Overkill On Lighting Or Not

I currently have a 55G 48"Lx13"Wx20"H acrylic tank. I just purchased my lighting from my uncle bc he had it laying around and not using it anymore. So i only paid 250.00 for the unit great price. Well it has 2x400W 20K Metal Halide(this unit can handle three) and two T5. So I was wondering if this was over kill on my tank?

I can order a new ballast and bulbs bc the sockets are the same with the 250W but I am looking at about another $200-$250 dollars. So I really would like some help on this.

Thanks for everyones time

 

Check out some of the lighting threads and posts here at 3reef...it will help offer some insight and hopefully steer you in the right direction. It has to do with PAR, PUR, LUX etc. It can get pretty technical but straight forward. This topic has been discuused many time before so you should be able to gather all the info based on theory and experience to answer your question.
Best of luck...If it still doesn't help you, let us know and we will try to offer a better solution.

 

OK thanks I have found that its pritty much overkill. So here is one small question that I have may sound stupid but I have to ask it. I can run one 400W bulb in the middle of the unit would this be enough??? This way I could just put the higher light demanding coral in the middle then less light demanding on the outside edge. The reason I bought this like is for you new tank but it has to wait a bit until I get he money for the new tank this is the specs for the new tank 233G 60Lx30Wx30H. So i know that the light will be right onces I get that tank just trying to find away for it to work for now with my 55G..

Thanks for all your time and help
Walter

 

You should be ok for alittle while. What types of corlas do you plan on keeping in the 55 gallon with the one 400watt metal halide? How long do you plan on using the 55 gallon before the 220 gets set up?
One important thing to keep in the back of your mind when you place this metal halide on the 55 gallon(whenever you change lighting intensity), you have to make sure to acclimate your corals slowly or you will bleach them and more than likely kill them...
There are two ways of doing this: either raise or lower the lights above the tank depending on if you are adding or lowering wattage. The other alternative is to add or decrease the time the lights are on so as not to over stimulate the zooxanthellae thus causing an excess of oxygen(results in bleaching).

 

With the 55G I am probably going to stick with softies. Probably about 8-12 months depending on money. I really don't plan on going all out with corals on the 55G. I just want enough to get started and see how everything goes. Anyone have good starting corals that look really nice. I aslo would like to keep a clam (ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE)???

 

As far as Tridacna's are concerned, Squamosa and Derasa sp. are the hardiest. Aquacultured Tridacna's in the size range of 3"-4" will be your best bet. Remember that jems(1"-3") require nano plankton for food. They don't require light at that size for their zooanthellae has not developed or established itself in their syphonal mantle yet.
I would tend to shy away from a Tridacna clam to start out. This being due to their lack of ability to adapt to changing light intensity, salinity, ph and alkalinity.
My advice to you would be to start with mushrooms, button polyps, Colt, Kenyan Tree, or a Leather Toadstool Octocoral(soft coral). Sponges(porifera) and many Gorgonians can be kept with continued success as well. I would get a book(s) on corals to help you decide which is best for you and your experience level...
Best of luck!

 

Thanks for the help with this... I just can't wait until I am able to get the new tank... just the fact that a new tank = lots of $$$

 

That is a little overkill for softies but remember those are 2x400W 20K Metal Halide and 20K lights have very low ouput in PPDF. If those were XM-10K then that would be big time overkill. You can always raise the light fixture higher above the water if that is possible.

 

Ya that is possible to raise it higher as it is hanging from the cycling.. So if I was to have it about 1ft above that tank the 2 @ 20K would be good ?? and have softies towards the bottom and SPS and other high light required coral near the top.
Thanks