30" Deep Tanks 250w or 400w - Page 2

SDguy · 11/08/2008, 08:22 AM

250 on 31" here. Unless you plan on growing yellow porites on the floor, I don't see the need for 400W. In fact, I was easily growing montis on the floor....

Pacific Reefs · 11/08/2008, 08:56 AM

I vote 250w. Actually I run 2 250w and 1 400 and the heat produced by the 400w in comparison to the 250 is insane.

MstgKillr · 11/08/2008, 09:13 AM

How would you compare the 250w DE Phoenix 14k on a HQI ballast vs. the 400w Reeflux 12k on a Coralvue Electronic Ballast.

sndwave80 · 11/08/2008, 09:50 AM

go with the 400w

MstgKillr · 11/08/2008, 09:02 PM

I already ordered 400w Coralvue Ballasts and Reeflux 12k bulbs. Hopefully I did good.

MstgKillr · 05/17/2009, 07:44 PM

I think the 400w might be too much lighting. I ended up with (3) 400w Coralvue Ballast, Reeflux bulbs, and LumenMax Elites. After upgrading my lighting I lost about 50% of my SPS mostly ORA's even with trying to slowly acclimate things.

Could I really have to much lighting now with my bulb and ballast combo?

Should I go back to the 250's?

MstgKillr · 05/18/2009, 04:56 PM

Anyone?

kuyatwo · 05/18/2009, 06:20 PM

my tank is 31 inches tall i run 250 with lumenbright reflectors and ice cap ballasts. i get better par than my friend running 400 watt bulbs on ice cap ballasts and spider relectors

MstgKillr · 05/18/2009, 06:24 PM

Anyone think 400w with Lumenmax Elite reflectors are too much?

Bugs825 · 05/18/2009, 06:51 PM

I have a 30"deep and won a dual 250 HQI blue wave 7 ballast....Guess I'm going with 250's.

Nathan

DPalm3 · 05/18/2009, 06:58 PM

i think light temperature would be more of a consideration. blue light penetrates deeper, for example.. i would go with 20K over 10K in a deeper tank

ct_vol · 05/18/2009, 07:47 PM

I use 250w with LME's on my 30" tank... Its more than enough...

EdMan1971 · 05/18/2009, 10:41 PM

Mstgkillr
How high are your lights from surface. I have a tank same size and also trying to figure out which reflector and watt to use. I was leaning towards 400watt with either lumanbright or lumanmax elite. I might change my mind and now go with 250s.
I'll be watching your thread closely to help with my decision.
Good Luck, hope it works out for you.
Eddie

View Poll Results: 30" Deep Tanks 250w or 400w
250w	44	56.41%
400w	34	43.59%
Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll

11/08/2008, 08:22 AM	#26
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	250 on 31" here. Unless you plan on growing yellow porites on the floor, I don't see the need for 400W. In fact, I was easily growing montis on the floor.... __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

11/08/2008, 09:50 AM	#29
sndwave80 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 68	go with the 400w __________________ Tank: AGA 120gal RR Lighting: 830watts - (2) 250watt MH, (3) 110watt VHO Flow: 2,100 GPH Skimmer: Aqua C 120 w/ Mag7 Current Tank Info: 120gal RR

05/18/2009, 06:51 PM	#35
Bugs825 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 449	I have a 30"deep and won a dual 250 HQI blue wave 7 ballast....Guess I'm going with 250's. Nathan __________________ My reefing motto.... Blessed is he who endures ! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon reef tank

05/18/2009, 06:58 PM	#36
DPalm3 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New Jersey, U.S.A. Posts: 54	i think light temperature would be more of a consideration. blue light penetrates deeper, for example.. i would go with 20K over 10K in a deeper tank __________________ so easy a thirteen-year-old could do it Current Tank Info: 120 gallon display (sps)

11/08/2008, 08:56 AM	#27
Pacific Reefs Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,768	I vote 250w. Actually I run 2 250w and 1 400 and the heat produced by the 400w in comparison to the 250 is insane.

11/08/2008, 09:13 AM	#28
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	How would you compare the 250w DE Phoenix 14k on a HQI ballast vs. the 400w Reeflux 12k on a Coralvue Electronic Ballast.

11/08/2008, 09:02 PM	#30
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	I already ordered 400w Coralvue Ballasts and Reeflux 12k bulbs. Hopefully I did good.

05/17/2009, 07:44 PM	#31
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	I think the 400w might be too much lighting. I ended up with (3) 400w Coralvue Ballast, Reeflux bulbs, and LumenMax Elites. After upgrading my lighting I lost about 50% of my SPS mostly ORA's even with trying to slowly acclimate things. Could I really have to much lighting now with my bulb and ballast combo? Should I go back to the 250's?

05/18/2009, 04:56 PM	#32
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	Anyone?

05/18/2009, 06:20 PM	#33
kuyatwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 409	my tank is 31 inches tall i run 250 with lumenbright reflectors and ice cap ballasts. i get better par than my friend running 400 watt bulbs on ice cap ballasts and spider relectors

05/18/2009, 06:24 PM	#34
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	Anyone think 400w with Lumenmax Elite reflectors are too much?

05/18/2009, 07:47 PM	#37
ct_vol Reefing On My Mind Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kempton, IL Posts: 8,083	I use 250w with LME's on my 30" tank... Its more than enough... __________________ Randy Volunteers, Blackhawks, Titans, Cubs!!!! Current Tank Info: 185g waiting to be built, 120g SPS/Anemone Reef, 120g SCA in the works, 58g mixed reef w/ 6x39w T5, 125g grow out w/ Reef Breeders

05/18/2009, 10:41 PM	#38
EdMan1971 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United States Posts: 46	Mstgkillr How high are your lights from surface. I have a tank same size and also trying to figure out which reflector and watt to use. I was leaning towards 400watt with either lumanbright or lumanmax elite. I might change my mind and now go with 250s. I'll be watching your thread closely to help with my decision. Good Luck, hope it works out for you. Eddie