lighting question
 

Hi

I was wondering... is there a difference in intensity of light from a 400 watt MH light VS a 8x50 watt fluorescent light? Will they have the same "water penetrating" capabilities?

Umm ya big difference. for one, theres half the wattage. MH will penatrate way further

sorry.. i meant 8x50 watts

LOL, well, thats a little different.


The MH will penatrate more, BUT, won't cover as much area. The T5's are more spread out. What are your tank size? What do you want to keep?? Also, the MH will add more heat.

I have the option of picking up either a 210 or a 125 gallon tank.... i am leaning towards the 210..

i am unsure as to what will be in the tank. i do want a reef setup though

Either way will work, but the 210 will be a 6' tank? I have seen nice T5 tanks, and my 45g is lit with 4 24W's with no issues. There is also no shimmer with T5's. Well, very little. I like the shimmer myself.
T5 are a little more ecconomical on electricity, but require more in bulbs
MH less yearly bulb cost, but more heat, and usually little more power.
T5's can cover longer distances
MH usually only light a 2'x2' area. So, a 4' tank will require 2 MH fixtures.

Depth of tank is also a factor. Chan ces are, you only need 250W MH's not 400's. So 2 250W on a 4' tank. I have 1 250 and 2 150's on my 5' at the moment. Upgrading to 3 250's tho.

the dimensions of the tank are 7'x2'x2

i dont really want to go the MH route. any suggestions on a set up using the florescent lighting?

You'll need 3 MH, or most likely 12 T5's 6 4' and 6 2' Odd length tanks like ours can be difficult to light. Either way, its going to be costly. Now if you have a canopy, you could start with 4 of each T5, then later, add 2 of each more, or even 4. Depends on what you keep in it. I originally started with a 45g FOWLR, but didnt last long. LPS and softies I said. Now, Im venturing into light loving SPS

Since it's 24" wide, you might be able to use a whack of 24" T5 HOs lined up along the width vice the length as is done traditionally. This could even open up opportunities for progressive on/off scheduling to simulate dawn/midday/dusk. You'd need a number of ballasts on timers though, but doable I'd say, using retro fit parts & individual reflectors.

unfortunately.. no canopy. the tank is topless

I like Topless :D Tanks too LOL

But there are nice T5 pendants too. A couple manufactures make 3' fixtures, but I think the bulb selection now gets limilited. You might be better ogg looking into a MH/T5 combo. theres a bunch out ther. usually house 3 250W MH with T5 suppliments. AND, they look nice too.


Next, and most important question, what is your lighting budget? Good 6' combo run inm the neighbourhood of $1000+

there is also the opportunity for the 125 gallon tank.
here is what the ad says

Standard 125g aquarium, almost a year old. Thick glass, no scratches/chips/cracks. Good seal, never leaked, dimensions 72"x18"x24". comes with a wood stand that is also a year old.

Only problem is one of the glass hoods has some cracks from the heat of the metal halides i was using, it still holds so as long as you dont put any weight on it. The other one just has some of the plastic warped from the heat of the halide but theyre always replaceable. Otherwise everything is in great shape and was bought brand new a year ago

Looking for $450 firm, as low as i can go. I will throw in a Fluval Heater as well. I have 2 metal halide units for sale (2x65w power compact, 1x250w halide)(1x150w halide, 2x39w T5) that i will throw in for $250. Will sell them seperate, $200 for the 250w halide and $125 for the 150w

Oct.9/09- Really need it gone, will throw in a Fluval heater and Lifegard fluidized bed filter in the deal

the 210 gallon is 600# comes with overflow, sump and stand only. not top, lighting ect.

any thoughts on what i should go for?

Personally, the 210. The 125 is not bad, but its really narrow, 17" You'll find, once you add rock, theres no swimming room. I'd only use a narrow tank for like a room devider, peninsula style. And even then. My 150 is 5'x2'x2'. I 20" is as narrow as I would personaly go.

I'd imagine the 210 is 6' too. I was mistaken, thought you said 7' long tank. not 72"(6')

the 125 will take the same MH as the 210 to light, but less T5 due to the width. With MH, you'll have more spillover on the 125

it is a 7 foot tank.. those are the dimensions (7'x2'x2') they gave me.. i also have some pics... not sure if it will help or not

http://sn125w.snt125.mail.live.com/a...18D84B199E50||

http://sn125w.snt125.mail.live.com/a...18D84B199E50||

Pictures dont work, can't link directly from your email

hope this works