Power HEADS!

[Johnsbra123]

I bought the rocks with the water( ~18 gallons)

[mistahoo]

I wouldn't paint it now its full if you do cover the top really well so paint and fumes don't get in the tank try using window tinting

+1 with the window tinting. I haven't done it but I've seen some nice results. You already have stuff in it, so painting it would be a no no

[Johnsbra123]

With 130 watts, can I keep birds nest?

Plus, my friend is making me a custom metal halide 250 watt system(25$), he's a crazy nerd!

[johnnymisty]

What type of light do you have T5 or cf

[johnnymisty]

Don't do 250 watts on that tank your tank to small its way to much that tank go with a 70 or 150watt halide

[Johnsbra123]

I have a compact florencent 130w coralife.

[Bakapuma]

Don't do 250 watts on that tank your tank to small its way to much that tank go with a 70 or 150watt halide

+1

[flipside]

You might get more random flow by aiming both power heads at each other. That's what us SPS junkies do (though, you really don't need to with your coral selection).

That's an interesting amount of flow in that tank, too. Hmm...

[Darbex]

Yeah I was thinking the same that is a lot of flow. Even for an SPS tank. I ran an MP10 and had it set at maybe 20% on a 28G mixed reef tank. My 50G mixed reef has an MP10 and its set at maybe 50%. And 250W is way to much light. You only need 150W MH max. Remember T5 on individual reflectors isnt the same as a MH. 144W T5 set-up with ind reflect is way more par than a 150W MH. I have personally tested it and melted corals switching to an ATI fixture.

[Johnsbra123]

Is it? Should I take one out?

[flipside]

No sir. You should be fine with your lighting. CF (I believe these are also called Power Compacts, or PC's) should be more than adequate with your setup.

I would lean toward a 70w JBJ K2 Viper (or something similar), if you want to be more power efficient, and grow some SPS and clams at the bottom. Plus, it will really open up the top for more surface agitation and evaporative cooling.

[Johnsbra123]

I have a 19 watt light that I want to put on my CPR to grow so chato. Will that be sufficient lighting?

[johnnymisty]

It's not the wattage for that so much as spectrum 6000k is what I use

[Johnsbra123]

It's a t8 15 watt, not 19watt. Does anyone know the spectrum on this light?

[johnnymisty]

Need to look at the bulb should say or look at the bulb manufacturer and see