mh questions

[alliedag85]

i just got a 46 gallon bow front tank and was wondering if the lighting i have is to much . i have 2x250 de 14k mh. just wonding if thats to much. if needed to go down to a lower wattage id be willing to trade if need. i will be running a chiller to keep temp down. i want softies lps and sps. thanks

[allan]

I would imagine that's too much. Ten watts per gallon? I think the general wattage per gallon should be around three. Just my opinion though. I run T5s on my set up so not really a MH expert.

[cowboy572]

I agree that's a little over kill for a 46 gallon tank. T-5's would be the way to go. In general wattage depends on what you want to keep. To keep just about anything you want about 5 to 7 watts per gallon.

[tony]

one of those 250s alone would light that tank up nicely

[Mr Cob]

I agree. 1 250w MH 14k would look nice and work well. If the tank is long and you are running the chiller then obviously you will need another bulb, but I'm assuming it's a standard 46g bowfront in which case 1 bulb will cover the entire area.

[recoiljpr]

I run two 175w on my 65 and I have no problems with temps (I may peak every once in a while to 80, but I stay around 79.

While I wouldn't say that amount of light is detrimental (only speaking of light here) I do believe it's "wasted". You are pumping out more light then your livestock will need to thrive and grow. The rest of those watts are just being wasted. Also, you are bringing in way more heat then you have to.

Depending on the shape of your tank and what kind of reflectors you have: 1 250w, or 2 175w would be ideal. How high off the water do you have the 250's? Also, what kind of reflectors are you using?

[Kyle46N]

I run two 175w on my 65 and I have no problems with temps (I may peak every once in a while to 80, but I stay around 79.

While I wouldn't say that amount of light is detrimental (only speaking of light here) I do believe it's "wasted". You are pumping out more light then your livestock will need to thrive and grow. The rest of those watts are just being wasted. Also, you are bringing in way more heat then you have to.

Depending on the shape of your tank and what kind of reflectors you have: 1 250w, or 2 175w would be ideal. How high off the water do you have the 250's? Also, what kind of reflectors are you using?

You said it. It's not too much light. No corals will be hurt by it, but you would be wasting light.

[corkyGramma]

I have a 250w on a 45 deep tank-good if you have mainly sps but overkill for softies...running out of room at the bottom and in the shade

[alliedag85]

Well the light unit is going to be 6inches from the top of tank. The light and taank are 36long so I'm guesingi would Have to move one mh to the center of light housing! I don't think one mh would light up all thr tank! If anyone has two 175 watt mh I would be will ro change bulbs and bat!

[recoiljpr]

Well the light unit is going to be 6inches from the top of tank. The light and taank are 36long so I'm guesingi would Have to move one mh to the center of light housing! I don't think one mh would light up all thr tank! If anyone has two 175 watt mh I would be will ro change bulbs and bat!

With your lights being that close they are going to really heat up the water. If you can, i'd try to move them higher (even the 175's when you get them).

What kind of ballasts and reflectors do you have?