65G SPS tank lighting, suggestions pls.

[CurvBall]

Hi Everybody,

I'm the process of gathering all my goodies for my new SPS 65G tank. Tank is 1metre long x .5metre wide x .55metre deep. Waterlevel will be .5m It has an external overflow box mounted in the centre of the back panel.

With regards to lighting, I've kind of decided to go with a single 250w SE bulb in the middle of this tank along with 2 x 39w t5's. If I go this route, my aquascaping would be very much centre pinnacle style which is what I want but I can also get my hands on a 400w MH. What should I do, go for the 250w or the 400w? Or should a go dual 250w.

Your ideas, suggestions and comments welcome. Thanks

[Orion76]

Your current plan sounds good to me, with a center pinnacle a single 250 watter will look very cool

[CurvBall]

Thanks Orion76. I also forgot to add that I have the back pane drilled for 4 x CLS returns Basically they will push water around my intended pinnacle. I guess with the centre hotspot, I can throw some low light guys around the base of the pinnacle. I guess my orginal idea sounds pretty good now. But should I go 250 or 400, if I go 250w I will go 10k if 400w, then I would opt for a high K rating say 14-20K. What do you think?

[Orion76]

Sounds really cool

250 or 400 is a difficult question to answer because every tank is different, but if it were my tank I'd do 250w 10,000k with actinic T5's. Others may tell you to go with 400's

Do check out Alexander's tank, corals grow just fine under 250w bulbs

http://www.zeovit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1438