400w Metal Halide System

[kcmo lawman]

I just bought a 400w Metal Halide retrofit kit off of ebay. My question is, will this be too much light for a 55g tank? If so, is it possible to use a 250w or 175 w bulb in the mogul socket of the 400w metal halide system?

Thanks,

Bradd

 

[Swimfins]

I'd think one 400 watt mh on a 55g is not an overload as far as I know.

I'd even go so afar as to add blue actinic as well.

 

[kcmo lawman]

Thank you for the reply. Right now I have a 4x65 watt PC light on my tank. Two of them are daylights, and two of them are actinics. I might pull the daylights out and just use the actinics and try to retrofit the metal halide into the setup as well, just not sure on how to do that yet.

Once again,

Thanks for the reply,


Bradd

 

[wastememphis]

Its not too much, go with a 20000k bulb so its not a bright awakening for the fish/corals. It might look nice with only that one 400watt bulb. You'll have to acclimate them to that bulb. You could put another watt bulb in the socket but you would need a new ballast to run the bulbs. You need a specific ballast for each wattage.

Neil.

 

[kcmo lawman]

The system comes with a new 20k bulb. I knew about the acclimation and all, just wasn't sure it the 400w would be too much for the tank. I am glad to hear that it isn't. As of right now I don't have any corals yet, but am planning on getting some here before too long. I figure that I will start out with the light on for 2-4 hours a day for the first 2 weeks, then leave it on for about 4-7 for the next couple weeks, then 8-10 from there on out. Hopefully that won't be too much light too fast.

Thanks for all the help,

Bradd

 

[Swimfins]

It sounds like it will be a gr8 tank, don't forget he pics!!

 

[kcmo lawman]

Thanks. As soon as I get the light and some corals I will post some pics. Right now I have cut my fish down to a scooter blenny, a yellow wrasse, a maroon clown, and a purple psuedo. After doing this my water quality has improved greatly and my hair algae is almost totally gone. I want to get all of this just right before I add any corals.

Thanks again,

Bradd

 

[wastememphis]

Another good way without cutting downt he light period would be to put hte coral at the bottom of the tank. Then put some layers of screen (used on doors/windows) ontop of the tank, each day take a layer off until they're gone then graudally move the coral up from the bottom to where the current and position is best. do you have a link to what you bought?

 

[kcmo lawman]

Thanks, I just might give that a shot. Yes, I do have a link. I realize that this isn't top of the line, but it should do me just fine until I get the money for a better setup. Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-400-Metal-H...714969310QQcategoryZ46314QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem