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pickensw 
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 Topic: MH.. is this to much for a 55?
Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:16am |
I am picking up 2 250watt MH and VHO(not sure of wattage) on Friday for my 55gal. The questions I have are these.
1. Is this to much light?
- What should the photo period be?
- How far from the surface should I place them?
I am going to be making DIY hood.
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All things can be cured by salt water, whether by sweat, tears or going to sea.
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Shane H
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:32am |
My answers:
1. Yes
2. See # 1
3. See # 1
I have 2 X 175w MH and 2 x 140w VHO over my 120.
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pickensw
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:05am |
Thanks...didn't want to hear it but I needed to... 
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All things can be cured by salt water, whether by sweat, tears or going to sea.
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Kevin F
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:08am |
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That's only like 9. something watts per gallon on the MH, the VHO's
will kick that up a bit. On a 55 your going to need 2 bulbs as it is to
gt good coverage.
There are several tanks with wattage similiar if not greater then that.
I think it could be O.K. What are you planning on keeping in the tank?
I would make the canopy so thelights are at least a foot off the
surface of the tank. I'd also make sure you leave room to intall some
fans in there. This sounds cheesy but they have those clip on type fans
at places like Target and Bed Bath and Beyond, there like 5" round and
sell for like 12 bucks. I used some of those in my canopy to keep the
air moving, one pointed at the water surface and kept the tank about
7degrees F lower then the ambient room temp, It worked for me. I did
need an RODI top off tank because the evaporation was higher.
For the photoperiod I'd do 12 hours, 8 with the MH. YOu can work your way up to it.
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The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly. Albert Einstein
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jfinch
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:19am |
pickensw, what kind of tank do you have? Are you planning to keep mostly stonies or softies? Dual 250 watt MH w/vho would be ideal for an sps tank, imo. But if you really want just a few sps and more softies (mushrooms/zoanthids/etc) then the lower 175 watt MH would be fine. Actually, if you like the blue look of 20K or 14K bulbs then I'd go with the 250 watt MHs in either case (maybe 400 watts in an sps tank  ).
But, we need Dana Riddle to come talk to us, 'cause I think he'd suggest we are all overluminating our tanks...
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bdfitch
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:45am |
Then I must be seriosly "overluminating" my tank!! (250 W on a 20 gal) Corals dont seem to mind... even the softies. I wish I could show off my tank more, but I dont have a camera or the photo skills that some here have. My tank is doing soooo awesome these days, imho.  To answer the question.... I dont think its too much light, maybe a bit excessive but I dont think it would be detrimental in any way.
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Brian
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Chicago
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Shane H
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 12:13pm |
But, we need Dana Riddle to come talk to us, 'cause I think he'd suggest we are all overluminating our tanks...
YES. He also suggested (ok, proved) that the light being received by corals in tidepools in Hawaii was very, very similar to a 175w, Iwasaki 6500K MH bulb in an aquarium.
However, I don't think anyone is really going after the look of a natural reef, so don't fret it. Add some fans and go for it!
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Shane H
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 12:16pm |
Then I must be seriosly "overluminating" my tank!! (250 W on a 20 gal) Corals dont seem to mind... even the softies.
Have you ever lit this tank with anything else? I would be interested to know if less light would get the same results regarding coloration and growth.
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pickensw
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 12:25pm |
Right now it's a FOWLR tank. I am wanting to keep some sps later on. There is a guy up here selling his 150. Way to big for me right now..so my wife thinks.. I am picking up alot of his corals...none are sps. But there is one clam I would like to get. I have talked to Mark and some changes need to be made to my tank. I am going to put pc over it right now until I can get the canopy made. They will work with everything but the clam.
Shane..Can you put a 175w or lower bulb into a 250w socket?
stupid question I know but you know what they say about stupid questions!
Edited by pickensw - May 10 2006 at 12:36pm
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All things can be cured by salt water, whether by sweat, tears or going to sea.
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 1:07pm |
Pickensw, Yes you can put a 175watt bulb in a 250 watt socket, BUT you need to switch out the ballast. You need a 175 watt ballast for a 175watt bulb.
I don't think 2x 250 is too much for a 55 gallon as long as you can keep the temperature under control (very easy in most cases).
But it all comes down to what you want to keep.
I like Jon's post above...
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jfinch
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 1:22pm |
I had a 250 watt MH and two VHO actinics over a 20 gallon tank too. Everything but mushrooms and Euphylia sp. did well under an Ushio 10K, but the best bulb (as far as all corals were concerned) was the Sunburst 12K which was just too blue for my liking.
Even today with my 125 gallon tank (2x250w 10K, 1x400w 20K, 2xVHO actinic) my mushrooms and Euphylia do better when lower in the tank.
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aaaj
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 4:38pm |
Well this post has made me feel a little better, we just finished rewiring the 400 watt industrial halides and put two of them with 20k bulbs over our 75. Our temp has stayed the same because we run two pretty good sized fans over them and our corals look awesome!
One question, how much time should I add every day for the lights to not burn the corals? I have been running them about 4 hours the last two days, how much can I increase it by daily?
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Amber
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pictures of some of my frags at frags.org
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Shane H
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 5:51pm |
I have bought and then sold 250w and 400w ballasts to install over my 120. Each time I begin the project, I ultimately decide that I am very happy with the coloration and growth of my corals.
Contrary to what I thought even just a few months ago, there may be a point at which you have too much light. Although adding "more" light may not be harmful, it may simply be unnecessary. There can be a point at which time there is more supplied light that the corals can effectively process. Any light supplied beyone this point is then wasted.
It may be more prudent to spend more time and money on increased water movement than "more" light. In most tanks, (mine included) doubling the water flow would still be wholly inadequate in simulating the flow experienced by the corals on the reef.
Amber -
2 x 400w over a 75! WOW! I hope you are saving your money for a chiller!
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aaaj
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 5:55pm |
We have lots of fans running, and since our utilities are included in out apt we don't have to worry about the bill 
I forgot to add that I also have them 12 inches off the water...
Edited by aaaj - May 10 2006 at 6:02pm
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Amber
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Adam Haycock
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 7:31pm |
Amber, im happy the 400's are working for you .
You could increase a couple hours each week to be safe.
The more light the better IMO... who cares about coral  . I added 3x400watt MH to my tank which is basically fish-only.
Edited by Adam Haycock - May 10 2006 at 7:34pm
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aaaj
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 9:08pm |
They worked awesome Adam, we just screwed the mogul base into a 2x4 and attached that to another one in the hood and we were good to go. Did you use them in the set-up they came with and what bulbs did you put in them?
If anyone is considering getting them they are worth it, we set it all up (2 400 watts) with some used bulbs for about $100.00!
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Amber
29 gallon reef
pictures of some of my frags at frags.org
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sshm
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 10:37pm |
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jordanh
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Posted: May 10 2006 at 11:51pm |
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I'm running a 150w HQI over my 10g tank. Sometimes it is hard to find shady spots for animals that like less light but I've got a green slimer that started growing out of the water that seems to love all the light.
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chrisslc
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Posted: May 11 2006 at 9:04am |
"He that will not reason is a bigot. He that cannot reason is a fool. He that dares not reason is a slave." William Drummond
Isn't that Arnold and Willis's dad?
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Murray, Utah just north of the park.
"It's all the same to the clam" -Shel Silverstein
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sshm
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Posted: May 11 2006 at 10:18am |
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I think the guy was a scottish poet,lived around the 16th century.
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Adam Haycock wrote: