Metal Halides...

reef starter

reef starter

Member
I think I am going to buy one and put in a custom hood... One question....
Does it have to be in the middle of the tank or what?
---Enquiring Minds Want to Know?!?!
 
colorado_reef

colorado_reef

Member
what size tank do you have?
You can put it anywhere you want but it might look funny on one side and not the other!
I have 1 175w M/H on one side of my refugium for some clams and on the other side just actinics and flo. It is good for my refugium but think it would be kinda funny in my display!
Are you going to buy the retro kit?
How tall is your canopy?
 
reef starter

reef starter

Member
Its a 55 gal..
I was thinking about going with a 250watt 12,000K
and just putting it in the middle... and maybe adding a couple small wattage PCs on each side.. I want to be able to keep everything... :)
Also, is there such thing as to much light???
---Enquiring Minds Want to Know?!?!
 
reefcrazy

reefcrazy

Member
well if you want to keep softies and some lps you can go with one 250 mh if you want sps go with two 250 mh or even better two 400 mh.
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
on a 4 foot tank you should run 2 mh or else youwill have "dark" zones in your tank. they are very obvious and most annoying. make sure you have enough heat loss if you are going to build your own hood. MH's generate neat like no bodies business.
 
reef starter

reef starter

Member
I was thinking of putting 2 fans on each side of the hood... 2 blowing into the hood and 2 blowing out... Think this would generate enough air flow to keep the Temp. down?
---Enquiring Minds Want to Know?!?!
 
richierich2000

richierich2000

Member
2-400 watt is over kill on a 55 gallon I have a 150 gallon and I had 400's on it the algae growth was way to much. I am running 250's now it is alot better and my corals are doing great. as for a 55 gallon I would run 175's I ran 4 vho's 110 each I could grow anythig that I wanted
 
richierich2000

richierich2000

Member
ask around most people say not to have metal halides atlease 16 to 18 inches from any soft corals a 55 gallon isn't very deep so if you go with 175's you will have more than enough light
 
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