Bling Bling...

[jimbirm]

Ok guys und gals,

How bout lighting suggestions for a 120.

Both sides of the agrument are fine (MH vs T5) I am more looking for the actual setup, on each, so I can make a decision.

I know that RC is full of info, unfortunately I commute 4 hours a day, yes kids 2 hrs each way, which leaves me little time during the week for much more than dinner when I get home. I figured I would reach out here and see what is suggested.

Thanks!

[Ben]

You really need to tel us what type of tank you plan to have before we make any good suggestions.

If it was SPS I would defiantly recommend differently then if you said mostly zoas...

[Bebo77]

T5's, cover the entire top of the tank..

[jimbirm]

I want the lighting to be as versatile as possible, meaning I can put what I want in the tank (corals, leathers, clams, etc), within reason.

I know different species require different degrees of lighting, I just figured I would get the input of others before I go out and spend big dollars on a lighting system that I could potentially become dissatisfied with.

[clord]

both??

IF not get MH if you want to be able to keep everything

[Ben]

Nothing wrong with 2 x 250 watt 10K XM's and 3 or 4 VHO or T5's. With this you could run the MH's like 5-6 hours and the VHO's or T5's he majority of the light cycle.

[jimbirm]

I have been told that when MH's are used that there is also a need for a chiller. However, the tank is in my basement and I do have central air, so I wonder if I would need one..

I guess I could make the canopy a little higher so I could set the lighting higher off of the water, or even make the lighting adjustable until I find the premium distance from the water. That would also free up room for cooling fans in the canopy as well.

What about retro kits, anyone have opinions regading them, or would I be better suited to come up with my own design.

[frank2926]

My tank is also in the basement with central air. I run 3 250 wt halides and do not use a chiller. I did have to cut open the back of my canopy and I use 3 fans in the canopy as well as 2 small ones over the sump, but no chiller needed.

[jimbirm]

So you run 3 250's in a 125gal huh? I was thinking 2 would be sufficient.

Do you use any other lights?

[frank2926]

yes 3 250s in a 125 with 2 160 vhos
here is a link to some pics of my tank

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=910483

[jimbirm]

Well Frank, I can definitely say I will listen to anything advice you have regarding reef tanks.

Your tank looks amazing! Definitely something to be proud of.

[frank2926]

You have a 120 right? You would only need 2 halides for a 4ft tank. Mine is 6ft. thats why I run 3. If you do halides or t-5s its important to get good reflectors with either. As far as tank temp if your canopy is well ventilated and you add a couple of fans you should be ok. the other thing you can do is to stay away from things that will add heat to your tank. For instance if you can not use an external return pump go with a good submersible that wont add much heat ..an Eheim for example. Dont use a mag or Quiet One pump those things work better than actual heaters at raising the water temp. If you go with a good small return pump then use an external close loop for circulation you should be fine with tank temps.

[Big Boy69]

I'm setting up a 4 ft 120 as of now.
I'm setting it up with 8, T-5's.
I was thinking on going with 4 - 6500K, 2 - 10K and 2, Actinics.
I will be keeping SPS on one side and zoos on the other side, with clams in the sand bed.
I talked with Todd from Something Fishy and he told me I would be fine running 6-T5's, and being able to keep SPS.

[jimbirm]

Don't SPS and Zoos require different degrees of lighting, or is it LPS' that need the more powerful lighting scheme.

I thought about T-5's instead of MH, but I am kind of partial to the "shimmer" effect they produce. Plus T-5's are total coverage, whereas with MH you can place corals in different areas of the tank and get different results.

It is not enough that this hobby is expensive, you really have to carefully consider all aspects of it.

Also, what unit are you looking at?

[Big Boy69]

Also, what unit are you looking at?

It's custom made from a fellow reefer in TX. It's 4, 2 bulb units with advance ballast going in a canopy. I do like the shimmer effect myself, but I'll have to sacrafice it.

Do you think with 8, T-5's it'll do the job?

[jimbirm]

So it is basically like having 4 bulbs across the tank (in terms of width)?

From what I have read, 6 across seems to be the optimal number of bulbs mentioned on RC for a 120, but I could be wrong.

[Big Boy69]

It'll have 4, refelectors with 2 bulbs in each, with the seperations in between for each bulb.
It comes out to be 25" front to back, and my tank measures 24.5" from front to back, so my buddy will have to make adjustments when building the canopy.
I seen somewhere on here, where they were saying 6 would be the right number for what I want to do. If 8 is too much, I can always shut one of the units off and only run 6 bulbs.

[jimbirm]

I have no doubt your setup will be a good one. Plus, you have the option of lighting 4 quarters of your tank differently if you wish, unless I misunderstood your explaination earlier.

I was also considering the coralife retro kit, but I have not seen them with 250's only 150's.

I am wondering if the 150's would work better, that way I could put the more light intensive corals higher in my tank and the weaker ones lower.

[Big Boy69]

When you're looking at the tank, the lights would be running across the tank, say left to right.

[frank2926]

You might try 175's not 150's and with either I would recommend going hqi over mogul unless you went to 250 then I would go mogul with magnetic ballasts

[jimbirm]

My only concern about using 175's is that 250's seem to be the holy grail of lighting on RC.

Do they even make 175's, I guess so if you mentioned it huh?

[frezel]

i personally have a 120 and run 2 x 250 mh XM 14k and its plenty and i keep a mix of corals, i am going to add 2 VHO actinics just for the dawn dusk effect. I love the look of my tank is bright with the right amount of blue and great coral growth

[frank2926]

yea actually i think 175s are easier to come by than 150s

its just with 250s you get the most bang for your buck with a good amount of par.

The reason so many people chose 250s is you get a lot of par with out the cost or added heat of 400s. So if you where thinking 175s you really should just go ahead and do the 250s if you plan on keeping sps . The price difference for buying them is really rather small. Plus 250s would work well on a larger tank say like a 180 if you ever think of upgrading ..