What MH Should I Use

[MikeB]

I am about to get my 24" x 24" by 14" Frag Tank.

Should I use a 175W or 250W MH

 

[aquarius77]

A 250 would work nice i think. Thats a bit much space for a single 175w bulb. Of course i guess it depends on what will be in the frag tank.

 

[MikeB]

All corals, SPS, LPS, etc

 

[aquarius77]

I dont really know, it depends on bulb and ballast too... I would almost look for a 175 that has good output on your ballast of choice and try that seeing as how you will have lps and things in there as well.

 

[MikeB]

I want to run waht on my main system, Reflux 250w 12K's. What you think?

 

[iani]

How about the new reflux 250w 20ks. They are nice, blue, and bright.

 

[MikeB]

I dont like 20k to blue for me.

 

[GrouperGenius]

The Iwasaki 175 15K SE has better par #s than most 250s. It's also very crisp white. I just switched to the Phoenix 14 SE bulb and it is bluer than most 20K bulbs. For 250s, I have had good growth with Aquaconnects.

Overall, I'm really liking the 175 Phoenix SE 14K with Icecap ballast over my 40 frag tank. I personally like the blue color and seems my zoas are also.

 

[kgross]

I would suggest going with a 250 watt, 14,000k phoenix bulb, nice color, plus you can mount it up high enough to get into the frag tank to work without burning yourself.

Kim

 

[Tomasz]

I think the main question is what reflector are you going to use? If it was my system I would go with 175w in a Luminarc reflector. I think you will be able to keep everything in the tank. Great light spread. Less electricity. Less heat. Just my 2c.

 

[TJ15]

I would go with Hamilton 250 watt 14K. Nicest color bulb IMO and good growth.