250w halide over a 40B...how high?

BluegrassReef · Jan 26, 2010

Just looking for opinions on how far the height should be over a 40b.

250w halide in a reefoptix reflector. mostly soft corals right now...but will be adding a crap load of lps and sps frags as soon as the taxes get here.

650-IS350 · Jan 26, 2010

I have a 37Cube 250MH, light is currently 10-12 off the tank, planning to cut that in half. I have a full reef too, ( polyps, LPS and SPS ) 20K mh with 4 T5s

Under 20Ks

Under 14k phoenix

Russellaqua · Jan 26, 2010

I've done the same thing and kept the bulb 12" off the water.

BluegrassReef · Jan 26, 2010

thanks guys...I was wanting to lower it to about 6 inches off the water...the reason being is that my scape is 2 short islands and I don't think the sps would be very happy.

macawmagic · Jan 26, 2010

i've got a 250 over my 30 breeder. its about 6-8 inches off the water surface...If i had the room above the tank, I'd move it higher.

tangdiver · Jan 26, 2010

I have mine at 6", depends upon heat and corals...that is the limit.

You can have lower, if your tank stays low in temp, and also if all corals do not bleach.....

Good luck.

BluegrassReef · Jan 26, 2010

I will go 8 inches and see what that does...thanks for the input guys.

tangdiver · Jan 26, 2010

Just do not burn the corals you have now....do on a day off and watch for stress.

AlexStinson · Jan 26, 2010

i have a 250w radium about 6 off the surface, and then 240 watts of t5 about 10"

Troylee · Jan 26, 2010

What bulb are you running??? A 10k I would go no closer than 10" a 20k I think you could drop with in 6" okay...

reefdan · Jan 26, 2010

i'd start at like 16" and come down slowly. 250w pack a lot of punch and that 40b is only 16" deep.

i suspect that even at a foot above the water you'll be dealing with over 300 PAR at the bottom, assuming it's bare bottom. if not, you'll be dealing with even more.

i had a 250w phoenix over a 29g (19" tall if i remember right) and the PAR at the bottom was so high it made my clams run for shade.

BluegrassReef · Jan 26, 2010

right now it is a crappy 20k oddysea bulb....does the radium come in DE..that is what I really want.

reefdan · Jan 26, 2010

the radium DE is only a 150w. you're going to be stuck with a phoenix probably. the sps blue life 20k is pretty good (colorwise, i don't know its lifespan) as is the giesseman 22k (looks close to a radium)