400 or 250mh? Distance?

Mike konesky · Aug 3, 2019

New frag system. Sun systems 400/250 digitals on intellitracs. 50gal rubbermaid stock totes. Planning on lower light corals. These totes are 12" deep. Top of the water currently 23" away from the lights. Havent ordered bulbs yet. Can I get away with 250s? Or should I rock 400s? I can raise the lights another foot if needed. Input appreciated. Also, should I spend the cash on radion bulbs or just use the cheap GE 5k bulbs.

Mike konesky · Aug 3, 2019

Mike konesky said:
New frag system. Sun systems 400/250 digitals on intellitracs. 50gal rubbermaid stock totes. Planning on lower light corals. These totes are 12" deep. Top of the water currently 23" away from the lights. Havent ordered bulbs yet. Can I get away with 250s? Or should I rock 400s? I can raise the lights another foot if needed. Input appreciated. Also, should I spend the cash on radion bulbs or just use the cheap GE 5k bulbs.

maroun.c · Aug 3, 2019

Whats dimensions of the totes? how many MH bulbs over each?

Mike konesky · Aug 3, 2019

maroun.c said:
Whats dimensions of the totes? how many MH bulbs over each?

8x4 bench. 31" wide totes, so 3 on top. 2 track motors, so 2 mh lights per 1/2 of the bench, but the motors move the lights. Dont remember anyone trying this so I need a little help. Middle tote will get overlap lighting.

Mike konesky · Aug 3, 2019

Mike konesky said:
8x4 bench. 31" wide totes, so 3 on top. 2 track motors, so 2 mh lights per 1/2 of the bench, but the motors move the lights. Dont remember anyone trying this so I need a little help. Middle tote will get overlap lighting.

Would love aquarium lighting companies to make a ceramic metal halide bulb in 20k and smoke the life out of these LED companies.

jda · Aug 3, 2019

I would lower them as much as you can to get the spread that you need. If you are under 8-12 inches, then 250w should be fine, if spreading more than you might need 400w.

I would not not use either Radiums nor 5k bulbs. Get some nice 10k bulbs from Hamilton... they will bridge the gap between color and growth... they are not yellow, but also not blue... nice crisp white. If you intend to sell a lot of these in person, then you might need some LED strips to blue up the stuff for the people who have only seen blue-light corals.