JasonM38401
Jason Martin
I have a 110 tall with 2 250 MH on it. I'm just not getting the growth I think I should be getting. Any thoughts?
Do I need more lighting?
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Pappy
Valuable Member
If I recall 4-6 watts is rule of thumb with halides. What spectrum are bulbs and how often do you change? And more importantly IMO what are your parameters? You can have the best lighting around but if parameters aren't good then stuff won't grow.
gmoney243
2500 Club Member
Using a par meter can tell you if ur getting enough light but as long as your bulbs arnt old or ur MH arnt to high up then its most likely phosphates. You should have enough light. Also do you use any t5 or led supplement?
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mcarroll
10K Club member
250w halide are generally considered adequate for 24" of water depth. Things on the bottom of your 110 might be a little light-starved, but I'd think the rest of the tank should be doing quite well if all else is in good shape.
How high over the tank are they? Lots of other factors can influence growth too.
-Matt
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How high over the tank are they? Lots of other factors can influence growth too.
-Matt
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schooleyosis
2500 Club Member
Bknapp has a 110 running MH's as well. Maybe get with him and or check out his thread for what lights he is running.
fireman23
Well-Known Member
I have a 110 and I run two 175w halides. Changing over to 250 watts this week as soon as bulbs arrive. I had decent growth with 175W bulbs. Hoping 250 will make huge improvement and reach bottom of tank
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
Param's all in line and good. Lights are mounted in the top, I would say 8" off the water.
pic of when it was first set back up.
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
Bulbs are 20k and about 6 mths old. I'm thinking I might need to add some t5's and change the bulbs. I'm feeding reef chili and frozen Cyclopeeze from AC.
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
The only problem I have had with the tank is the LTA died. Not sure if the clowns just drove it crazy or what. It took about a month for them to find it but once yet did they did not leave it alone. It flipped over after about 3 days of the clowns hosting and just shrunk and died I took it out.
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
If I need more lighting what would you go with? I have plenty of room to add lighting. I was thinking about just swapping over to all t5's and going away from the MH all together? The ballast takes up a lot of room and I could build me an ATO where the ballast is now.
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
How many t5's and what bulbs?
JasonM38401
Jason Martin
Would 2 t5 fixtures one on each side of the bulbs be too much? What's the best mix of bulbs to use?
Tennsquire
Well-Known Member
Maybe try some bulbs that aren't as blue and have more PAR. 250s should be fine for your tank.
Dave3112
2500 Club Member
There is nothing wrong with 20k bulbs. I think it may be a different issue. I had great growth with 20k halides.
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JasonM38401
Jason Martin
What could be the issue?
dwilliams87
Valuable Member
When you say params are good. What are they? That could really help us figure out what's going on for you.
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JasonM38401
Jason Martin
Will post tonight when I get home. Working late :-(
dwilliams87
Valuable Member
Understandable. Working early myself. The reason I ask about your params is its not uncommon to either not be checking everything needed to make a good diagnosis, or the testing method may not be giving you very accurate readings. For instance, phosphates..... If you're using the API card the lowest it goes is .25. That's still too high for a reef tank. That's why I have the Hannah meter.
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