MH 20,000k Light upgrade

[eartaker]

Well after about 4 months now with 2x 175W HM 20,000K's the tank dosnt look bright enough to me... The coral and clams are doing fine but I was thinking about upgrading to 2X250W's. I wouldn't have to change out the ballast since it will already support it but do you think 2x250W over a 75 display is pushing it? I will be replacing my old off brand atinic bulbs tonight with 2x ATI true blues and 1 ATI true atinic. so maybe that will help the look for a bit.

Thoughts?

 

[mfinn]

I used a 250watt mh and 2 x 75 watt VHO over my 30" wide, 40 gallon tank.
If you acclimate everything properly, you could do it.
But you know the heat level is probally going to go up a little

 

[kpiotrowski]

I have 2x250mh and 4x110 vho over a 4x2x2.

 

[eartaker]

4x2x2 is 150g... 2x what I have but not much more in depth. I guess for $13 per bulb it wont hurt to try. I added the ATI bulbs today... the tank looks darker but the coral foresees more. I thin I may want to add another atinic or something. I was also reading that he bulbs have a break in period

 

[kpiotrowski]

4x2x2 is 150g... 2x what I have but not much more in depth. I guess for $13 per bulb it wont hurt to try. I added the ATI bulbs today... the tank looks darker but the coral foresees more. I thin I may want to add another atinic or something. I was also reading that he bulbs have a break in period

its a 120g Aquarium and Fish Tank Volume Calculator , but the point is its not much taller, and i have nealry 1000 watts directly above a shelf that sits 9 inches below water surface and the lights are 6 toi 7 inches above tank.

 

[eartaker]

4ahh yeah the 5x2x2 is the 150... Yeah that is what matters I guess is depth and par. Ill order 2 of them see how it goes. I have been using the 20,000k 175 pulsrites with great luck. M58/E | 250W Metal Halide Bulb | MH250/T15/HOR/20K They are more like a 14k some say though.

 

[kpiotrowski]

at 14k you will have more PUR than me though, lol I should have mentioned that my mh are 20k ushio and all four 110w vho's are actinics.

 

[eartaker]

Well after doing some looking... compared to the PAR coral sees due to the sun... the 250W MH's are nothing.

 

[eartaker]

Order placed... 2 250W MH's on the way...

 

[blk822822]

I ran a 250 MH 14K bulb and 2 PC actinics over a 34 gal cube and things were GREAT. Lots of growth.