Lighting needs for a 18 deep
 

For a 18 inch deep tank, what type of lighting should i be looking at to keep hardy LPS softies and polyps. I was thinking 175 watt MH with 2 55 watt PC's what do u think.

I have got a 15 inch deep tank with 3 55watt pc's and I keep softies,LPS, and some SPS and every thing is doing good. My SPS are growing like a weed :biggrin:

The only problem I got with 3 55 watt PC's are that i have a ballast for 2 55 watters so i figure if i am going to buy a light it may as well be a halide. I will probaly try to find a DED but i would like to know what kind of wattage i should be looking at. Maybe one day i will go SPS but that is 2 or 3 years down the road.

175 should do fine but a 250 balast isn't that much more. If you are going MH why not get a 250 and you will have lots of light for sps should you decide to go that way.

18" is that depth where you should look at going 250watt instead of 175watt. almost the same price and a lot more variety.

Steve

Ya i am thining of going to a tank like chads now i like his designe its 20 deep so i will definatly go to a 250 probaly 14000K and run 2 55 watt pc's with actinics in them.