How high to mount 250w MH for 36x24 coverage?

[andrewkw]

Building a new reef with random equipment I have laying around. This tank was my fowlr so a single par 38 lit it fine for fish. I have what I believe is a coralvue lumen reflector. I bought this years ago but it's still working great. It's a 20x20 reflector anyway. I actually used it to cover most of a 48" 8" tall frag tank way back when. For this tank since it's going in the living room I will be building a hood as to not blind everyone.

This will be the main source of lighting and I'll just get some cheap blue led strips. I think I should be able to get good coverage but I can always push the rock work to the center if need be. This is not my main tank so I won't be putting a ton of money into this build. At least at first.

Ideally I'll only cut the wood for the hood frame once. Thanks in advance for help.

 

[Phelipe's Ocean]

I have two illuminarc reflectors of similar size I think mine may be 24? Not sure. Im using two over a 6x3ft frag tank so Each of them covers a 36x36 area. Im only running 150w 10k and can grow acros all the way in the corners at 15”. Of course par values depend on spectrum but I would be confident that a 250w would grow coral anywhere in that 36x24 space and long as its mounted at a good height. Im not sure what the reccomended heights are for halides but I have mine 2 feet off the water since the tank is so shallow but also so I dont run into heat problems

 

[andrewkw]

How does 12" above the water for the bulb? The reflector itself is pretty tall so I am a little limited height wise.

 

[jda]

Raise it up as far as you need for the spread, but keep it low enough to eliminate most light spill. 6 to 12 inches will be about right.