LIghting Options for 30g Hexagon tank

C

CarolynM

I currently have a tank set up with one fish and some tonga branch rock. Lighting over this tank is currently 2 x28 w pc's - not much. My rock has slowly lost its luster. I'd like to boost the lighting - what would you recommend? I only want to put in a couple more fish and some softies (leathers, zoas and mushrooms). The catch is the longest dimension is 16" across.

The ballast is a workhorse 3. The current lights do not have a reflector, would a reflector have much effect? The lights are mounted in a wooden hood about 10 inches from the top of the tank - I imagine I could also lower them some.

I don't want to go to MH as that's just too bright for my needs and the location of the tank.

All suggestions greatly appreciated.
 
OK, I'm thinking maybe a 70w MH wouldn't be too bright for me...how bright would a 70w MH be in comparison too say a 130W PC? I had a MH over this tank when it was freshwater and I swear the tank looked like it was from outerspace or something because it was so bright (and the algae was so bad).

Would a 10K bulb with my 28W for actinics be OK and not too bright?

I also found some T5 lights -9w each 15.75" long - is T5 loutput brighter than PC? These snap together so I could buy a few 5 or 6 of them and put them all together?
 
I would def go with the 70 MH. Mh has way more par then the PC's. Plus it'll give you that shimmering effect. VERY Pretty in my opion.

If you didnt want it too brite, go with a 14K bulb. And with the atentic supplementation, it would make your corals color stand out more.

T-5 are def better then PC's. They have a par rating higher then VHO's as some say. If you couldn't do the MH I would go with the T-5s

Hope that helps alittle
 
Thanks David, that definitely helps a little.

I'll have to do some shopping and see what's available. The one thing I don't want to do is something I can't undo like modify my hood by decreasing its height only to find I want to go with MH and now need the height. I've been there and done that and don't like decisions I can't undo. LOL.

Would a 70W MH generate much heat? The back of the hood is open.
 
Do you have to use the hood? I have a 150 HQI 14k MH with 2x 65 watt supplemental pcs over my tank but it is an open top. I really think MH would be your best option. Like Brandon said it would be difficult to find bulbs short enough with high enough wattage for such a small diameter hood.
 
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