Improving my tank!!!

[karsco]

Well, it is time to donate some more money to my tank! I am upgrading my lights, from either and HQI 250W or a standard mogul base 250W MH. I have read the HQI bulbs give you a higher PAR value is this correct? I am also looking to buy a sea swirl. I am currently running a Mag 7 at about 3 feet of head, and I also have a brand new mag 9.5 sitting in a box. My question is should I just get a sea swirl for the mag 7 or should I get a sea swirl or the mag 9.5???? I am taking all powerheads out of the main tank once I get the sea swirl hooked up so the SS will be the only flow source. My tank is a 58 gallon oceanic and I plan on keeping sps corals and clams in the near future what do you all think????

[karsco]

Anyone??? All I am looking for is if a Mag 9.5 is to much for my 58 gallon, and if anyone has experience with an HQI 250W MH vs. a mogul base 250W MH. Any help would be appreciated...

[chewie]

I have a 1/2" SS run off of a mag 5 it works fine but I have a mag 7 laying around and I am switching the 5 for the 7, If i had a 9.5 I would try it but only with a ball valve because I don't know if the overflow will handle it but I would say go for it. I would also spend the extra $$$ for the HQI.

[beach bum]

Sounds like you're planning on "donating" quite a bit of money to your tank!

I have no experience with the MH's. But I did do a little reasearch on the sea swirls. A mag 7 should push a 3/4" ss just about right, mag 9 should match well with the 1" ss. Maybe you should give them a call for specific setup w/ optimal flow rate before dropping the change on 1/2", 3/4", or 1". I bet you would be real happy with two 3/4".

hth