150 watt mh on mb7?

[Nano_Steve]

what do yall think, 150 watts of de mh on an mb7? too much???

ive got a 70 watt on the way and will need to order some sockets and reflectors from hellolights and saw they had a 150 watt ballast on sale. i want to grow sps in both my 2.5 gallon and my mb7.

-steve

[1salt]

WOW :o

[Nano_Steve]

ps ive also ordered parts to make a nano chiller using a peltier device plus i will have the mb7 plumbed to a 5.5 sump/fuge. i will also have a set of 2 fans blowing air into and out of the canopy where i plan to house 2 32 watt actinics and 1 either 70 or 150 metal halide depending on yall's input. :)

-steve

[Nano_Steve]

WOW :o

lol, i dont mess around huh? ;) yeah, im getting bitten pretty hard by the nano and diy bugs right now. anyone got any "raid" :P

-steve

[Ram_Puppy]

I can't wait to see this xien... you know my thoughts, your enemy with little tanks is heat, deal with the heat (looks like you are) and you are golden.

[1salt]

Can't wait to see this project completed!!!!!!!

[Nano_Steve]

hey thanks guys! you know all this positive support is making me even more excited about doing this project :) i think ive made the right decision to switching back over to nanos(especially the ease of moving factor) and all this anticipation from you guys is only concreting that decision :D

im looking forward to starting this project, i made the first step in buying the tank now i need some wood working tools, anyone got a portable table saw i can rent for a day or two?

-steve

[captexas]

Steve - the 150watt might be overkill. While the watts/gallon is not an accurate rule to go by, you would have over 21watts/gallon with the halide alone. Add the compacts and you would have 30watts/gallon. I think Jim Norris had six 400watt halides and some small compacts on his 240g. The halides on his tank would only be 10watts/gallon!

As Ram mentioned, the heat will be a big issue and that along with all that light could cause some bad algae blooms. That and your fish will need sunglasses! lol

[lax]

dude steve, if it was me id do the 150, but i also like the pendant, you like the canopy. so if you have to have the canopy only do 70. if you did 150 youd have to start out like at 24" above the tank and then work your way down to about 18-15", and im sure that you dont want to buid a caopy 2' tall, that would totally look like crap. i like overkill, it scares all of those wossie non nano people.

[Gator]

i say put the 150 you cant have to much light i have a 175 over my little 12 gallon fuge and the corls have awsome coloration that i cant get in my main tank. as long as heat is not an issue go BIG and bRIGHT

[Henry]

I would have to agree with Chris. Go for the 70watter. I think that will be just fine for that tank..

[Gator]

i guess you can have to much light if the top of the water is boiling

[captexas]

You could always try the 150 and see if the heat is a big problem. If it is you can sell it and get the 70watt or use the 150 elsewhere.

[Nano_Steve]

i appreciate the great feedback yall!

chris, i like your thinkin my man! im gonna go ahead and try out the 150 cuz its alot easier to go smaller from bigger than it is to go bigger from smaller.

lax, lmao so true!!! when i had my 10(back before the crazies started puttin mh over their tanks) i had a 96 quad that i got alot of raised eyebrows at until they saw some pics! ;)

gator, good point about the top water boiling :shock: ive got a pretty beefed up cooling system i have planned. ive said it before but a 325 watt peltier device is ridiculous for this type of application. it runs off of 0-15 dvc with 0-20 amps!!! this thing theoretically can reach negative 60 degrees.........CELCIUS!!! :shock:

-steve

[Louis]

If your chiller works out well I'd say go w/ the 150w. I run a 150 20k XDE over my 10 gal and I have slight heat issues if the AC is turned off. I think a 70w would work also and may be a little better as far as heat is concerned. Overall its up to you, just make sure you acclimate your tank to the light otherwise you may have a problem.

Good luck!

Louis

10 Gal. 150w 20k XDE, SCWD closed loop

[Reefdude]

I have a 150 Watt DE pendant I ran over my minibow for several months before moving up into a ten gallon. As long as you leave enough space from the surface of the water and an A/C on you will be fine. My water temp stayed at 79/80 degrees during the summer months. If you are gonna make a canopy have the fans blowing into with a few small ventilation holes on top of the canopy. hope it helps.

Ben

[dan203]

how are you making you chiller steve? what kind of device? What do i hook up fans to(power) if i want to put so in a hood

[Brett Wilson]

I'd go with the 150. I loved my 150 Iwasaki over a 20 gallon.... it's over a 37 now and it isnt enough light IMO.

[mhaynes01]

hey steve what kind of equipment are you running on you 2.5 gallon, tank