9thLife
05/17/2005, 11:20 PM
hey all- so I'm 75% done with my 116 gallon reef tank (making it out of acrylic) and all is coming along pretty well.
I'm to the point in which I need to decide what lights to add to this tank. The tank is made of 3/4 in cast acrylic and is 36"x24"x36". I'm planning to have some hard and soft corals in the tank, and plan to arrange the LR so it is about 25" tall in the tank. I contacted Gina's Aquarium Supply (www.aquarium-supply.biz) asking what typ of lighting would be right for my tank after searching the internet. This is what they responded with:
"This will be a very difficult tank to light because it is so deep. You
really need 400 watt metal halide bulbs for hard corals in a 36 inch deep tank. The light should be 12 inches above the tank. This will prevent the light from melting anything and will also help to spread the light evenly. A Hamilton Technology Hood Fixture with two 10K 400 watt metal halide bulbs and two 96W power compact actinic bulbs goes for $791.00"
$791!!!!!!! omg what have I gotten myself into! I am going to have to sell a kidney to get this tank going!......ok perhaps not, but damn that's a chunk of change. Anyone know if this estimate is accurate? Could I get away with spending les and getting the same lightin for my tank? Is there another configuration that anyone can suggest? This tank may have to site while I panhandle to raise the dough!
I'm to the point in which I need to decide what lights to add to this tank. The tank is made of 3/4 in cast acrylic and is 36"x24"x36". I'm planning to have some hard and soft corals in the tank, and plan to arrange the LR so it is about 25" tall in the tank. I contacted Gina's Aquarium Supply (www.aquarium-supply.biz) asking what typ of lighting would be right for my tank after searching the internet. This is what they responded with:
"This will be a very difficult tank to light because it is so deep. You
really need 400 watt metal halide bulbs for hard corals in a 36 inch deep tank. The light should be 12 inches above the tank. This will prevent the light from melting anything and will also help to spread the light evenly. A Hamilton Technology Hood Fixture with two 10K 400 watt metal halide bulbs and two 96W power compact actinic bulbs goes for $791.00"
$791!!!!!!! omg what have I gotten myself into! I am going to have to sell a kidney to get this tank going!......ok perhaps not, but damn that's a chunk of change. Anyone know if this estimate is accurate? Could I get away with spending les and getting the same lightin for my tank? Is there another configuration that anyone can suggest? This tank may have to site while I panhandle to raise the dough!