Metal Halide, overkill?

[kevin4052002]

I need some help deciding on lighting. I have chatted with quite a few people on this, and am receiving mixed opinions, and I am having second thoughts on everything.

I am going to have a Sebae Anemone in a 18" deep tank (22" without sandbed). Those are the constants here.

I would be able to provide it a choice of MH lighting. All of them would be regular MH, non HQI or double ended. I have a choice of the following: 175w, 250w, and 400w. With all of these I have the choice of 10K, 15K, and 20K bulbs. I did not include 150w, as I feel that this is less than adequate. Now here is the final question, would 400w be overkill? As in, would it hurt the anemone? There has to be some point where the light becomes too intense. I am trying to create the best conditions possible for it, and this is the last area I have to cover, and I am not experienced in lighting, but I know my choices.


Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Igor The Cat]

i say 175w is perfectly fine, you could do 250w but i definetly think 400w is WAY overkill....but i think ive already told you that in thhe chat

cheers

-Java

 

[kevin4052002]

Thanks Java, I'm just trying to sum up my responses. *thumbsups

 

[Igor The Cat]

your welcome

-Java

 

[1979camaro]

i think 400w of 15000k or 20000k MH would be great personally...why limit your ability to keep other things from the outset ya know?

 

[kevin4052002]

I contacted DrsFosterSmith's LiveAquaria today via phone. The guy that I talked to said they generally recommend 8 or 9 wpg for Sebaes. He said that 400w would make for "one really pretty anemone", but that I should start out by hanging it at 12-14" above the tank. His only comment about the 250 was that it would just be equally as expensive. He also added that the only problem with having the 400w would be more heat.

Looks like I am still leaning towards the 400w with the 20 000K bulb. I'd like to get more opinions before I buy it though.


It's going to be just as hard as I predicted. All responses appreciated.

-Kevin

 

[Mushroomman]

Yeah, like we've said, depth and intensity is the key. I think the 400 watt would be a real awesome light, though you could get away with the 250.

Were you planning on having this in an enclosed canopy? If so the halides will heat things up a bit.

 

[kevin4052002]

I might try an open tank, and just hang the lights above it...maybe go for glass covers too.

 

[S.Reef]

I personally believe with a 22" tank you wont have a problem with anything if you run a 175 watt. If you think you need a little more power up it to the 250s.

 

[wayne]

I don't think a 400 would be overkill, but remember that as well as 400 watts for the bulb you would need a few hundred watts to drive the ballast as well, so 400's will make quite an impact on your 'leccy bill.

The choice between 150, 175 and 250's is complicated by the issue that you're not saying single ended or DE. If you're talking single ended bulbs then you should NOT discount a 150 DE bulb as that will, with a good reflector (read most) provide as much light as a single ended 250 watt. If I was you I'd be looking at a DE 250 watt fixture.

Single ended 175's and 250's are for my money, a bit olde worlde.

 

[S.Reef]

yeah, I had a 150 watt HQI double ended fixture running temporarily on my reef and it produced a whole lot of light...by the way what are the dimensions of the tank?

 

[kevin4052002]

Hmm....I seem to have found a provider for the single ended 400w, and HelloLights has a moderately priced double-ended HQI 250w.

The dimensions are 30x12x22.


Wayne, here are my exact choices..

150w DE
175w DE
250w DE
250w Single-Ended
400w Single-Ended

 

[kevin4052002]

Thanks for all your help you guys. I think I will be going with this AquaMedic 250w DE-HQI unit. I like the look of it, plus its housing is moderately small. I really like their products. This light comes with a 10 000K bulb, so I'll use that, and once it goes out, head for a 20 000K bulb. I'll wait to buy during a time that DrsFosterSmith puts it on sale/clearance, or until I buy my tank.

Any special comments on this unit?

 

[Igor The Cat]

I told you HQI lol

cheers

-Java

 

[S.Reef]

Excellent choice, those aquamedic fixtures are quite nice.

 

[fish outa wata]

that's a pretty good deal! ballast, hanging harness and bulb all included!

would any supplemental lighting be needed?

 

[kevin4052002]

Supplemental lighting to MH isn't needed.

 

[wayne]

Those aqua medic units are very good value