So confused about lighting -closed bought 2 mh 150

[Wackydaffy]

There are sooo many lighting options, that I just don't know what to do with myself.

I want to have an aquarium with corals and anemones. So I know I need to go the metal halide route. However, how do I go about doing that?

Specifically, is there somewhere or some reference I can look at to understand the differences between lighting?

I don't have a canopy on my tank so I either have to buy one or I don't know.

I have a 75g 48" tank.

My ideal setup is metal halide and lunar lights. Very basic, because that is where my knowledge stands right now. Very basic.

Any ideas how I can learn more about this?

Any ideas on how I can go about getting this setup that I want?

Either building one or buying one, but I don't want to spend too much money. Metal halide's considered. Buying used is perfectly fine with me.

I know there are a lot of things that go into a lighting system, so learning more about it will help me make decisions when I see lights for sale on the forum.

Cause right now, I'm just plain confused.


Thanks alot everyone,

Kevin :?:

 

[dvups1]

Not true. Simply put, there are plenty of great alternatives to MH lighting. VHO and T5 flourescent bulbs are more than capable of giving you the necessary output (with regaurds to lumens and par) for keeping most any coral and anemone in the trade today.

You have to decide what best suits your particular asthetic taste.

I personally like the smimmer lines that point source lighting (MH) brings to the look of the tank. I can acheive the same results (and so can you) without MH but MH is simply more pleasing to my eyes.

Things to consider and info to share with us:
1. Is your tank barebottom (BB)? If not how much (thick) is the substrate bottom?
2. What is your budget for the lighting?
3. Are you aware that the lighting that is most beneficial to corals (6500K) is not the most attractive to a hobbiest's eyes?
4. Did you know that lighting is only a part of what makes a successful reef?

 

[BigScott]

Another question to consider in addition to bulldoggers:

What do you want to keep in the tank?

If you want to keep softies we might give different recommendations than if you want to keep clams. I believe this was mentioned in another thread along the way but look at other tanks and ask what type of lighting is used and find out what you like. Each lfs probably uses different lighting than the next. Visit them and take the time to find out how their tanks are lit. Just a couple of suggestions. Have a great day.

BigScott

 

[Guest]

you dont have to go mh for sps..... On my 150 display tank i have t5 running and I have sps and lps growing....On my 135 i have mh's.


I like the reflective look of mh's, but my t5's keep my tank and bedroom alot cooler.

i would go with t5's with that tank that is my opinion over vho's

 

[One Trick Pony]

Lighting is a very personal choice
You mentioned that you wanted to keep “corals and anemones”
MH lighting is a very focused light, very intense directly under the bulb, getting less intense as the light spreads out over the tank
T-5 lighting is the new setup; they can be used to keep all types of tanks
With T-5 lighting the light is spread out evenly over the surface of the tank
The key with T-5 lighting is to have a single reflector for each bulb
With all reef lighting the reflector is the key to the setup
Diyreef.com is a good place to get lighting components
If you went with MH or T-5, I believe you would not be disappointed
Ken

 

[Guest]

You might want to talk to someone with mh on a tank your size...As it might be cause alot of heat for that size tank. just depends on how many mh bulbs you are going to use.

 

[Guest]

I have a 75 gallon with the same demensions of your tank. For lighting I use 2x250 watt mh's with 2x110 watts of vho. With the new heater and fan I got I only have about a 2.5 gallon temprature swing a day. With this lighting you could keep pretty much everything. You don't really need the vho's at all ( I use them as atinics).