how much light is too much light

[nd30male]

Im running a 46 bowfront with 192 whatt pc an im going to add metal halide with my pc what would you suggest 250 or 400 watt halide would 592 watts create a bleaching problem?

 

[pwnag3!!]

dude...those are both way too much...i would go with a 150 even a 70 would do

 

[msd2]

what type of corals do u want to have?

 

[flatzboy]

Over my 46g. bow front I run 2x175 watt metal halides and 2x96 watt power compacts. With one metal halide you get shadows on the side and were the cross brace is thats why I went with 2 instead of one higher watt metal halide.

 

[nd30male]

Well im looking at sps, lps, and clams i tried a purple monti and green closed brain, the brain died but the monti seems to be doing well.

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by nd30male
Well im looking at sps, lps, and clams i tried a purple monti and green closed brain, the brain died but the monti seems to be doing well.
I think I'd go with Flatzboy config for mh, imho 2x175 woulourd give you pretty good coverage along with your existing lights. Just keep an eye on the temp

 

[van888]

Hello all,
I run 2 250 watt MH over my 46 bow and every thing loves the light. I have had no problems. I run them 6 hours a day and PC for 8 hours . 592 watts total over SPS and clams and some softies.

 

[flatzboy]

Originally posted by van888
Hello all,
I run 2 250 watt MH over my 46 bow and every thing loves the light. I have had no problems. I run them 6 hours a day and PC for 8 hours . 592 watts total over SPS and clams and some softies.
I was gonna go with 250 watt metal halides but I knew i'd need a chiller so i got the 175 watt metal halides and my temp. is at 82 in the middle of the day.

 

[nd30male]

Well thanks for the info i wasnt sure what to do so i thing im going with the 250 mainly for temp reasons hopefully i can get by without runninga chiller.

 

[reefer44]

go with the 400's..................thats not even close to to much light......................on my tank (180) i have close too 2,500 watts of light.........(6 250 DE)

 

[dburr]

go with the 400's..................thats not even close to to much light......................on my tank (180) i have close too 2,500 watts of light.........(6 250 DE
On a 46???? No way, he'll need a chiller for sure. You have lots of water volume, that keeps your tank cool. He won't have that kind of volume uless he has a huge sump.

 

[nd30male]

Well i dont have a sump at this time and i think im going with 250 because of heating, dont wont to buy a chiller if i dont have to.

 

[birdy]

Another thought is to just go with one 250w MH over a 46bow, I did it and it lighted the tank just fine, I used a spider reflector, there were no shadows in the corners, just put lower light corals on the ends. If you have a plastic middle brace it will cast a shadow though. I have one 250w MH over my 58gal (no center brace, 36" tank) and it does great, I am at my limit with heat though, if I added a second MH I would certainly need a chiller.

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by Birdy
Another thought is to just go with one 250w MH over a 46bow, I did it and it lighted the tank just fine, I used a spider reflector, there were no shadows in the corners, just put lower light corals on the ends. If you have a plastic middle brace it will cast a shadow though. I have one 250w MH over my 58gal (no center brace, 36" tank) and it does great, I am at my limit with heat though, if I added a second MH I would certainly need a chiller.
yeah I totally agree im thinkin 500wts of mh are gonna overheat that water. Just like birdy I had a single bulb over my 55 WITH a sump and it was at the heat limits w/o a chiller. Id agree with going w/two 175 or one 250 along with ur vho.
If you do decide to go 500wt be prepared to get the chiller.
I have to say if u put 400s on it along with ur existing light your going to have nothing left. That is way way way too much light. Reefer's lights on his tank put him at 14wt/g, You with 400's goes to 22wt/g that is way over the top. It would be the same as his tank having 4000 watts! Maybe he misread the size of ur tank.

 

[nd30male]

Ok well thanks for all the info peaple i think ill go with the single 250 just to save a little money my PC should help make up for any shading since there running full length of the tank.

 

[dragonboy]

I run 2-250 on my 100gal the heat only becomes a problem if your lamp is not high enough and if you live somewhere thats hot all the time. I get mostly heat issues during the summer time.