Distance between Halides?

[SaltyJim]

Ok,

Now that I finally got the new canopy (thanks again Pete!), I am trying to decide on how many halides for a 5' tank, 3 or 4? Just really wondering if 4 would be too cramped, or is it all going to depend on my reflectors?

I could always do 3 with actinic VHO, but would rather do 4 (2 10k and 2 20k or 15k) with no VHO.

Any suggestions?

[jaded]

what are the deminsions?

A 250w halide will cover a 2" x 2" x 2" cube of space. If you're at 5' you could easily get away with just 2, 3 would be better, 4 would probably just be over kill and create a heat issue.

You could save money and space by going with 2 400w MH... IMO

[SaltyJim]

5 foot x 18 inch . I already have 4 250's, heat should not be too much of an issue...

what would you say to minimum spacing between reflectors?

[GaryP]

I don't think you can squeeze 4 bulbs into a 5 ft. hood, especially if you are going to also be putting in supplemental actinic lighting.

[jaded]

shouldnt matter... my reflectors touch I think. Just space the bulbs evenly

how deep is your tank?

[SaltyJim]

Jaded: tank is 24" deep

I would not be supplimenting with 4 MH's

And the space thing is the exact question...2 of the spider reflectors and 2 smaller reflectors.

I am thinking that I will probably just start with 3, but that will end up putting one right over the center brace. And leave the tank with an unbalanced color...unless they are all the same temp.

[GaryP]

IMO, 20K MH are not a replacement for actinic VHOs. They may give you the color that you are looking for, but not the 420 nm light needed for pigment development in corals.

[jaded]

I run 3 250w MH with 2 T5 actinics on an 18" wide tank with no problem with space at all. If I were in your situation I wouldn't even consider going with 4 MH... 2 400's and a couple T5's is a very reasonable setup.

I run 12K CV's on the left and right and 10K CV in the center. I cant "see" a difference in the center, maybe thats because of the brace. but I have several high light corals, several mid light corals and several low light corals. It's nice to have the lower light areas in my situation

Hope this helps

[Tim Marvin]

I run 3 250w MH with 2 T5 actinics on an 18" wide tank with no problem with space at all.


I'd go with this advice.

[Brett Wilson]

I would run 3 with actinic supplementation.

[brewercm]

I am trying to decide on how many halides for a 5' tank, 3 or 4

I'd go max 3, with 4 you might have aircraft attempting to land in that tank. 8)

I have a 5 foot 100 gallon and I'm just going with 2 250s and a couple of VHO actinic. If the center is a little darker then that's where I'll leave any lower light corals. Of course the 100 is only 21 inches tall, but I'm also going with no sand bed so actually a little deeper than a 24 inch with DSB of 4 to 6 inches.

[jaded]

This is the drawing I did before I built my canopy...
http://www.paddletexas.com/images/temp_images/canopy.jpg
canopy being built
http://www.paddletexas.com/cmgallery/albums/aquarium/normal_aquarium_08_resize.JPG
canopy being built 2
http://www.paddletexas.com/cmgallery/albums/aquarium/normal_aquarium_07_resize.JPG
The finished canopy with the hood cover up
http://www.paddletexas.com/cmgallery/albums/aquarium/normal_aquarium_25_resize.JPG

[Richard]

That's weird. Why does it show guest on my post?

[mathias]

I have 2 400watt on a 55gal :) .............

[alton]

400 x 4= 1600/.9 PF=1778wx10 hrs a day x 30 days=533,334watt / 1000 = 533.3kilowatts x $.10 KWH= $53.33 a month or x 12 = $639.96 a year + or -

[mathias]

alton thanks... OUCH.....

[Brett Wilson]

hehe that's not cheap :-p

[alton]

It's still cheaper than smoking $3.00 pack x 365 days = $1,095 and much better for you

[witecap4u]

Im running 2x400 xm 10k with 220vho actinics on a 100gal. I think the spread is good enough and it gives you some lower light areas at the end of the tank. They arent really that noticealbe though.

cs