Is Metal Halides too much - 55 Gallon

[JCOLE]

Good morning everyone!! This is my first post on R2R. I came over from Reef Central. I figured I wouldn't get any grief asking a question over here.

I currently set up my 55 Gallon a little over a month ago. When I purchased the tank it came with a hood(looks like a pool table light) that has 2x54w T5ho and 1x250w MH.

I built a new canopy for the lights and I was originally going to just take out the reflector/lights and install them in the canopy. Then I was starting to look in just a black box LED system.

Now, I just purchased a second Mogul socket and I am going to install the current reflector/lights in my canopy I built. A 250w MH on each side of the canopy and supplemented with 2 Actinic T5s. One bulb is 13k and the other bulb is 20k. I was thinking of throwing them on timers so the Actinic come on first and last, then one MH comes on and the other about 2 hours later. To simulate a sun pattern.

So....with this long drawn out explanation comes my question . Will 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5ho be too much for a 55 gallon mixed reef?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Good morning everyone!! This is my first post on R2R. I came over from Reef Central. I figured I wouldn't get any grief asking a question over here.

I currently set up my 55 Gallon a little over a month ago. When I purchased the tank it came with a hood(looks like a pool table light) that has 2x54w T5ho and 1x250w MH.

I built a new canopy for the lights and I was originally going to just take out the reflector/lights and install them in the canopy. Then I was starting to look in just a black box LED system.

Now, I just purchased a second Mogul socket and I am going to install the current reflector/lights in my canopy I built. A 250w MH on each side of the canopy and supplemented with 2 Actinic T5s. One bulb is 13k and the other bulb is 20k. I was thinking of throwing them on timers so the Actinic come on first and last, then one MH comes on and the other about 2 hours later. To simulate a sun pattern.

So....with this long drawn out explanation comes my question . Will 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5ho be too much for a 55 gallon mixed reef?

Welcome to R2R! The friendliest reefing community in the world

What kinds of corals are you looking to keep under this setup? I would say you'd probably be fine

#WelcometoR2R
#reefsquad

 

[Brew12]

I figured I wouldn't get any grief asking a question over here

How dare you make that assumption! :mad:

err.... I mean Welcome to Reef2Reef, glad to have you here! ;Woot

ill 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5ho be too much for a 55 gallon mixed reef?

I agree you would likely be ok but it is something best verified with a PAR meter.

 

[DSC reef]

Welcome to R2R. Heat would be my main concern, a chiller will most likely be required. As long as the lights aren't to close to the water and you acclimate your corals you should be fine. Acropora will love it.

 

[jda]

If you have not purchased ballasts yet, you can use 175w in 55g tank. Heat is not a big deal with these. Bulb choices are not great with 175w, but Hamilton has a nice lineup that you can tweak with your T5s.

If you turn a sizeable fan on when the lights come on, most heat can be kept under control. If you use a temp controller and wait until your temp rises, then you are already behind and sometimes cannot catch up. Design your hood to have a lot of ventilation. Plan on using something like a three-speed Vornado that you can change for the seasons... computer fans have never cut it for me.

 

[Lasse]

Welcome to R2R. Heat would be my main concern, a chiller will most likely be required. As long as the lights aren't to close to the water and you acclimate your corals you should be fine. Acropora will love it.

My first concern was also the heath you will have from this construction. Good, Good ventilation of the hood as jda state is important but I think a chiller will be needed.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Mal11224]

Welcome to R2R! You will love it here. I agree with @DSC reef . Heat may be an issue but acros will do well under them.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Welcome aboard !

It is a LOT of light. I would reccomend not doing it. Esp if I’m the living room.

I have a standard 55. At 12 in from the tank you’d be looking at 1500 -2000 par pretty easily.

You could run the t5 primarily and have MH come one for an hour or two.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I had a standard 55 with only one 250 W MH pendant over it and it was sufficient for corals and anemones.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Welcome to R2R