400w MH on a 56g

[BluegrassReef]

I have a chance to upgrade my nano before it even gets setup...in a hopeful trade I would get a 56g 30x18x24....I can also pick up one 400w setup off my local board for dirt cheap...other than some heat issues that I think I can control without a chiller does anyone see any other problems I will run into?

I will build a hanging canopy and suspend it from the ceiling.

I want to run a 400w radium and a couple 24" vho actinics.

at what height should the 400w be from the waterline?

I know everyone will say I should go with a 250w but the 400w is what fits in my budget at the moment..later I will switch it to a 250w.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I know you dint ask this, but how much are you getting the 400w ballast and fixture for and what does it include?

 

[BluegrassReef]

I know you dint ask this, but how much are you getting the 400w ballast and fixture for and what does it include?

Rev....I will get what I think is a PFO ballast a spider reflector and a new sunburst 12k bulb for $50 maybe cheaper.

 

[m and m]

Well then 50 is about the right price due to IMO spider reflecters are crap you would need to buy a new one any way. And the ballest is also not the best. I think it would be better to go with a retro T5 set up or MH with better reflecter and balest. I always said im going to put thousands of dollers in my tank i should atleast have good eque so i'd what and save if needed to buy what i would no be better for my tank.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Rev....I will get what I think is a PFO ballast a spider reflector and a new sunburst 12k bulb for $50 maybe cheaper.

That's a great deal IMO. If you wanted to you could buy the ballast and trade it for a 250w if you wanted too since your buying a new bulb anyway.

BTW here was my 120g with all spider reflectors. (they are not good for par, but they can be used)

 

[BluegrassReef]

Well then 50 is about the right price due to IMO spider reflecters are crap you would need to buy a new one any way. And the ballest is also not the best. I think it would be better to go with a retro T5 set up or MH with better reflecter and balest. I always said im going to put thousands of dollers in my tank i should atleast have good eque so i'd what and save if needed to buy what i would no be better for my tank.

How many t5's? 6?....I want to keep SPS eventually.

 

[m and m]

With a retro you can always add so you could stary with 2-4 and then add. How many bulbs in up the the user i enjoy the most bulbs i run 8 on my 16 wide tank it is. But use two attinic so its more of what you wanna do and what not.

 

[BluegrassReef]

That's a great deal IMO. If you wanted to you could buy the ballast and trade it for a 250w if you wanted too since your buying a new bulb anyway.

BTW here was my 120g with all spider reflectors. (they are not good for par, but they can be used)

Rev...I never get tired os seeing the once mighty 120....if I can get my tank to look 1/2 that good I will be good....what light setup were you running...bulb,ballast.

 

[Mariner]

I had a 400w MH with a PFO ballast over my 40g when I had it set up. It was a lot of light for a small tank. The additional depth of the 54g should help with that problem. IMO, IME, you want to have the light fairly high above the tank -- 14" to 18" or so -- for a couple of reasons: 1) You want the light spread over 2 and a half feet instead of just 2 feet, which is the normal coverage for an MH bulb. The higher the fixture, the more the light can spread out. 2) You want to reduce some of the heat; extra air between the bulb and the water will help.
Also, depending on what corals you're keeping, you may not want all the PAR that bulb has to offer, and raising it up will reduce PAR.
HTH,
Mariner

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I was using spider reflectors with and ARO 250w ballast and Radium Bulbs. thank you for the kid comments. I just wanted to show that while the spiders are not near the best, they will work if need be.

 

[ReeferBen]

FWIW I ran a 58 oceanic with 2 x 400 watt MH's and actinic VHOs and had problems with heat, and lower light corals, like some chalices had to be put under caves and stuff. My chiller ran constantly and since I had a hard time keeping stable tempatures things did not go well. Years before that I ran a standard 55 with 2 x 400 iwasakis and 4 x 100 watt URI actinics and had no issues at all, but didnt have tempature issues. I think if you are sure you want that much light, and can deal with the heat it might be a good deal.