250 or 400 watt

Discussion in 'Reef Lighting' started by aarondu, Dec 3, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. aarondu

    aarondu Plankton

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2011
    Messages:
    11
    I need some help deciding on a light fixture. Its for my new frag tank 48 x 24x12. I have 1 250 watt DE ice cap pendant and Im thinking about buying a 400 watt DE ice cap pendant. I want all the growth I can get but I think a 400 might be overkill. Im going to run 10k bulbs what do you think?
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. norg.

    norg. Kole Tang

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2009
    Messages:
    1,766
    Location:
    Muskego WI
    That sounds like quite alot of overkill. With the water being so shallow all that you would need is a 250 watt halide.
     
  4. billielewis3

    billielewis3 Gigas Clam

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2011
    Messages:
    882
    Location:
    Norwich CT
    250 for it only being 24 inches deep, my 250 MHs are 11 inches above the tank, and its 24"deep too
     
  5. aarondu

    aarondu Plankton

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2011
    Messages:
    11
    Yeah ive got 250s on my display tank its a 120. But I also know most coral farms use 400s on their tanks. I just want the best growth on my sps.
     
  6. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    Messages:
    5,926
    Location:
    Colorado
    If you build a semi-custom reflector, a 400 could stretch to grow SPS all the way along the 48". What type of coral are you looking to grow?
     
  7. ReefPlayground

    ReefPlayground 3reef Sponsor

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2007
    Messages:
    750
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    i havent read anything yet....400's!!! ;p
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Martinez

    Martinez Plankton

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2011
    Messages:
    3
    see i run two 400 watters but alittle different so i dont get all the heat from both. ive got one that turns on in the morning about 9 till 2 the other turns on at 1 and stays on till 6.. thats five hours each and one hour that they are both on. plus my two 55pc's that are on the whole time. its just an approach that i use. i thought its kinda cool. its really like sun up sun down. goes from left to right.
     
  10. aarondu

    aarondu Plankton

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2011
    Messages:
    11
    Well ended up with 2 more ice cap pendants 250 watt. Now I just need 1 more and ill be good. Maybe that 400 just for kicks.
     
  11. gcarroll

    gcarroll Zoanthid

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2010
    Messages:
    1,117
    Location:
    Anaheim Hills, CA
    Pass on the 400 watt DE as no major bulb manufacturer makes bulbs for them. Why, because there is no uniform standard for 400 watt DE. That means that different brand bulbs are not compatible with different brand fixture. Stick with SE if using 400 watt.
     
  12. chelseagrin

    chelseagrin Fire Goby

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2011
    Messages:
    1,346
    yeah with such a shallow tank your corals will fry under 400 watts.