Metal halide in 260l

[murph]

If I was to fit a 150w single bulb metal halide over my 260 l tank, 102 cm by 62cm deep would this be enough light coverage?
The tank is unfortunatly braced in the middle too.


Cheers

 

[George Farmer]

I think it would be ok, especially if you hung it relatively high to get a good spread. The drawbacks with this are light-spill and glare if you're sitting near the tank.

You may also have trouble growing demanding carpeting species, but good CO2 etc. will help a lot there.

Is the brace transparent or opaque?

 

[murph]

Geroge it's a glass brace so clear, my carpeting plants are mainly hairgrass, riccia and some ug just to see if it will take. I think my current 2x39 watt t5s just won't cut it.

Would 2x150watt MH be better? Wouldn't need to be hung as high?

Would that be too much light?

 

[George Farmer]

2 x 150w may be overkill. You'd have to keep CO2, nutrients and circulation spot on to avoid algae, and you'd be pruning like mad. If you like a challenge then go for it!

Personally I'd go for 1 x 150w or consider adding another 2 x 39w unit to your existing set-up -

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/tech ... ghts/81529

 

[murph]

I like a challenge but don't have the knowledge for it yet!

That Hagen unit looks ideal. My hanging lights are this unit I think, stock oskaka lights.

I might go down this route. I take it you use these George?

 

[George Farmer]

That Hagen unit looks ideal. My hanging lights are this unit I think, stock oskaka lights.

That's why I provided the link...

I've never used these personally but have seen two units used on the Osaka 260 and it looked excellent.

They would be my no.1 lighting choice if I had this tank.

All the best!