Is there a a benefit to running a 400 watt halide?

The Saltman · #1 06/30/2007, 10:40 AM

Hi guys,

Im looking at keeping a clam/sps tank in my new 180 that is 72x24x24. Im trying to decide between 3 400 watt bulbs or 3 250 watt bulbs. Is there an advantage to running 400's?

I appreciate your response

Reefghoul · #2 06/30/2007, 11:05 AM

More PAR.... aka alot more light... It depends who you ask, I ran 400watters on my old 120 and loved it... I think 400w is the max I would ever go on a tank, I think it is worth it over the 250watters

GMAX · #3 06/30/2007, 12:47 PM

I would think with a 24 inch depth that 250 watts is plenty. you need the extra wattage to penetrate a deeper tank.

Lots of additional watts = a happy electric utilityman.

gasman059 · #4 06/30/2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Saltman
Hi guys,

Im looking at keeping a clam/sps tank in my new 180 that is 72x24x24. Im trying to decide between 3 400 watt bulbs or 3 250 watt bulbs. Is there an advantage to running 400's?

I appreciate your response

Same tank same measures- I run 3 400 20k.
Yes 250 should be enough but man those 400 really give some light plus u can kepp anything anywhere.

trueblackpercula · #5 06/30/2007, 04:13 PM

I would have to say that after running 250 and then going to 400watt big diff in light.If you can handle the light bill then go for 400's
Michael

saj01c · #6 06/30/2007, 04:21 PM

I'm going from 250w to 400w DE. What are the best bulbs in 400w hqi?
I heard a lot of them don't last very long?

saj01c · #7 06/30/2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saj01c
I'm going from 250 to 400w DE. What are the best bulbs in 400w?
I heard a lot of them don't last very long?

gasman059 · #8 06/30/2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saj01c
I going from 250 to 400w DE. What are the best bulbs in 400w?
I heard a lot of them don't last very long?

I run SE XM great bulbs long life

saj01c · #9 06/30/2007, 04:28 PM

What about in DE?

Gary Majchrzak · #10 06/30/2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Saltman
Hi guys,

Im looking at keeping a clam/sps tank in my new 180 that is 72x24x24. Im trying to decide between 3 400 watt bulbs or 3 250 watt bulbs. Is there an advantage to running 400's?

I appreciate your response

3 250 watters will do the trick. 400 watters aren't necessary.
72 x 24 x24 is a good size choice for an aquarium. Good luck.

atf72 · #11 06/30/2007, 11:36 PM

400's are more versatile IMO, especially if you will run 14 or 20K.

messy1messmer · #12 07/01/2007, 12:25 AM

My tank is 96x24x24 and i use 3x250 on luminarc III reflectors. They are great. I was personely able to ask Sanjay what he thought and he told my lighting would be more then enough(sps/lps/clams/sps). Plus with 400's the electric bill isnt the kick in the #@$%, its the cooling cost in my opinion. I had 2x400 on my 120 and couldnt keep it cool. I had the central air maxed and could only run bulbs 6 hours. On my 240 no ac in house and run 10hr and temp stays under 80 and its been 90+ in my house this year.

kangym · #13 07/01/2007, 02:57 AM

Yes, I will go for 250 W with 3 x LM III reflectors.

redox · #14 07/01/2007, 05:28 AM

I have been running 400 watt de's since they first came out. I use hamilton 14k bulbs and have had great results

gasman059 · #15 07/01/2007, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
3 250 watters will do the trick. 400 watters aren't necessary.
72 x 24 x24 is a good size choice for an aquarium. Good luck.

I agree-400 aren't necessary . I run 20 k bulbs so 250'2 IMO would lag a little vs my 400 that at 20k have great penetration.

atf72 · #16 07/01/2007, 07:52 AM

400's cost about 25-30% more to run than 250's, but that more than balances out for me because 6 hours is all I need to run them. Unless you are running a lot of bulbs the difference in price is really not that much. That is my experience and the reason I run them.

I run 2 400's in Luminarc minis over my 120 without a chiller and have no heating problems here in Florida. I love them and will probably never go back to 250's.

At the end of the day, it is simply a personal preference

reefkoi · #17 07/01/2007, 11:49 AM

It's not a matter of necessity, but what pleases your eye.
I think if the goal is just to grow coral run some 175 watt 6500K iwasaki bulbs. But if you want the look of a 20K bulb I think the 400 would be the way to go. I have taken corals from the LFS that were under 400w XM 15K and looked incredible brought them home to my 250w 14K Phoenix and they lost the colors, they didn't have that "pop" the 400's gave them.

Gary Majchrzak · #18 07/01/2007, 02:51 PM

reefkoi... do you happen to work for a power company?

This fella has a 24" deep aquarium and he should be able to get his SPS to "pop" with 250 watters. I've seen folks get SPS to "pop" in a 24" deep aquarium with 175 watters.
There's more to making colors "pop" than wattage.

Reefghoul · #19 07/01/2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saj01c
What about in DE?

There are not alot of options for 400w DE, hamilton makes a bulb, custom aquatic has an off brand bulb...not sure who else makes a 400w DE...

reefkoi · #20 07/01/2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Majchrzak
reefkoi... do you happen to work for a power company?

This fella has a 24" deep aquarium and he should be able to get his SPS to "pop" with 250 watters. I've seen folks get SPS to "pop" in a 24" deep aquarium with 175 watters.
There's more to making colors "pop" than wattage.

Yeah like it says above my avatar i work for the power company.

yeah i agree you can get some really nice looking colors from 10K even. but there is just something about high wattage lights that gives me a chubby.

RichConley · #21 07/02/2007, 09:12 AM

Then only thing you get on a 180 from upgrading 250-> 400 is some photoinhibition, and higher electric bills.

RichConley · #22 07/02/2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by reefkoi
It's not a matter of necessity, but what pleases your eye.
I think if the goal is just to grow coral run some 175 watt 6500K iwasaki bulbs. But if you want the look of a 20K bulb I think the 400 would be the way to go. I have taken corals from the LFS that were under 400w XM 15K and looked incredible brought them home to my 250w 14K Phoenix and they lost the colors, they didn't have that "pop" the 400's gave them.

Thats got nothing to do with lighting, and everything to do with your tank.

burton14e7 · #23 07/02/2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Thats got nothing to do with lighting, and everything to do with your tank.

That statement could be true and could be false. He could just be referencing the loss in color due to the loss of spectrum. Color that we see is only the spectrum of light reflected off a surface and our eyes only see color as the spectrum of light not reflected off the surface. When discussing the change of a spectrum there will definitely be a change in perceived color. When he's discussing pop I believe he's referencing color spectrum's and not the healthiness of his coral which would be the tank not the lights. Being only 1k difference in spectrum I'm leaning towards your interpretation of his statement but to give him some credit because of the usage of pop I'm leaving it open ended.

At the same time though I read on the boards but haven't read a paper or anything empircal backing this up but what I read was that the colors we see in our SPS are the corals sunblock per se due to the amount of light we shine on them. So if we're drenching them with more intense light their natural protection mechanism would be to put more of their sunblock on

RockyMtnReef · #24 07/02/2007, 01:59 PM

I have a 70x28(W)x30(T) tank. I have (3) 400W 20K Radiums and like them very much. I would say however that with a 24" depth you are probably ok with 250W.

atf72 · #25 07/02/2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Then only thing you get on a 180 from upgrading 250-> 400 is some photoinhibition, and higher electric bills.

Spoken like an argumentative pro...

I know you believe your words are scripture, but many reefkeepers here prefer 400's for reasons you have obviously never witnessed...