150W or 250W over a 30 gallon zoanthid tank?

[Reefer Madness]

Hello,
just joined Club-Zoa as i am in the process of planning a 30 gallon zoanthid only tank (which will also contain a few ricordia florida as well).
The only thing that i am unsure about is the type of lighting, given that the tank is only 30 gallon (19" x 19" x 25") which would be the best a 150W metal halide or a 250W.
I want the zoanthids to grow well and also to look their best, but i am also concerned about heat issues.
As for the type of lamp, i was thinking of starting of with a 14K and then probably trying a 20K at a later date, any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated,

cheers,

Pete.

 

[MarvinsReef]

first off.. welcome to club-zoa Pete..

if you don't mind sharing a bit about yourself and set up over at the lounge section, we'd appreciate it..

as for your question.. I'm running almost the same set up.. my tank is 24"L x 18"W x 18"H and I use a 250w MH... right now with 10k BlueLine bulb but will be replaced with 15k or 20k XM's..

I also have a nice section of FL rics, a huge Pink Yuma, and other softies & LPS...

good luck and please keep us posted..

here's some pics of my set up..

 

[Reefer Madness]

Thanks for the welcome mate.
So i guess that you would choose 250 over 150 even on a small set-up.
Do you have any problems with heat on your set-up?

cheers,

Pete.

 

[MarvinsReef]

Thanks for the welcome mate.
So i guess that you would choose 250 over 150 even on a small set-up.
Do you have any problems with heat on your set-up?

cheers,

Pete.

you're very welcome..

yes, I chose the 250w just in case I'll need more lighting.. as long as you get your corals acclimated, they'll do fine...

as for heat issues, we have central air and we keep it cool in the house (around 70 degrees).. and I have 2 (3") fans on the canopy.. one pushing hot air out and one sucking air out... my temp hovers around 78-81 degrees thru 2 photoperiods... bulb is about 9"-10" from the water surface...

here's my photoperiod:

MH on 5:30 am; off 11:30 am
sump/refuge light on 11:00 am; off 5:00 pm
MH on 5:30 pm; off 11:30 pm
sump/refuge light on 11:00 pm; off 5:00 am

hope this helps.. you plan on having a canopy or open top?

 

[Reefer Madness]

Thanks once again mate, and the tank will be open top,

cheers,

Pete,

 

[MarvinsReef]

Thanks once again mate, and the tank will be open top,

cheers,

Pete,

you wouldn't have too much problem with open top.. DE or SE?

DE's penetrate better than SE's from what I've heard and seen so that might play a role as well..

keep us posted..