PFO 250 Watt Metal Halide Retrofit for a 120?

Mule · 09-10-2005, 07:59 PM

I have a 120g (4'x2'x2'), and was trying to figure out lighting.

I was thinking either a single PFO 250 Watt Metal Halide Retrofit, or 48" 4x65watt compact retrofit.

What do you think is the better choice?

shalu · 09-10-2005, 08:51 PM

If you go with metal halide, you should use 2x150W, or 2x175w. A single bulb will have terrible coverage over 4ft. The rule of thumb for metal halide is one per 2 feet.

dissident · 09-11-2005, 07:39 PM

Agreed, 2 MH bulbs would be needed for that tank. I have 2x175MH on my 110x and it covers it well. 1 bulb wouldn't come close to doing the job. I would look more at 150W since bulbs seem easier to come by in different color temp, but you can find bulbs 6500K-10,000K in the 175w with a little searching. In a 2ft tank MH will give you deeper light peniration then the PC (I run both 2x96W PC and the 2X175W HM), 110x is 30in deep.

09-10-2005, 07:59 PM	#1
Mule Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 19	PFO 250 Watt Metal Halide Retrofit for a 120? I have a 120g (4'x2'x2'), and was trying to figure out lighting. I was thinking either a single PFO 250 Watt Metal Halide Retrofit, or 48" 4x65watt compact retrofit. What do you think is the better choice?

09-10-2005, 08:51 PM	#2
shalu Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,675	If you go with metal halide, you should use 2x150W, or 2x175w. A single bulb will have terrible coverage over 4ft. The rule of thumb for metal halide is one per 2 feet. __________________ Truvu 100g Flourite, wet/dry, AHSupply 302w PC, PinPoint controller 10gallon15w T6+15w T8 55gallon40w T6 ODNO4x, no CO2. Discus grow out. 10gallon Tonina tank, 2x15w T6 ODNO 4x --------------------- I will do aquascapes after I collect all the plant species and grow them to perfection.

09-11-2005, 07:39 PM	#3
dissident Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Piedmont - NC Posts: 337	Agreed, 2 MH bulbs would be needed for that tank. I have 2x175MH on my 110x and it covers it well. 1 bulb wouldn't come close to doing the job. I would look more at 150W since bulbs seem easier to come by in different color temp, but you can find bulbs 6500K-10,000K in the 175w with a little searching. In a 2ft tank MH will give you deeper light peniration then the PC (I run both 2x96W PC and the 2X175W HM), 110x is 30in deep. __________________ 110Xgal Planted 65gal Planted 8gal nano-hex Planted First planted tank ever Retired 2003

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