Lighting a 240

I have setup and am maintaining a 240 8' long in wall for a friend. There is 2x400wt 14000k MH and 440wt URI actinic. Tonight I went and put a few corals in and looking at the tank I thought it didn't look like enough light.
What do you think? There is a variety of hard and soft corals and she bought a clam the other night.

 

I would really think with an 8" long tank you should get 2 more MHs

J

 

On my 75 I will be putting 2 and thats only a 48'' or 4 foot tank.

 

Wouldn't 2 400wt MH make a 75gl run hot?

 

Sorry I ment 175watt

 

I think that the wattage would be good if you kept the corals and clams under the lights.. Is she going to make it a full blown reef, if so I would reccomend 2 more mh, but that's alot more heat. Could get away with smaller wattage hallides for the other two, but I like to keep things the same. It's easier to swap and shop for that way. I have 400s over my breeder and propogation tank and it doesn't seem bright enough either, I think maybe sometimes we're pickier than the corals are. LOL Good luck

 

I agree wiht Jason 4 MH and some even add addional sup lighting on 8' tanks

 

I think I will go along with you all and add some more MH. I have access from the back of the tank which is an open room, but I don't think after adding 2 more MH there would be room for sup. lighting. There ae already 4 110wt actinics and the tank is only 2' wide. I can put an exhaust fan and vent from above the tank to the outside and I think this will help with the heat. The tank runs at 81F right now though. Chiller might be next step. I have added fans for each MH and auto-top off from RO to sump so evaporation is no problem.
Coral selection can be left up to me. I have been able to keep her from buying fish for the time being as the tank has only been up and going for 6-8weeks now. LR came from a 75 she had going and existing corals and 3 fish. Since, I have added 400# of live sand and more LR to total around 75# with another 50# of Fiji coming from S. FL around wed, which I will recure in the back room first.
I bought 25# off ebay for my new 20 cube and it is awsome rock at $3#. I couldn't beieve how nice it was, especially mail ordering it.
Here's a pic of the 75 corner tank now the 240 but no pics yet.

 

Looks like a great start. Sounds to me like you're doing it right. With alot of the stuff coming from a mature tank, did you see a big jump in ammonia and nitrite? Did you have a big algae bloom? 6-8 weeks sounds to me like you should be just about there no? Hope all goes well.

 

There was some brown on the glass and sand about 2 weeks ago. I added 5 Fiji sand sifting starfish and 15 Astrea over the last week. The diatom is now almost gone since I last checked Sat. Thanks.