ruromastyx1

hey quick questions to all you reef experts out there. I currently have a 55 gallon reef setup, right now I just have two 64 watt PC's on the tank and I am upgrading. I am picking up two 250watt MH retrofits that I am going to install in my canopy. is this too much light?...is that even really possible?
thanks in advance.

sgould

That depends on what you are keeping in the tank?

ruromastyx1

well right now I have some green stars, a rock of green eyed zooanthids, and a branching frogspawn as well as a clown fish, yellow tang, carpenters fairy wrasse 3 green chromis and a metallic goby. I want to put som clams, SPS, LPS and torch corals in there as well as some plate corals and closed and open brains.

GreenMan13

It is possible to have too much light. The corals will start to bleach and close up all the time. That much light might be too much for some of the corals but you can just move those ones into a shady area of the tank like under a rock ledge.

ruromastyx1

okay good to know, I am thinking whether it would just be better to put one 250 on top of the canopy rather than both, but I would hate to have a 250 fixture just lying around. I am getting the double 250's for an incredible price so I cna't pass them up...LOL

agsansoo

I'm going to have to say just enough light. I have one 250 watt MH and I want one more. 250 watts is bare minimum. 400 watts over a 55-70 gallon tank is perfect for clams and sps corals.
Just watch your light bill !

Peterpiper

Heat could be a issue with 500 watts on a 55g, you may need to look at a chiller.
But as agsansoo said, sps and clams will love the light.

ruromastyx1

thanks for all the info guys, but it looks like I jumped the gun on it...I got the lights yesterday, turns out they are both 175's so 350 in all, plus my 65 watt PCs which I am probably going to keep as well will put it all to 480. Now I just have to build the canopoy!