Who is keeping SPS under 175w MH's?

Kaos · #1 12/02/2007, 09:58 PM

I need a confidence builder going into my first SPS frags. I'm getting ready to get some digi's, stylo, cap, and slimer frags. My lights are a single 175w MH in a PFO pendant w/ a Hamilton 14K (I also have a 5 month old Iwasaki 15K on hand) <4" off the water's surface of a 10gal. (spec's in sig.). My water and everything else is great (tanks almost a year old and stable). The only thing I'm questioning is my lighting. I feel my lights are enough but keep finding myself checking out 250w and 400w setups in the classifieds (over heating is not a problem w/ my tank).

So, who is keeping SPS under 175w MH's? What kind of bulbs are you using? Any supplementation (VHO/HO/NO actinics or daylight)? Finally, what SPS do you have? TIA.

notenoughtanks · #2 12/02/2007, 10:46 PM

I grew every acro colony I have from 175w, but this was also 2 over a 75, so twice the output. I had always supllemented xm10k's with vho actinic ( you can get 18" ones to use over that small of a tank. The problem is stability. Unless you have that plumbed to a big sump or an existing display, you'll have issues. Beside the light issue, I don't think a proper food web ever gets established to grow sps well long term. Although you can probably manage to keep them alive. You need fish feeding and pooping, which can be a challenge in small tanks. Use that iwasaki, much better output than the hammy.

Btw, I'm not just blathering. I offer these suggestions out of experience with the same exact situation. I had great success with my display so I threw togehter a 10 gallon with 175w MH, vho actinic, dsb, a small skimmer. I took tthriving frags out of my display, and just had little success in the nano. Larry jackson, some ORA stuff will do o.k.

Kaos · #3 12/02/2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by notenoughtanks
I grew every acro colony I have from 175w, but this was also 2 over a 75, so twice the output. I had always supllemented xm10k's with vho actinic ( you can get 18" ones to use over that small of a tank. The problem is stability. Unless you have that plumbed to a big sump or an existing display, you'll have issues. Beside the light issue, I don't think a proper food web ever gets established to grow sps well long term. Although you can probably manage to keep them alive. You need fish feeding and pooping, which can be a challenge in small tanks. Use that iwasaki, much better output than the hammy.

Btw, I'm not just blathering. I offer these suggestions out of experience with the same exact situation. I had great success with my display so I threw togehter a 10 gallon with 175w MH, vho actinic, dsb, a small skimmer. I took tthriving frags out of my display, and just had little success in the nano. Larry jackson, some ORA stuff will do o.k.

Thanks for the advice and sharing the experience. The 10gal. is just temp. and will be moved to a 20L RR w/ a 39gal. (total available cap.) sump/fuge. Do you think this will be enough for stable water? My tank right now is pretty stable, but my cal draw is low (mostly zoo's and a couple LPS and a chalice).

Radiography14 · #4 12/02/2007, 11:42 PM

im using a xm10k 175w mh bulb over a 20 gallon high with a little 9 watt atintic. im happy with it all. i like the crisp white but i think i am going to go with the iwasaki 15 k aqua 2...nice par value and lil more tint of blue....

Froggy · #5 12/03/2007, 08:52 AM

I use 2 175 watt halides over my 75. All is doing well. I do use the Iwasaki 15 K's though. I did not have much success with the 14 K Hamiltons on my 75. The Hamiltons will probably be ok in a small tank but I would reccommend a higher PAR 175 watt bulb in a larger tank. JME

acrohead500ppm · #6 12/03/2007, 12:11 PM

NET- not trying to bash, but this 10 gal with 17.2 wpg covering an area of 20inx11.5in your 75 is 48inx18in your tank is running at 4.6 watts (assumingly) he has over 3 times the (output) your running,
i would be worried about temp swings in the tank, and you might want to srceen off the top of the tank and start the halide a foot or so off the water and gradually lower it -if applicable, i would really be worried about shocking the echino.

i am not going to go into depth on this one but i wouldnt actively feed too much as most acros/ other corals will lose pigmentations due to higher DOC levels
i dont feed a thing in my well est tank and havent for two years or so , AND NO I DONT HAVE A TANG for all the tang police out there.

Racenrich · #7 12/03/2007, 12:59 PM

A 175MH on that tank will do fine...you will need some kind of fan to keep the hood cool though!
I ran a 175w-10K on my 10g for 2years!! Great growth and excellent color. My bulb was about 8in from water's surface, i also had a 9in room fan blowing on the back of the canopy...

HTH and good luck!

hyperfocal · #8 12/03/2007, 03:32 PM

I had 2x 175W Hamilton 10Ks over my 60gal, and wasn't getting the growth I wanted (plus too many RTNs) so I upgraded to 2x 250W XM 10Ks. Things got better, but not as much as I was expecting. Then, I tripled the flow in my tank (from 20x to 60x+) and my corals went *nuts*. Flow >> lighting ime.

Kaos · #9 12/03/2007, 06:10 PM

Thanks for all the great advice/experiences everyone. Suprisingly my tank temp only varies .75*. My ACjr. and a fan blowing accross the water's surface and pendant keep my temp in check. Right now I'm trying to dial in my cal consumption to get a base point to start w/ dosing.

If any one has anything else to add please don't hesitate.

cham · #10 12/03/2007, 09:10 PM

I grow acro's at 30" deep at amazing speed using two 175w on the Iwasaki's in my 110.

On a 10g with the Iwasaki bulb you should be dosing sunblock along with your two part.

Kaos · #11 12/03/2007, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cham
I grow acro's at 30" deep at amazing speed using two 175w on the Iwasaki's in my 110.

On a 10g with the Iwasaki bulb you should be dosing sunblock along with your two part.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

NoSchwag · #12 12/03/2007, 10:08 PM

175's are more than enough to grow acros.

wrenchhead · #13 12/03/2007, 10:49 PM

3 175w hamiltons on my 125(6' long)and it's all sps.I have been very happy with colors and growth.

CUNAReefer · #14 12/03/2007, 11:21 PM

Hey Kaos,

Some people forget that a good reflector is an important part of the equation. Go with a high PAR bulb and a luminarc reflector and you will be good. Dont be afraid to throw in a couple of T5s for actinic supplementation.

Happy Holidays,
James

hyperfocal · #15 12/03/2007, 11:54 PM

That's a good point, I was using a crappy DIY reflector on my 175s -- worst decision possible.

xtm · #16 12/04/2007, 02:33 AM

175 watts for that shallow tank is more than enough. I've grown SPS on my 24" deep cube using only 150w HQI's.. and they weren't dim either.

have fun

Kaos · #17 12/04/2007, 04:58 PM

Well, my confidence is good w/ the 175w. Now all I have to do is a little tweaking on my mg and cal and I'll be set. Thanks everyone. If anybody has anything else, please speak up.

twon8 · #18 12/04/2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CUNAReefer
Hey Kaos,

Some people forget that a good reflector is an important part of the equation. Go with a high PAR bulb and a luminarc reflector and you will be good. Dont be afraid to throw in a couple of T5s for actinic supplementation.

Happy Holidays,
James

i'm all for lumenarcs and t5's, but on a 10 gallon?
Really?

a lumenarc is going to waste a lot of light on the sides. and since the smallest t5s are 24" not sure why you would recommend them here.

a high par bulb (10k) will likely burn any montis in there.

i have a 250 pheonix on an hqi over a 10, and while montis and stylo are on the bottom or sides the acros i put center stage have never looked brighter.
imo flow is the challenge in a 10g, ive got two powerheads in there plus a decent amt in return and I still want more.

twon8 · #19 12/04/2007, 05:17 PM

also with only 10 gallons you'd do best checking alkalinity every day for a while. i know it's a pain, but putting a lot of sps in such a small tank will eat up alk and calcium to no end. best to stay on top of it.

Kaos · #20 12/04/2007, 05:19 PM

twon8: Thanks for all the advice (here and elswhere). You've been a big help throughout this process.

CUNAReefer · #21 12/04/2007, 05:44 PM

Twon,

"The 10gal. is just temp. and will be moved to a 20L RR w/ a 39gal"

The dimensions of a twenty long are

30 x 12½ x 13 Tall

Here are actinics that will fit over the tank

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=212

Here is a luminarc you can use over the tank

http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=1473

Whats that Twon? Your wrong again? Well you should stop debating me then.

Good Luck Kaos!

twon8 · #22 12/04/2007, 05:56 PM

dimensions of lumenarc: 14.5"W x 14.5"L x 6.5"H

how is that appropriate for a tank 30" x 12 1/2"?

and how do you suppose to get the 30" actinics over a tank with the lumenarc reflector you linked to extending an inch out past the edges of the tank front and back, looking at the long pane?

CUNAReefer · #23 12/04/2007, 06:18 PM

A little imagination and DIY customization. Not that hard.

You can use single bulb reflectors. Attach to the end of the Luminarc, and tilt the T5 & Relector inward towards the tank.

Anything else?