Lighting needs.
 

I have decided to put my "good" SW tank on hold for now. I got accepted to college today so i figured that came first. I dont want to go without a tank so I was thinking and decided to go for a 10 gallon. I was wondering what i should use for lighting and circulation for these corals
- mushrooms -Hammer -Zoos -Toadstool leather

I was thinking a 70 watt 14K DED mh placed 4 inches from the top. There will also be 2 Corallife 50/50 55watt pc lights for when the halide isnt on. Is this going to be enough lighting or should i go for a 150.

Also what should I use for circulation. I was thinking of getting a mag 250, drill 12 inch bulkheads and run a SCWD on there. Then I will convert a AC 150 into a fuge. this sound good to you all.

why waist money on MH for thoes? PC's will be all you'll need

Steve

This is only a 10g. You'll probably boil everything with a MH system on it & it's only 10 or 12" deep so (like what Stir Crazy said) you'll have no problem with depth penetration with PCs so don't waste your $$ on MH.

ok at what depth should I start thinking of MH 14 inches?

18, minimum

hell you could consider using them at 12" but who cares about depth in this situation, you are planning on keeping nothing in there that requires the light intensity of MH. get off the depth issue and look at the critters your planning on keeping.

Steve

Ya ok. Ya I just wanted to make sure that i wasnt under doing my lighting.

3 outa the 4 things you want to keep in there don't even want that much light and in a 10 the zoos will grow well with pc or t5's. in fact you will probably kill schooms with that intensity of light,

reply
 

Why is that? I have a whole colony of orange fussy shrooms sitting at the highest point my tank offers.

Ryan, are you thinking of upgrading in the future? The lighting you mensioned is definately overkill on a 10 gallon. If you went to a 20 gallon you might be able to justify spending the money

nope unfortunately they will adapt like any other softy to high light :rolleyes:

Ryan the point is you Can go with a MH on that tank, and things would adapt and like it but you don't need it. VHO or PC would be cool, like one of those 96 watt quad lamps. if you are still wanting to go MH get a 150 watt HQI pendant and hang it above the tank and you will be able to grow anything you want in there, small clam or some acro as a center piece. I have not seen the 70 watt MH but you could try it, it won't hurt anything.

Steve

I got a 70 Watt DED on the latest tank i set up I will see how it goes. The reason I wanted to stay away from MH is i have a dual 55 watt pc kit here i can use. I do plan on upgrading in a few years (when i am done college) to a 24-16-16. Once i get there i will probaly go 250 watt DED but for now I will use the PC's.

Is it true what I hear Corallife 50/50's are the best? If not what brand do you suggest.

C'mon Ryan go big like I did. I'm in college paying tuition and rent and I just set up a 90 gallon :) Nah I'm just kidding.. I wouldn't recommend it.. I can barely feed myself right now.

lol If i do a 90 gallon it will be a large fish tank with a lionfish :mrgreen: . I am staying at my grandparents house so i dont want to go toobig. After I got a steady job i will go huge.