Lighting help please
 

Hi everyone,

I have just purchased a 29G tank (30.25"L x 12.5"W x 18.75"H) and was trying to figure out a nice lighting solution for it. I plan on having an anenome of some sort some time in the future, so I would like some stronger lighting.

I was thinking about getting 175w MH but I am concerned about the heat. I also looked into a 2x96w PC kit but that is very expensive. Then I saw some t5 bulbs and they seemed promising, but I don't know much about them. What type of lighting would you fellow reefers suggest I look into?

Thanks.

Anenomes are trick at the best of times, I'd warn you against them until you have alot of experience.
In a small tank you have alot of options as far as lighting, it really depends on what you want to keep. My set up is lit by 6x55w PC's, & I find it is only enough to make softies really happy. My LPS are alive but I know they could do alot better. If i had it all to do over, I would save my money for MH's (250W or greater), or get a full VHO set up as I like the color alot better than PC's.
Heat is a problem that will plague you no matter what. I'm installing a free-standing AC asap for this summer. If that doesn't work I'll be getting a chiller for my next set-up.
:onfire:

I would go with the Halides/VHO combo. I have a 30gal cube with one 175watt 10k and 2 18" overdriven actinic. I have no problems with SPS with that lighting. The Halides are your best bet, around the same $$ as PC, but way more light. Your corals will thank you. :smile:

Clinton

Re: Lighting help please
 

We have a 175w 6500k halide on our 42 hex. When I first lit it up on the tank, I placed it directly on the tank's glass cover. Temp rose 2 degrees F in about an hour :eek:

Needed a quick, low tech solution to raise the halide off the glass, so I got out DH's HUGE box of Lego and made inserts that raised the light 2" from the tank's glass. Temp in the tank still rises 2 degrees F, but it now takes all day to do so, which is no problem as far as I'm concerned :cool:

Newguy's tank is only 18" deep and a 250w halide would be overkill on a tank that shallow. 175w would be just fine for his tank, imo.

No such thing as overkill!! I ran 2 400w 10k bulbs over my 18" tank. If clams/SPS are the intended inhabitants, more is always better. Bigger bulbs do bring heat managements issues though, so be prepared to deal with that.

Holy cr*p, Brad :eek:

Thanks for the replies everyone. I saw this nice setup on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ...324229035&rd=1

but I'm weary of buying anything off of Ebay...seems awfully cheap to me...

I was also thinking about going with a VHO setup...maybe 2x75w? I've changed my mind about the anenome and I most likely will just stick to keeping it simple for now (Zoo's, Softies, maybe LPS later on when I get more experience). So, I think that the 2x75w VHO bulbs should work. I can get that setup for ~$300 at JL. What do you fellow reefers think?

Also, what is the difference between TAR and Electronic Ballasts? Thanks again for the help!

Bev, it isn't really all that much. Heat is the only issue (and cost of setup).

if you diy your setup with J&L parts, i bet you could get it for not far from the VHO price. i may be totally wrong, but i would look into it if i were you.

Teevee is right, if your handy at all you should be able to build your whole setup with a halide for the $300. I just finished making my Stainless Stell hood and the total cot was less than $300 including the Stainless. :cool:

Clinton

How does this look:

MH Ballast (PFO Lighting TAR) - $109
MH Bulb Socket (Mogul) - $13.95
Mounting Bracket - $18.95
8' Quick Disconnect Cord - $11.95
175w Mogul Base MH Bulb (10000K) - $114
-----------
Total = $267.85

OR

2 Bulb VHO Lighting Ballast Kit - $189.95
24" 75w Super Acintic VHO bulb - $32.95
24" 75w 10000K VHO bulb - $35.95
-----------
Total = $258.85

Both are using parts and prices from JL. Both systems seem very good. What I'm worried about is whether or not I need to add an acintic bulb to the MH since I read that corals do better with Acintic.

Again, thanks to everyone for their replies!

personally i'm going with dual 400w 10k halides over my 150, which is going to be focused on SPS. i'm going to leave enough room in the canopy so that if i decide i want actinics, i can add them later. maybe that is also an option for you.

Are either of those quotes including reflectors?

The smaller footprint of your tank (~30x12") may lend itself better to VHO or PC as these bulbs are typically mounted lengthwise and sold with reflectors that will take better advantage of a smaller tank.

The studies done with MH bulbs and reflectors refer to a spread of approx. 2' by 2' and reflect their suitability for use on larger tanks.

It's not a rule, but a guideline. The front-to-back spread from most MH will be more than you can use with your tank, IMO.

Neither of the quotes include reflectors. That is pretty interesting info there AJ_77. I'll take that into consideration.

No trouble. Do a search here on the term "MH reflector" and you'll get some good reading, a page or so of threads.

Do the same search at Reef Central and you'll be there for weeks...

Good luck!

lighting
 

have you thought about the round pendants? they look ok and easy to adjust for height to compensate for heat when that becomes an issue.

Re: lighting
 

I have, but since I live in an apartment, I really don't want to be drilling and putting hooks in the ceiling. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Here is the new hood i just finished building for under $300.

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/winger9/hood1

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/winger9/hood2

Clinton

:eek:

That looks great! Where did you get the sheet metal for the canopy? You built that all for under $300? Are those VHO or just NO flourescents?

It's stainless steel, got it from metal supermarket. It will be polished when i get around to it. :mrgreen: The bulbs are overdriven NO's, there driven off a Advanced ballast (128watts, not sure what the bulbs are actully running at) now but i'll be replacing it with a workhorse5 soon as they are only $38 or so. Only took 2 hours to build, would have taken 2 days with wood. :razz:

Clinton

Very nice! :cool:

Where are you getting your workhorse ballast from?

Ordering it from Calgary, Brite Lite has them.

Clinton

hey Clinton you could try Electrical Wholesalers in Edmonton, the're just opposite Costco in the west end on 149 st. Last time I was there they had some workhorse 5 and 6 in stock. Might be cheaper :smile:

John

I forgot to ask...
 

With MH bulbs, do you need to put a piece of glass or something to block the UV rays? I thought I heard something like that somewhere...