400watts too mcuh for a 40gal?!
- Thread starter peejfish
- Start date
tkblazer
Member
i guess i'm the only one that doesn't understand the recent trend in going way overboard with lighting. whether it will work on the tank? sure it will, might have to deal with some heat issues. you will be running fans which always helps.
first you need to look at what kind of livestock will you be using and then go by that. some corals don't fair too well in extremely intense light, while others don't mind it.
first you need to look at what kind of livestock will you be using and then go by that. some corals don't fair too well in extremely intense light, while others don't mind it.
tkblazer
Member
nothin wrong with free 
i wasn't accusing you of jumping on any bandwagons, its just something i've noticed lately. i guess its something that doesn't make sense to me to have that much light over such a shallow tank. then again, people would probly say the same about the flow in my tank
i wasn't accusing you of jumping on any bandwagons, its just something i've noticed lately. i guess its something that doesn't make sense to me to have that much light over such a shallow tank. then again, people would probly say the same about the flow in my tank
K
kistheeze
Guest
Personally, I feel like having that much light is unnecessary unless you're doing a 100% SPS tank. Obviously, you can put most corals under that light if they're acclimated slowly - but what a hassle that is...
But hey - can't argue with free.
But hey - can't argue with free.
flatzboy
Active Member
Yould be better off with 2 175 watt metal halides because 1 metal halide isn't gonna cover a 36'' tank. I already tried 1 400 watt mh over my 36'' long 46g bow front. I got it for free and there was dark spots on each side. So I went with 2x175 watt metal halides and some vho.
K
kistheeze
Guest
i think if you hang it high enough, the spread could be okay. I had a single 400W Radium over a 75 gallon (48" long) and mounted it about a foot off the water - the spread was adequate.
janelle
Member
I had a 120 gallon with 376 watts of pc's on it and the hood had three large computer fans installed as well as an open back (no glass or acrylic between the water and the lights) and I had a constant daytime temp of 82 (no heaters). I would venture to guess with 400 watts of MH on a 40 gallon you are going to have a hell of a time keeping the temp down without a chiller. (not to mention it's gonna make your room hot!) just my guess! good luck tho. nice score on free MHs!
oh, by the way in all fairness I did have two pretty large Little Giant external return pumps which produced a lot of heat. so if you dont have that going against you that would be good.
oh, by the way in all fairness I did have two pretty large Little Giant external return pumps which produced a lot of heat. so if you dont have that going against you that would be good.
peejfish
Member
heh, well my basement is where the tank is and its cold as ice all of the time and my return pump doesn't make very much heat...
i was thinking a hood design like this with two large computer fans that always have a cross current near the light going, in this picture the black sides are fans the blue sqigglies would happen to be the air and the bulbs in the middle..
i was thinking a hood design like this with two large computer fans that always have a cross current near the light going, in this picture the black sides are fans the blue sqigglies would happen to be the air and the bulbs in the middle..