150w or 250?

[Dasani]

I am going to get a metal halide pendant for my 20 long (30X13X13).
I want this tank to be SPS dominated with a few zoas.

I am trying to decided between a 150w or a 250w pendant. I will place the pendant at least 1ft. above the water to get the spread that I need.
Which would you guys recommend?

I am going to get 14000k Phoenix bulbs.

Thanks!

 

[Dasani]

Also these are the corals I am wanting:

ACROS-
Purple Fusion
Purple Bonsia
Tricolor Valida
Red Planet
Cali Tort
Strawberry Shortcake
ORA Pearlberry
ORA Hawkins Echinata

Monti-
Green Monti Cap
Superman Monti
Sunset Monti
Mystic Sunset Monti
Rainbow Monti
Purple Haze Monti

Others-
Hollywood Stunner Chalice
Birds of Paradise
ORA Green Birdsnest
Blue Digi
Meteor Shower
Rose and Blue Mille

 

[clowns101]

150's will keep corals,but I would go with a 250 for better spread and power,color is better and they arent that much more to buy in teh first place.

Good Luck

 

[Dasani]

Would 250 be an overkill though?

 

[phi delt reefer]

how much do you have to spend on a light.... how much do your parents have to spend on your extra electrical :xd:

 

[clowns101]

No,not really,I think if you hung it 12 inches off the water or so,you would be fine.Thats me though.

 

[Dasani]

Well this will be my Christmas present haha. So nothing above $250...but I have some cash I can pitch in if I need too....and I can combine with my aunt and mamaws gifts

Anyways I am still very unsure.... Some people are saying 150 some 250.

 

[MoneyPit]

What would Tim The Tool Man Taylor say ? More Power. 250w 1smile1

 

[Dasani]

Haha. True.....

 

[condor]

a foot off the tank the 250 is best imo, i had great luck with one over a 18g

but the 150 is more than enough to grow whatever u want and will save $ on the electric bill

 

[Dasani]

250w it is then Unless I can be convinced 150w better but I'm not sure that will happen.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I think everybody that is suggesting the 250w bulb isn't taking into consideration that your tank is only 13" tall. I say the 150w bulb will be fine,also the spread depends on your reflector it doesn't matter what wattage bulb you go with,150w is my suggestion/opinion.

 

[condor]

just make sure you knock back your photo period when you switch to the 250

 

[Dasani]

The fixture will be a fishneedit.com fixture. Metal Halide

Hmmmm so many opinions....still undecided. RAWR.

 

[Reef Pets]

Being that you are going with a pendant I would only go with a 250. All of our coral are under 400w 20K Radiums and the racks are about 12 inches under the waters surface and the lights are about 18 inches or less from the waters surface. Therefore, if we have large colonies the colony might only be 5 inches under the waters surface.
If you feel that 250 is too much and 150 is not enough then get a 250w dimmable ballast.

 

[Dasani]

Being that you are going with a pendant I would only go with a 250. All of our coral are under 400w 20K Radiums and the racks are about 12 inches under the waters surface and the lights are about 18 inches or less from the waters surface. Therefore, if we have large colonies the colony might only be 5 inches under the waters surface.
If you feel that 250 is too much and 150 is not enough then get a 250w dimmable ballast.

That's a good point. If your colonies do good <23" from a 400w radium then 250w seems best.

 

[clowns101]

Well,Im all for MH,I had a 30 gallon and the 150 was OK,and on a 20 Im sur eit would work,but 1)if you upgrade,you will need a bigger light,if you have the 250,thats one less light you will have to buy,cause Im sure you wont be using a 150 on a 60 cube tank(just example).2)The price to run them isnt that much actully,I run my 400 MH for 8 hours a day 7 days a week,and it raised my bill 10.39 cents.Not that much at all,I would assume(if you live in the midwest)it would raise your bill about $7.50~ cents or somthing like that.

Onto FishNeedIt-Yes,their lights are OK,but really,when it comes to lighting go all out,dont skimp,its the NUMBER 1 thing for a reef tank,and I think we could find you a great fixture for under $250 for your christmas!

I picked up a used 400 for $125,yet I had to buy a new ballast(thanks Soccerbag)but it was still worth it.

You could also check into T5 lighting,I think a 4 bulb 24" unit would be fine to grow Acropora on your little 20L.

I didnt know you were 15~,nice to know!We need young people in the hobby,my son is heavely involved hiself,we work on the 125 together!

God luck!

 

[Reef Pets]

I agree with clowns101 on the FishNeedIt fixture. The two main elements for a healthy reef is quality lighting and quality water. If your budget does not allow for a better light fixture then I would highly recommend waiting a little bit to save up. Nothing is worse than purchasing low quality equipment only to replace it due to low quality.... Do it right the first time, it will save you a ton of money in the end.

 

[Dasani]

Well,Im all for MH,I had a 30 gallon and the 150 was OK,and on a 20 Im sur eit would work,but 1)if you upgrade,you will need a bigger light,if you have the 250,thats one less light you will have to buy,cause Im sure you wont be using a 150 on a 60 cube tank(just example).2)The price to run them isnt that much actully,I run my 400 MH for 8 hours a day 7 days a week,and it raised my bill 10.39 cents.Not that much at all,I would assume(if you live in the midwest)it would raise your bill about $7.50~ cents or somthing like that.

Onto FishNeedIt-Yes,their lights are OK,but really,when it comes to lighting go all out,dont skimp,its the NUMBER 1 thing for a reef tank,and I think we could find you a great fixture for under $250 for your christmas!

I picked up a used 400 for $125,yet I had to buy a new ballast(thanks Soccerbag)but it was still worth it.

You could also check into T5 lighting,I think a 4 bulb 24" unit would be fine to grow Acropora on your little 20L.

I didnt know you were 15~,nice to know!We need young people in the hobby,my son is heavely involved hiself,we work on the 125 together!

God luck!

I am leaning towards 250w about 18" from the water.
I think I will just stick with fishneedit and get good bulbs. I haven't ever heard a bad comment about their fixtures. But if you could link me to a nice and inexpensive DE fixture that would be great.

I do not want t5's. Replacing bulbs every 10 months would make me go broke.

Haha yes I am. Been into the hobby for almost 3 years but have been researching for almost 5
I kind of got my dad involved. I had a 75 and I went to nanos and he took over the 75.

Anyways thanks for your help.

 

[Dasani]

Are there any decent DE fixture out there that are 24-36" long and come with just 2 mh's? Or do they have t5's and moonlights?