lighting ?

Elan · Feb 25, 2009

I dont know much about MH, and a friend is giving me a great deal on a reflector and balast. I want to put it on my standard 20g frag tank. However i want to also keep alot zoas in it aside from sps. is a 14k phoenix bulb too much? I dont know anything about MH.

pspfishlady · Feb 25, 2009

I'd keep the Light kinda high That's not a deep tank I'm sure my little babies would melt LOL

I use a standard t5 nothing fancy

(would I be a nut to buy LEDS for my zoa tank hehehe)

Elan · Feb 25, 2009

so you dont think it'll be ok with them on the bottom? maybe a way for them to get indirect light?

dtpollard · Feb 25, 2009

I have a 250W MH 20K w/ PFO Reflector on my 20 gal frag tank which is mostly zoas. The SPS in there do well too. I like 20K lights.

Elan · Feb 25, 2009

oh so a 175 14k will be fine

flricordia · Feb 25, 2009

That should be fine. Most PEs will need to be to the side or very bottom but a 175 SE does not put alot of light into a 20gl. I used a 150 DE and T5s on a 20 cube for years and it was fine. Phoenix is doing a 175 SE now?

msman825 · Feb 25, 2009

you will be fine with a 175. as suggested earlier start it high and lower it in time. might even want to do the screen thing were you want have any bleaching. dont know what lights you been running on the 20g, might want to get a new bulb in time. no telling how long it has been used and you might not like the color

dtpollard · Feb 25, 2009

msman825 said:
you will be fine with a 175. as suggested earlier start it high and lower it in time. might even want to do the screen thing were you want have any bleaching. dont know what lights you been running on the 20g, might want to get a new bulb in time. no telling how long it has been used and you might not like the color

Thats good advice. My zoas were in high light before the frag tank so they did not seem to be bothered. Lower the light slowly over a couple weeks. Melting your collection would suck.

Hypertek99 · Feb 25, 2009

Wait so is your friend giving you a 175watt ballast?? Make sure if it's 150, 175, or 250. I have a 250MH 20K over my 29gal and i love it. The phoenix 14k is pretty blue too so it will be close to 20k. I'm guessing it's a DE as you want the phoenix 14k

flricordia · Feb 25, 2009

I may be wrong but someone I thought told me that Phoenix was making SE bulbs now. I think Marinedepot is caring them, but I have not checked it out.
I prefer DE bulbs. To me they seem to put out more light compared to an SE of the same wattage. And most of the reflectors made for DES seem to concentrate the light so there is less fall-off. Over nanos is where i have used them the most, so may not apply to larger tanks.