Contemplating switching from 250W to 400W

[planetg]

I'm currently maintaining a mixed reef using 2x250W BLVs + 2x54W ATI T5 for supplements.

I've got decent growth on my monti caps and clams (squamy already 60% larger than 6mths ago) my acro colonies are barely maintaining their colour and show little but not magnificent growth

Barring water quality, shd I change to 400W? Which bulbs will be recommended then?

I wonder how my SPS will react if I do a switch.

Any experiences switching from 250W to 400W? Any posivitve or neutral effects?

Cheers

[Joe_P]

I'm currently maintaining a mixed reef using 2x250W BLVs + 2x54W ATI T5 for supplements.

I've got decent growth on my monti caps and clams (squamy already 60% larger than 6mths ago) my acro colonies are barely maintaining their colour and show little but not magnificent growth

Barring water quality, shd I change to 400W? Which bulbs will be recommended then?

I wonder how my SPS will react if I do a switch.

Any experiences switching from 250W to 400W? Any posivitve or neutral effects?

Cheers

You should be able to get some really cool growth out of the 250 Ws….

Unless you are using the BLVs Blue… (was using them previously and don’t noticed much coral development).

It’s a strange thing that your acro colonies have been stagnant…

Unless you have a reef full of specimens that are slow growers ( some specimens are)…you might like to check on your parameters…..

Think we covered on upgrading of MH in a similar thread….

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14004

Like my previous post…

If you could afford it, go 400 watts…..

[planetg]

I am using BLVs currently.

I'm not exactly good at IDing the exact specimens but they are not exactly stagnant. (unless a little growth = stagnant)

The most obvious growth are seen on the monti caps.

I'm concern with the aclimatization of my SPS if i switch from 250W to 400W. Since i'll be changing bulbs in a couple of months, i'll just need to spend that extra on the ballasts.

Will they become "chao ta" like when Hon tried to change his lights.

Do the radiums provide enuff intensity? Are they too blue?

Cheers

[Joe_P]

I am using BLVs currently.

I'm not exactly good at IDing the exact specimens but they are not exactly stagnant. (unless a little growth = stagnant)

The most obvious growth are seen on the monti caps.

I'm concern with the aclimatization of my SPS if i switch from 250W to 400W. Since i'll be changing bulbs in a couple of months, i'll just need to spend that extra on the ballasts.

Will they become "chao ta" like when Hon tried to change his lights.

Do the radiums provide enuff intensity? Are they too blue?

Cheers

It depends on what you want for your reef ....

I have tried 400ws and 250ws, even running 150 watts now...

If you are looking for vibrant growth, do stay away from the Blue bulbs...IME, they are really dim even for the 400 watters.....

stick to the 400Ws (no point dumping $$$ running the blues) 10kks bulbs and supplement them with blues T5s or actinics ...... 2- 4 tubes of T5s should do some colour adjustment of your reefs..... if you intend to upgrade....

In fact, the 250Ws 10kk bulbs run so much brighter compared to the 400Ws......

The issue with Hon's acros "chao ta" symdrone has more to do with the bulbs he changed to ...... which many other reefers in the states experienced if you have been paying some attention to some threads in RC.....

My 2 cts...

[Chris]

Monti caps are faster grower than acros....so don't worry. Check Ca, kh and Mg to be sure.

[planetg]

guess joe said it right? it depends on what one wants.

for me, i want the colours more than growth. tonight i just came back from overseas trip and found my purple tip acro purple in colour again.

2 mth ago when i purchased it, it turned a little brown although not totally after 3-4 weeks. i was disappointed but then after 1 mth now, the purples have returned! more beautiful than ever. guess it's a patience game with these babies and i'm getting there!

shall shelve my 400W plans for now and see how it goes.

thanx dudes