Would 250w MH be enough for most SPS and clams?

[ramey70]

I have a 30g long tank. It is 18" tall and about 36" long. I currently have 2x95w VHO (Super actinic & Aquasun) and 20w NO Actinic. I would like to keep acropora SPS and colorful clams. I have a chance to upgrade to 250W metal halide for $95 if I act now. Would this lighting be okay or would I have to get 400w? 400w seems like an awful lot for that small of a tank.

 

[adrian]

I think it would be hard to find something that cant live under a 250 on a 30 gal A 400 might be a little better, as far as color and growth rate in some sps, but I dont think youll be at all disapointed with a 250, HTH

 

[ramey70]

Sammy
Ya it's only one light. I've heard about the two foot coverage with MH before and was planning on keeping lower light animals in those 6" zones to avoid stressing low light animals living under that much light. Would SPS acheive maximum color directly under the 250MH?

 

[adrian]

Golfish, Have to agree about those 12K
If you mount your 250 at least 8" over the wate, you shouldnt have too dim of areas off to the side. I think all but the most light demanding sps will color up nicely under a 250. HTH

 

[ironreef]

I agree only buy Iwaski 6.5k or german= AB or ushio or equals like halmiton ect... no blueline no sunbust no Chinese bulbs. USA,Japanese,German =good. IMO 250w would be fine. I've seen small tanks with 400w they need to keep the bulb higher. IME very few ppl accually have sps that likes to be 7" away from the bulb. Sure they can aclimate sps pulples ect to like them but 250w I've seen sps in small tanks do fine.What the furthest away would still be under 20-24".? Max on the bottom? From the bulb. If you use dsb @4" keep bulb 6-8" away hmmm most distance would be 26" away from the bottom. Most sps will be @10" away? Nice color you should have IME. 400w may give alittle mosre color and faster growth but 250w with a good bulb will make them frags growplenty fast. I use 250 6.5k and have a birdnest that grow 1/2" less than a month= just got it. Montipora that grow 1/2=1" a month. But have some slow growers that only grow @1/8-1/4. = 400w probally would help there. But heat and power was a concern at the time. When setting up my tank.