lighting dilema

[leslie hempel]

guys i have a problem...

i am in two minds as to what to do with my lighting for my system.

i am trying to decide if i should stick to the 250w units i already own and purchase the bulbs or revert back to 3 x 150w (run 2 x 13000k and 1 x 20000k) hetal hailides

i want to keep clams and sps mainly with a couple of zoanthids on the botton.. tank depth is 700mm

i am also very particular and am battelig to do this neatly..
i still have time as the system has only been running a week and no corals are present only liverock..

my main cost is electrical consumption as i am renting and dont want to put this added expense on my landlord and cant really afford to offer much more towoard the rent at this stage....

i need some suggestions of what would be the better and neatest option to go with..

i will be supplementing with 2 x phillips .03 actinict and 2 x aquamedic blues....

help please ......

thanks les

[lunatik_69]

I would stick with what you already have and just replace the bulbs. I think that would be much cheaper. I also have (2) 250 watt bulbs and its just fine. Before I bought the lights, I called my power comp. and ask how much would it cost to run the system and he said only $15 a month. I dont think thats an added expense. What size is the tank(gals)?

[coral reefer]

IMO, stick with the 250's and go with 20000k bulbs!! especially for the zoo's! colorwise.

[leslie hempel]

tank size 1.5m x .700mm x .700mm (1000lt incl sump) about 225 gal if i have worked it out correctly....


will give a mate of mine a call he works at our local power service provider.....hes just been away on a hunting trip and i got impatient to get an idea....

[leslie hempel]

decided to run with aquamedic 2 x 10000k bulbs and 1 x 20000k

[leslie hempel]

150w