400 Metal Halide vs 250 Metal Halide

[Biosphere]

I have a 300 gallon tank (8 feet long x 2 feet wide x 30 inches deep). My basic question is whether I should go for 400MH or 250MH for a 30 inch deep tank for sps ? I had 2 400 MH with a 250 MH in between. One of the 400MH died and I replaced it with led. Now I beginning to notice die off on my purple coralline algae. So I want to replace the led lights. Generally I have a fowlr tank with a bubble coral and LPS. I want to try growing SPS. I’m also considering buying a 48 inch fixture with 2x 250mh and T5 lights to replace the led light but I’m not sure if that combination of lights in a 30 inch deep tank would work for sps?
Thanks for any input you may have!

 

[shwareefer]

Coraline is more likely to be killed by intense light ( not to mention alk swings or other chemistry imbalances). What led fixture are you using?

 

[rwreef]

Coraline is more likely to be killed by intense light ( not to mention alk swings or other chemistry imbalances). What led fixture are you using?

I agree. The die off may be bleaching. Just a thought. I have no experience with MH.

 

[biecacka]

You could definitely use a 250wt bulb woh the correct pendant. one that punches a little deeper but maybe doesn’t have the spread as some others. Like a lumenarc mini or something.
@jda ~~he will likely know the exact pendant name I’m trying to think of.


corey

 

[A. grandis]

I have a 300 gallon tank (8 feet long x 2 feet wide x 30 inches deep). My basic question is whether I should go for 400MH or 250MH for a 30 inch deep tank for sps ? I had 2 400 MH with a 250 MH in between. One of the 400MH died and I replaced it with led. Now I beginning to notice die off on my purple coralline algae. So I want to replace the led lights. Generally I have a fowlr tank with a bubble coral and LPS. I want to try growing SPS. I’m also considering buying a 48 inch fixture with 2x 250mh and T5 lights to replace the led light but I’m not sure if that combination of lights in a 30 inch deep tank would work for sps?
Thanks for any input you may have!

Just replace that 400W halide that died with another 400W halide for that 30" deep tank. Your corals will love you forever! Figure out what happened... ballast? bulb? The species of coralline algae you have probably need that intensity/spectrum to thrive. Just get it going. There is nothing like halides!

 

[ikaros70]

I currently have a 250w hqi MH/T5 combo over my 210, it’s 29” deep.
I had to take a break from the hobby but my lights grew everything without any issues.
I put SPS on the upper half of tank and LPS on the bottom half.
If your just going SPS, 400w is probably fine.
If mixed reef, 400w might be overkill for LPS.
Really, just depends on what your going for.