150 Watt Metal Halide - Hours Of Light?! Help

[xabbasx7]

Hey, I have a 150 watt metal halide that I keep over my 29 gallon tank. It is 4 1/2 - 5 inches above water surface.

How many hours should I keep my light on for? I would like to hear if you have 150 watt metal halide or 29 gallon tank.

I have many zoas and a few sps corals so far; have been keeping on for about 8-9 hours a day. New corals in my tank open up nicely and seem to grow fast(the zoas I mean). After a few weeks they seem to stunt out and stop growing as fast as they did; or melt away as some of my dragon eyes did.

What is your recommendations?

 

[Smitty]

8-10 hours is good. I ran mine for about 10 hrs when I had that same setup.

 

[xabbasx7]

8-10 hours is good. I ran mine for about 10 hrs when I had that same setup.

How high above the surface was your 150 metal halide
& how was your zoanthid/coral growth?

 

[Smitty]

My halide was about 6-8 inches above the water, and some zoas seem to have melted, while others thrived. The biggest issue you're gonna have is the high temp the halide will make the water.. Especially in the summertime. That was the main issue why I switched to leds.