Min lighting for corals

rudy · #1 08-02-2005, 02:05 PM

My tank is new so I am not going to attempt this for quite some time.

I have 108 6 foot by 18 inch tank. My original thought was a FOWLR tank however my wife really likes the corals and wants me to get a few at least. What kinds of corals are realtively easy to keep? What kind of things should I look for and most of all what kind of lighting will I require?

I do not want to blow the bank on lighting so pretty much looking for a minimum acceptable to grow corals with.

Thanks a lot.

mr_alberta · #2 08-02-2005, 02:13 PM

Is 18" the height of the tank? Do you like to DIY? You save a lot of money that way.

rudy · #3 08-02-2005, 02:14 PM

18 is the width. I think 20 is the height.

DIY will work. I got some time to make it right.

mr_alberta · #4 08-02-2005, 02:27 PM

You may consider a trio of 175W metal halides...the cost difference isn't too much between MH and VHO/PC and you'll get longer bulb life and a more versatile lighting setup.

JMO.

rudy · #5 08-02-2005, 02:32 PM

Can you explain? Are those the hanging fixtures?

Where do you get them

mr_alberta · #6 08-02-2005, 02:42 PM

No, they are not a hanging fixture. I assumed you were mounting lights in a canopy?

What you would need is:
1x6' reflector
3xmogul socket
3x175W bulbs
3x175W MH ballasts (get these from an electrical wholesaler and wire yourself)

Saltysteve · #7 08-02-2005, 02:51 PM

I agree, go Metal Halide. The only way you will break the bank, is by buying another light because you will only upgrade to MH later!

Invigor · #8 08-02-2005, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltysteve

I agree, go Metal Halide. The only way you will break the bank, is by buying another light because you will only upgrade to MH later!

so true

blood_hound · #9 08-02-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Invigor

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saltysteve

I agree, go Metal Halide. The only way you will break the bank, is by buying another light because you will only upgrade to MH later!

so true

yeah I agree... Since I had a first hand experience in breaking the bank just for lighting.. I have to change lighting set up 3 times first I had PC then I want more coral so I go with T5 lots of it then I want more corals so I have to upgrade to MH which I should have done in the first place....

So just go with MH since you'll never knew what will you want in your tank in the future.

Invigor · #10 08-02-2005, 03:33 PM

and if you go MH, you can "upgrade" from that when it's time to change bulbs. Since you have to buy bulbs anyways, you can just add in a few new ballasts and do 250w later in life and the rest of the hardware is already wired in.