Mh lighting, watts,depth

[James J]

I'm going to run mh lighting over my 320,the water depth to sand bed will 19 1/2 inches.im going with a 3 bulb set up and was wondering what watts I should use for 19 1/2 water depth?it will be a mix reef with just a few acros on top of the rock and I'll be using a 6 bulb 60" retro t5's and 60" led strips with 3 watt 445nm., what watt and how high off the water?

 

[143MPCo]

tank dimensions?

 

[James J]

84x36x24

 

[James J]

 

[143MPCo]

IMO, 250w with a max of 10 hang height should be fine, 400w is over-kill.

 

[143MPCo]

just a few acros on top

you would almost be better off with LED's if this is that case and save you the issues with heat and cooling the tank.

 

[James J]

Well I was just thinking ahead in case I went with more sps in The future,

 

[143MPCo]

understood!

Well I was just thinking ahead in case I went with more sps in The future,

 

[JasReef]

The heat could help with a tank that big. Anyway you look at it you need to keep the water around 80. You may as well do it with lights and let the heaters suppliment when lights are off.
I would think 250's would be fine at that depth. If you are worried get a ballast that can do both 250 and 400.

 

[Reefing Madness]

250w would be the minimum I'd run over a 20" deep tank.

 

[JasReef]

I am currently setting up a 160 gallon 65X24X24 and am using two 250w 14k's with two 80w T5's. I plan on going about 10-14 inches above the tank but do I plan on using a par meter to determine the final placement. It would be silly to spend all this money and then try and eyeball the light values.

You should look at Mark Callahans tank, he uses all 3 and had a video that explains some things about the lights. Mrsaltwatertank guy.

 

[James J]

I was thinking the same on the heat plus it will be vented thru roof like a kit. stove with a exhaust fan on temp. switch and being I have so much room for lights I might as well put as many lights as will fit and hope I don't need them all but have a choose,thanks for all input guys,I'm going with 250 watt