500w on 40 breeder to much????

zooloo · #1 12/16/2007, 06:47 PM

im setting up another tank just for sps and i wanted to see if people thought putting 2 250w highlides and 78 watts of actinic would be over kill...

oct2274 · #2 12/16/2007, 07:26 PM

yes, that is definitely over kill. that tank is much to shallow for 250 watt lights. 150's would be plenty and would definitely grow anything well. corals can get to much light and hit photosynthetic saturation. to much light can inhibit growth and even kill corals. You would be wasting money running 250's over a tank that shallow.

opiumpipez · #3 12/16/2007, 08:08 PM

i would 9213921932913% disagree.

you did not specify what the distance will be between your lights and the surface of the water.

JediReefer · #4 12/16/2007, 08:11 PM

I could get a 1000w and put it 3ft above my tank. Doesn't make it the right choice.

zooloo · #5 12/16/2007, 09:30 PM

yeah i know i was just asking because i have them laying around from a previous tank and i was just thought i would use them. what do you guys think about doing 1 250 about 12 inches off the water.

GrandeGixxer · #6 12/16/2007, 09:42 PM

1 250 isn't going to hit the corners. You will have the spotlight effect. I have 2x175 with 2x39 actinics on my 40 breeder and I have to find shade for some corals including some SPS. My Blastos, Chalice, and Candy Canes have been banished to the sump and are recovering under the 13w spiral compact. They pretty much melted by getting hammered under all that light. I am running 10k Reeflux bulbs with the cheap spider reflectors. Most of my Acros are doing great though.

zooloo · #7 12/16/2007, 11:13 PM

so joe would you run the 2 250 if you were me?

oct2274 · #8 12/16/2007, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JediReefer
I could get a 1000w and put it 3ft above my tank. Doesn't make it the right choice.

hahaha, exactly. common sense says you pick the right light for the situation unless you like to pay for electricity and like wasting light by moving the light far away from the tank and lighting up the rest of your house.

mic209 · #9 12/16/2007, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GrandeGixxer
1 250 isn't going to hit the corners. You will have the spotlight effect.

I saw a 3 foot long tank today with one 250w halide in a PFO reflector, and it coverd the tank just fine. I'm going with one 250w over my 40 breeder, you should be fine with just one.

GrandeGixxer · #10 12/17/2007, 12:00 AM

It really depends on the reflector. But with the large reflector that it is going to take, you wont have any room to put any supplemental in. I would see if there is anyone local that has a similar 150w or 175w setup that they are willing to trade you.

GrandeGixxer · #11 12/17/2007, 12:02 AM

I just thought about it, you could als just run higher kelvin bulbs. If you like a bluer tank, you could just put in 20k's and probably not cook anything.

frags75 · #12 12/17/2007, 12:23 AM

I have 1 250 and 2 96 pc actinic on my 40 breeder and I do not have a problem with dead spots or melting. I think it depends on placement and how high off the surface. Me I have them 6 inches above the surface and a custom full length (3 foot) reflector with 4 inch wings. My sps love it. I think 2 250 is to much but 1 is fine.

8BALL_99 · #13 12/17/2007, 12:28 AM

I run a Single 250 over a 40 breeder with Np.. But I think 2 would be to much..

zooloo · #14 12/17/2007, 03:11 PM

thanks guys for the replys. i think i will go with one highlide and the t5 actinics...

bdare · #15 12/17/2007, 03:58 PM

Would those of you who have a 250 over your 40B's please post pictures and give the details on your lighting setup?

I have a 40 breeder I'm cycling right now that will run a single 250 and I'm worried about melting corals. I have a Reeflux 10K in a ReefOptix III reflector powered by an IceCap ballast. The reflector is in a hood 12" off the water.

Thanks,
Ben

zooloo · #16 12/17/2007, 05:10 PM

yeah it would be nice to see some pics.

bdare · #17 12/17/2007, 05:29 PM

I'd at least like to know what livestock everyone is keeping. I'd really like to be able to keep some LPS at least on the sides of the tank...

bdare · #18 12/18/2007, 12:05 PM

BUMP.

Let's see some pics of 40BDRS with 250watts of MH...

Ben

bdare · #19 12/20/2007, 02:12 PM

TTT

razorfingerz · #20 12/20/2007, 02:30 PM

ive got 2x250w MHs 14k on my 55g and everything is doin better than awesome..

bdare · #21 12/20/2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by razorfingerz
ive got 2x250w MHs 14k on my 55g and everything is doin better than awesome..

What do you have stocked in there? How far away from the tank are your lights? What bulb / ballast combo are you running?

Thanks,
ben

roxy · #22 12/20/2007, 02:34 PM

I used to have a 40 breeder with a single 250 mh and a decent spider style reflector. It covered a 36 inch tank with no problems or spotlight effect. I did end up adding a pair of 96w actinics for better color though.

I think one 250w would be just fine. Two might be considered by some to be overkill but depending upon what you plan on keeping it could be fantastic.

I'm a big fan of using equipment that you already have as it keeps costs down and is less wasteful. I see too many people go out and but new lighting instead of being creative and resourceful with what you already have.

NuclearReefs · #23 12/20/2007, 03:32 PM

Most successful tank i have had to this day was a 40 breeder with 2X250 Iwasaki's and 4 VHO 03 URI Actinics. . Two fans in a 10" inch high canopy...... Untouchable growth and coloration... :xD

zooloo · #24 12/20/2007, 09:42 PM

thanks for all the replys guys.

bdare · #25 12/20/2007, 09:55 PM

I just ordered a Phoenix 14K to replace my Reeflux 10K.