What can I grow with 250W MH?

I have a semicircular, 4' wide, 2' front to back in the middle, about 2.5' deep tank. Trying to estimate the electricity costs (very high in San Diego) for an AmpMaster pump (which draws twice its advertised rating--but that is another post) and a pair of 250W CoralVue HQI pendants (they fit the decor of the house nicely and the cabinet the tank sits on) makes me almost afraid to put water in the tank.

If I used only a single Coralvue 250W pendant at say 6 hours a day, maybe 8 hours, what could I grow? Pendant height above tank is somewhat adjustable, but I don't want it so close that the water chiller runs all day.

I am really interested in an undersea garden that sways with the currents. Nice macro algaes, those worms that resemble annenones, soft corals with long swaying pulips come to mind as hopefuls.

Thanks for any info. (also posted under lighting)

James

 

You could literally grow anything with that much light.

You can grow macro algae and softies and most LPS with a nice T5 setup. Much cheaper on the electric bill.

 

Two 250 pendants on a 4' tank would be good lighting. I had three 250s on my 180g (six foot tank so same coverage as two on your four foot) a few years ago and was able to grow a lot of stuff. Not as nice as 400s for SPS, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're going for.

As to putting a single 250 over the tank for only 6-8 hours, I think that it would be lacking. You'd have to put it up fairly high to get full tank coverage which dramatically reduces the amount of light that hits the tank. Additionally, the bottom of the pendant would likely be above eye level which means that if you're looking at the tank you may be distracted by this really bright light shining in your eyes.

I hear you on power bills (my wife wasn't happy about our $650 last month), but you want to make sure the lights are on long enough and give enough intensity throughout the tank. If you're really concerned about power bills and don't necessarily want to grow SPS, then go with T5s or VHO flourescents. It will save a lot on power and still let you grow softies. Though I must say that even those grow better under halides

 

I think T5s will grow a little bit more than some LPS. I have seen several full blown SPS reefs with only T5 lighting, and they weren't even being overdriven. I have several pieces of SPS growing great in my T5 tank as well.

 

Which T5 system do you have? How many tubes? how many watts each? How high above the tank?

 

T5s can grow anything, i just dont trust them in deeper tanks. Also i think 400 is to much light unless your tank is 30+ inches, in anything else you have to becareful how you place corals with all that light. 250w MHs are perfect id def run both and not just one

 

T5s work great in deeper tanks as well. I know of several 24" tall tanks that have t5ho's only lighting them.

One is a member here, Doc Fragenstien has 8 x 80w non OD'd running on his 180g. He has reat growth rates, and he only adds 2 part, so no calcium reactor.


A 30" tall tank will be fine with 2x250. of mh. Just use good reflectors.

I know that Jeff Turner of ORA uses 400w MH's to run crazy custom tanks up to like 6 feet deep. He said that running the 1000w halides are a waste of energy on a tank around 6 feet tall. So 400's are not necessary.