Help with Wattage????????????

[mex71]

I know there's probably a thread on this somewhere but I can't find it.
I have a 4x2x2 auqrium which is a 120 gal.
I have a canopy which is approx. a 1' from the top of the aquarium to the bottom of the canopy.
My question is how much wattage do I need to grow soft coral as well as sps coral. I don't want to "fry" them from heat.
Also, could you please recommend a link or setup that will work that has metal halides as well as t5's. Hope I'm not asking to much.
I've seen everything from $300 to $1500 and of course like every one I would like to get the most bang for my buck.
Thanks in Advance
mex71
mex71 Plankton Posts: 6 Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:56 pm

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[luke33]

I would just get two nice 250w mh reflectors and be done with it. I think your best off with a 2x250w mh setup on that tank. You could always do a 6-8 bulb t5 retro or fixture as well. Look at the lumen arc, lumen max, lumen elite reflectors. All work very well.

 

[Mochis]

I agree. If you are going to build it yourself you should check out nanotuners.com and nanocustoms.com I have put halide on half of the tank and t-5 on the whole tank before it was a little cheaper and worked great.

 

[Troylee]

the wattage per gallon rule is not efficant at all and should be deleted from all posts..lol
like mentioned two 250 w mh would be the ticket for that tank...... i run 2 on a 60long with lumenarc reflectors and to the eye it looks perfect no hot spots or dark spots... i also run 2 60" vho actinics.....

 

[mr_X]

2 x 250 would look nice. lumenbrite reflectors, i hear, give the highest return.
you could use higher kelvin lamps if you wanted to tone down the power some.

 

[tangdiver]

2X250 would be fine, again like others said....watts per gallon....not the right way to go...

experince and if anything error in more light.

 

[MAKcorals]

Two 250's would be sweet, Hamilton reflectors are nice.

 

[Typhon]

Seem like your canopy is alittle to shallow for lumenbrights. Have you thought about 250w DEs? They fixtures are lower profile and work really well.

I would recommend just getting a SLS retro fix kit 2x 54w T5s for supplements and 2x SLS LumenMax 3 DE Reflectors with your choice of bulbs and ballast.

 

[88K5]

You will need to first make the decision which route you will be going. MH's or T-5's.

If you decide to go MH's I do like the idea of two 250 watt lamps with luminarc reflectors. You should also have room to add a VHO or T-5 to supplement for dusk or dawn lighting.

If you went the T-5 route you will either have to decide retro kit or fixture. I would choose an 8 bulb fixture.

Do not compare watts between the T-5 and MH's. I used to run 2400 watts of MH/VHO on a 400 gallon now I have less than 900 watts of T-5's on the same tank.

 

[Tank102a]

Teklight makes a good 8 bulb t5 fixture. I think reefgeek sells them cheapest (since the include the bulbs) I'm not sure if the still have the deal but when I bought mine two years ago they still offered the deal.

 

[XCrunnr36]

if you are looking for an all in one package the marineland 24 hour lighting system isn't too bad (for convenience sake) but i would recommend swapping the bulbs around for something better than "stock"

 

[Tank102a]

You choose your own bulbs (when I was buying my setup)

 

[Hawkins]

I think the one question that has not been asked yet is whether or not you are going to be using a chiller on this system. Being that you have only one foot of clearance you will have a good amount of heat transfer to the water surface. IMO if you weren’t going to chill the system I would use T5’s and a unit that is fan cooled. Seriously rethink not using a chiller if that’s what you had in mind SPS want there temp constant. The one thing that I have found is having the combination of T5’s and MH gives great color to my SPS.
Links for some combo lighting:
Sunlight Supply®, Inc. Lighting&type=product
Deluxe Metal Halide with T5 HO Aquarium supplies & Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology

 

[Hawkins]

I think the one question that has not been asked yet is whether or not you are going to be using a chiller on this system. Being that you have only one foot of clearance you will have a good amount of heat transfer to the water surface. IMO if you weren’t going to chill the system I would use T5’s and a unit that is fan cooled. Seriously rethink not using a chiller if that’s what you had in mind SPS want there temp constant. The one thing that I have found is having the combination of T5’s and MH gives great color to my SPS.
Links for some combo lighting:
Sunlight Supply®, Inc. Lighting&type=product
Deluxe Metal Halide with T5 HO Aquarium supplies & Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology