30" Deep Tanks 250w or 400w

MstgKillr · 10/30/2008, 05:38 PM

Those of you with tanks that are 30" deep or more, what wattage bulb do you use?

91yota · 10/30/2008, 06:01 PM

my tank is only 2/3 that depth but if i were running a 30" tank, it'd be 400w all the way

MstgKillr · 10/30/2008, 06:14 PM

I keep going back and forth between staying with my current 250's or upgrading to 400's. Its time to change the bulbs anyways if I decided to go with the 400's.

mflamb · 10/30/2008, 06:21 PM

My tank is 31" and I use 250's.

Znut Reefer · 10/30/2008, 09:20 PM

My tank is 120L x 36W x 29T. I use and voted for 400's. Before I upgraded I had a 225 I used 400's also.

DmitriyY · 10/31/2008, 03:44 AM

My tank is 27" Mariland 36x36x27 and I use 400

MstgKillr · 10/31/2008, 05:19 AM

Does anyone regret going to 400's?

Znut Reefer · 10/31/2008, 07:50 AM

None here.

Ryan009 · 10/31/2008, 08:15 AM

I found this article fascinating:

http://www.melevsreef.com/par_readings.html

It really depends on what bulb you're running and what you are hoping to keep. As the above link shows, a 10K 250W will have equal or better PAR at the bottom of a tank vs. a 20K 400W

tom obrecht · 10/31/2008, 08:24 AM

I think it also depends on what you plan to keep as well as what reflectors you are using. I ran 400's in Luminarc reflectors over a 28" tank and IMO was too much. If you have good reflectors I would opt for 250's.

civilengineer40 · 10/31/2008, 09:14 AM

Go with the 400W....In the end you will be impressed....

MstgKillr · 11/01/2008, 02:23 PM

What reflectors would everyone recommend for a 72x24x30 tank. I will probably also use some type of supplemental lighting also?

kdblove_99 · 11/01/2008, 03:25 PM

I have a 30" deep tank and will be using 250 watts. Your tank i would go with 3 Lumenmax elite reflectors. JMO

SnowManSnow · 11/01/2008, 03:40 PM

had 400s i now run 250s.. les $$ and less heat. Also a LOT better selection on lamps, assuming you mean HQI.

chris0942 · 11/01/2008, 03:43 PM

For the price I went with 400's, I also use 10k xm bulbs. they are about the same price as 250's. so for a little bit more money to start out with. no regrets. i was running 250 and up graded to 400 and seen just a little incease in the electric bill.

spleify · 11/01/2008, 03:56 PM

My bulb is 39" from the sand bed and I run 250W and get good growth on the sand.

Spleify

8BALL_99 · 11/01/2008, 05:45 PM

IF your using 20Ks then probably 400s would be best. But 250s would work.. If your going with 10ks I'd use 250s for sure.. Electricity is only going up. If you can get good growth with less heat and wattage then its not even a question to me..

turtleman9100 · 11/01/2008, 06:25 PM

I run 250's DE on my 30 inch tank. I also supplement with vho's. Everything is doing great in my tank. If they were 250 SE, I would be upgrading but the DE's do great. I use icecaps with XM 20k's.

Cove Beach · 11/01/2008, 07:09 PM

I run 250w SE 12Ks on Coralvue ballasts in Large Lumenbright reflectors over a 30" tank with bulbs 14" off the water.

Chihuahua6 · 11/01/2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 8BALL_99
IF your using 20Ks then probably 400s would be best. But 250s would work.. If your going with 10ks I'd use 250s for sure.. Electricity is only going up. If you can get good growth with less heat and wattage then its not even a question to me..

Agreed.

I'll be using 250 watt 10000k along with sun tubes on my 29" tall 280 gal. I will supplement with actinic vho for asthetics and only turn them on while I am home viewing my tank. I'm too frugal to upgrade to 400 watt lights just to have 20000k color spectrum.

I had one 250 watt 10000k Ushio SE bulb 13" above the water in my 30" 47 gal column tank. It was extremely bright, more than necessary on that tank. I'll be using the same bulbs on the 280 in good reflectors. None of my 12000k or 14000k bulbs come remotely close to the brightness of that bulb.

8BALL_99 · 11/01/2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chihuahua6
Agreed.

I'll be using 250 watt 10000k along with sun tubes on my 29" tall 280 gal. I will supplement with actinic vho for asthetics and only turn them on while I am home viewing my tank. I'm too frugal to upgrade to 400 watt lights just to have 20000k color spectrum.

I had one 250 watt 10000k Ushio SE bulb 13" above the water in my 30" 47 gal column tank. It was extremely bright, more than necessary on that tank. I'll be using the same bulbs on the 280 in good reflectors. None of my 12000k or 14000k bulbs come remotely close to the brightness of that bulb.

Ok are you standing behind me or something.. Pic of my 2 250 10k MH stuck between my 3 solar tubes with 4x54Watt Blue plus T5s. My pendants are 16" above the tank and I still get over 250 par on the sandbed with only them and the T5s on at night..

Chihuahua6 · 11/02/2008, 02:18 AM

8ball That's exactly what I will be doing. I have three sun tubes so I need to fit two halides between them.

How bright does it get in the middle of the day?

Thanks for posting the pic. Do you have pics of the display? Oh I just saw you have a website. I'll check it out.

8BALL_99 · 11/02/2008, 02:24 AM

Thats my old build thread. Here is a Link to my new one. Its got pics of the Tubes lighting ect ect.

Chihuahua6 · 11/02/2008, 07:47 AM

Ah yes. I have read that thread, very nice. I like your rockwork especially the arch.

It's nice to see softies in a large tank too for a change. That's what I will have. I don't have to worry about a calcium reactor, kalk reactor, extra lights, extra heat etc.

MstgKillr · 11/08/2008, 06:41 AM

Anyone else

10/30/2008, 05:38 PM	#1
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	30" Deep Tanks 250w or 400w Those of you with tanks that are 30" deep or more, what wattage bulb do you use?

10/30/2008, 06:21 PM	#4
mflamb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pasadena, Texas Posts: 8,422	My tank is 31" and I use 250's. __________________ Click on my red house to see my 390 and 300 build thread. Those are my last 2 tanks in Tampa. Now in Pasadena waiting to buy a house to set up my next tank....anemones and clowns...probably a 3x3 150 gallon.

10/31/2008, 08:24 AM	#10
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	I think it also depends on what you plan to keep as well as what reflectors you are using. I ran 400's in Luminarc reflectors over a 28" tank and IMO was too much. If you have good reflectors I would opt for 250's. __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

11/01/2008, 03:40 PM	#14
SnowManSnow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 956	had 400s i now run 250s.. les $$ and less heat. Also a LOT better selection on lamps, assuming you mean HQI. __________________ It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef

11/01/2008, 03:56 PM	#16
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	My bulb is 39" from the sand bed and I run 250W and get good growth on the sand. Spleify __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

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

10/30/2008, 06:01 PM	#2
91yota Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 782	my tank is only 2/3 that depth but if i were running a 30" tank, it'd be 400w all the way

10/30/2008, 06:14 PM	#3
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	I keep going back and forth between staying with my current 250's or upgrading to 400's. Its time to change the bulbs anyways if I decided to go with the 400's.

10/30/2008, 09:20 PM	#5
Znut Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Claxton, Ga Posts: 3,396	My tank is 120L x 36W x 29T. I use and voted for 400's. Before I upgraded I had a 225 I used 400's also.

10/31/2008, 03:44 AM	#6
DmitriyY Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 131	My tank is 27" Mariland 36x36x27 and I use 400

10/31/2008, 05:19 AM	#7
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	Does anyone regret going to 400's?

10/31/2008, 07:50 AM	#8
Znut Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Claxton, Ga Posts: 3,396	None here.

10/31/2008, 08:15 AM	#9
Ryan009 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West Bend, WI Posts: 433	I found this article fascinating: http://www.melevsreef.com/par_readings.html It really depends on what bulb you're running and what you are hoping to keep. As the above link shows, a 10K 250W will have equal or better PAR at the bottom of a tank vs. a 20K 400W

10/31/2008, 09:14 AM	#11
civilengineer40 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Charlottesville Virginia Posts: 42	Go with the 400W....In the end you will be impressed....

11/01/2008, 02:23 PM	#12
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	What reflectors would everyone recommend for a 72x24x30 tank. I will probably also use some type of supplemental lighting also?

11/01/2008, 03:25 PM	#13
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	I have a 30" deep tank and will be using 250 watts. Your tank i would go with 3 Lumenmax elite reflectors. JMO

11/01/2008, 03:43 PM	#15
chris0942 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: indy Posts: 222	For the price I went with 400's, I also use 10k xm bulbs. they are about the same price as 250's. so for a little bit more money to start out with. no regrets. i was running 250 and up graded to 400 and seen just a little incease in the electric bill.

11/01/2008, 05:45 PM	#17
8BALL_99 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toney, AL Posts: 3,724	IF your using 20Ks then probably 400s would be best. But 250s would work.. If your going with 10ks I'd use 250s for sure.. Electricity is only going up. If you can get good growth with less heat and wattage then its not even a question to me.. __________________ The problem with political jokes is they get elected. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? Isn't is it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Current Tank Info: Custom Starfire 300,92Gallon,35 Gallon Hex,Two 40Gallons,125Gallon,

11/01/2008, 06:25 PM	#18
turtleman9100 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 570	I run 250's DE on my 30 inch tank. I also supplement with vho's. Everything is doing great in my tank. If they were 250 SE, I would be upgrading but the DE's do great. I use icecaps with XM 20k's. __________________ Let's make better mistakes tomorrow....................... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon tall mixed reef, 1/2 HP Chiller, Bubble King Mini 180, GEO 818cr

11/01/2008, 07:09 PM	#19
Cove Beach Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sheffield Lake Posts: 1,341	I run 250w SE 12Ks on Coralvue ballasts in Large Lumenbright reflectors over a 30" tank with bulbs 14" off the water. __________________ Patience, something my reef teaches me every day... 245 Reef Current Tank Info: 245 Star Fire display,Basement Sump system

11/02/2008, 02:18 AM	#22
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	8ball That's exactly what I will be doing. I have three sun tubes so I need to fit two halides between them. How bright does it get in the middle of the day? Thanks for posting the pic. Do you have pics of the display? Oh I just saw you have a website. I'll check it out. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

11/02/2008, 02:24 AM	#23
8BALL_99 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toney, AL Posts: 3,724	Thats my old build thread. Here is a Link to my new one. Its got pics of the Tubes lighting ect ect. __________________ The problem with political jokes is they get elected. OK, so what's the speed of dark? Why do we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? Isn't is it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do "practice"? Current Tank Info: Custom Starfire 300,92Gallon,35 Gallon Hex,Two 40Gallons,125Gallon,

11/02/2008, 07:47 AM	#24
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Ah yes. I have read that thread, very nice. I like your rockwork especially the arch. It's nice to see softies in a large tank too for a change. That's what I will have. I don't have to worry about a calcium reactor, kalk reactor, extra lights, extra heat etc. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

11/08/2008, 06:41 AM	#25
MstgKillr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 485	Anyone else