240 lighting question

[Guest Nate and Roshni]

After reading hundreds of posts on lighting, i admit that i am more confused than when i started!  [wl]  Would anyone have any idea on what kind of lighting to place on a 240g. With this new tank I want to be able to keep anything i want in the future. I was thinking 4x 250w MH and im not sure on the actinics. Then i read the review on the XM bulbs from Nathan, where he doesnt use the actinics anymore! How do you create the dawn and dusk with no actinic bulbs? Do you just have each MH lamp come on one at a time? Also currently I have a 296W PC on my 55g. Could I reuse the PC on my fuge or maybe have it run the actinics on the main tank? I would love to hear from people that have a similar setup that works for them! Thanks guys and gals!

[Aquariareview]

I would use 4 X 250watt MH with XM bulbs. Good reflectors are a must.

 

Actinic add on or not is a choice. Many of the experts run without them and many use them. The 20k bulbs make them a choice. If you go 10k (or less) you need them.

 

I like not having the extra heat and power use of more bulbs.

[Guest nate and roshni]

Has anyone ever used 14,000k bulbs?  I guess i should see a tank in person thats running the 20k. A lot of people seem to think its too blue, but a picture really makes it more blue.

[Guest Ruh Roh]

I have a 240 I am in the process of setting up and I have 4X125w MH's(10k's) and I am going to supplement that with 4X4' Acintics.

[Gatortailale]

Hopefully JB can shed light on this subject when he gives his talk at symposium.  He did a 250w bulb study. :D

 

Shameless plug for symposium.

[Guest Nate and Roshni]

Gatortailale, we will be at the symposium. We are also going to join WAMAS while we are there. It wasnt too bad of a drive from vabeach last week!  I think we can at least make the trip 4 times a year.  [nana]

[Gatortailale]

It wasnt too bad of a drive from vabeach last week!  I think we can at least make the trip 4 times a year.  [nana]

If you want to party, we are going to try to get a block group rate at local hotel near symposium.

 

Also trying to plan to set up some kind of tank or large sump with water and heater &/or fans - so people who come in out of town can put their livestock in it over night before they travel back home.  [nana]

 

Should be a group from Pittsburgh down for symposium.  

 

We will be inviting all groups on east coast once we work out details on hotel and the livestock tank(s)

 

FYI: there will be a small discount in symposium price if you are a wamas member - details coming soon.

[Guest Amber Nussbaum]

That sounds awesome. I'll be coming up and was thinking of staying the night. I'd like to schedule to be able to see some of you guys' tanks the next day too.. to get some ideas.

 

Looking forward to it.

[eddi]

Amber,

 

Anyone driving that far deserves to see as many tanks as possible.  I live 15 or 20 minutes away from the symposium and would love to have you over and show you my tanks.  If you are interested as the day gets nearer PM me to set up it up.

 

 

Eddi