yes, another light question

[rookie reefer]

so i want to know how many watts would be suitable fo sps in a 50gallon pentagon tank with dimensions 24" length 24" width 24" depth
now i know you guys are getting tired of my light questions but the last tank i jumped the gun and made a tank that i was not ready for so trying to take in all the knowledge i can so i was thinking of getting this light that can be switched from 250 watts to 400 watts just by the ballast (its made by ice cap)

here is the tank
http://www.aquaquest.biz/50gacorereaq.html

here is the light
http://www.marinedepot.com/lighting_...endant-ap.html

here is the 250watt ballast options
http://www.marinedepot.com/IceCap_25...MHTFEB-vi.html

here is the 400 watt ballast option
http://www.marinedepot.com/IceCap_40...MHFHEB-vi.html

so what do you guys think

[Loverotties]

The socket too! 250 should be enough.

[Hop]

Depends on what you like. For some ballast/bulb combination the 250 would be great. For others, the 400. If you want a crisp white or yellow 10k then the 250 would be fine. Most of the 14-20ks you may want the 400, but with that comes a lot more heat.

[Fat Tony]

There are better reflectors for the money out there. I have one of the IC pendants in the 250w variety. I bought a set of Lumenmax fixtures in 150w. The 150's from the Lumenmax fixtures are as bright if not brighter than the 250 is. It's all about the reflector.
My suggestion.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Met...unlight_Supply
Get an electronic ballast to run it, like the Galaxy or IceCap. If you get the IceCap make sure that you get an adapter plug so that you can attach the ballast to the reflector without cutting the plug ends off the fixture or the ballast. The will drop any warrenty on the ballast and reflector.

[rookie reefer]

were can i get the adapter plug

[three90s&125sump]

I agree with the above. A 24 inch deep tank is easily lit by 250s. I'm a 15k kind of guy. So I would have to go with the best reflector, very low turbidity and VHO supplements. (That's what I'm doing on my 31 inch tall 225)

I say that with the assumpsion that the water turbidity will be very low. Huge skimmer, BB lots and lots of flow.

If that's not the case I still do not recomend 400 watt MHs with a tank that shallow due to the fact that the top corals will be at a high risk for burning (not that a tank that is 36 inches deep wouldn't have the same issue but 400s are almost required for a tank that tall). I would recommend reducing turbidity and still going with a 250.if turbidity will be an issue then perhaps try a 10K bulb with a couple 75 watt 50/50s next to it.

[Fat Tony]

Originally Posted by rookie reefer

were can i get the adapter plug

You can call Reefgeek and they have the adapters available. It's where I got mine from. The easiest thing is to buy the ballast that t is manufactured by the same pendant manufacturer.