

Not that I know a ton about lighting about this point. You may be overdoing it. Any how from what I've read be sure to slowly acclimate this tank to that light. You may want to raise the light and combine that with eggcrate layers over the tank, then maybe removing the eggcrate completley first, then begin lowering the light. Lot of light for that tank but I'm sure the creatures will love it eventually!

[Julio]

i don't think you need anything higher than a 250 watter for a tank that size.

[Reefmedic79]

What about 2 400watt MH's on a 120 gallon tank with a 3 inch sandbed.

[Julio]

on a 120 it woudl fine, just keep an eye on the heat.

[Reefmedic79]

I already have a chiller planned, just can't figure what brand of chiller to get.

[llamart]

I have 2 250w on my 120 and it is by far enough. My alviapora and plate coral are just not happy with that much light and I am keeping them close to the shadows.

On the other hand my SPS, yellow leather, Zoas and RBTA are lovin the light.

What you need to worry out is most LFS do not have light anywhere near 400w especially dual 400w pendants. Every time you add a new coral, you will have to drop the light exposure time significantly and acclimate over time so you dont bleach the coral.

But if you want more of a SPS tank, those SPS will look amazing under such strong lighting.

[Mantis]

That would be way too much light for 30 gal. of water. Your LPS would never open up. I would look at T5's for that sized tank. You could still do SPS up top and LPS on the bottom

[milhouse74]

I would do a 250 Watt HQI, I had one on a 20L and loved it, going to reuse it on a 30 cube. Nice stuff.