400 W enough ?

[nani]

hey all

just starting up my new 4ft tank been in nanos for awhile decide to do this zeovit style too :P

anyway my sister got me on a tight budget so i was thinking would a 400w be enough 4'x2'x2' ? it mostly likely be a sps tank

i think the only problem would be the spread ? but can this be solved but hanging it at the right height ?

[kiwireefer]

Hi Nani,

You probably would be better off with 2 x 250 watt metal halides to give a more even spread. Then again, if your on a tight budget, a 1 x 400 watt halide with your light loving SPS on a coral bommie right underneath the light and your less light loving corals off to the sides would look fantastic too.

Regards,

Brendan Zeovit NZ/Aussie

[keigo]

yes.. a 2 x 250W will be a better choice...

and also depend on your plan.. cause a 1 x 400 spread will not be able to cover the whole tank but just 1 area... so many you can have that area with coral of light demanding like sps..

and the side cover with low demanding coral like LPS, if not just leave it bare until u got more budget to add another light or make have the side empty to allow more room for the fish to swim around...

[nani]

well i think i go with the 400w cause i wont overstock my tank straight away :P

i will get maybe 2x250 or 2x150 later in the year to cover the sides

thanks for all the replies