I need help with a new tank

[Skimmerking]

there is nothing wrong with MH over a 36" tank

[Myka]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

there is nothing wrong with MH over a 36" tank

A single MH bulb only covers a 24x24" patch at the best of times, if you use something like a Lumenarc reflector then you can get it to stretch about 30". UNLESS you raise the reflector really high, then you can get it to spread across the 36", but you would have lost so much PAR by raising it so high that it is pointless, and a waste of electricity. You need two MH bulbs to effectively cover a 36" tank, but you'd roast a tank this small by doing that, not to mention the cost.

For all these reasons, I suggest that a T5 setup would be a better choice.

[fkshiu]

I cover a 6' tank with two Lumenmax pendants no problem, but my lights are a little higher up (~10") off the water to provide a greater spread. I don't see any significant loss in growth and, if anything, this has cut down on salt spray/splashing on the reflectors as well as heat.

This setup allows me to put my clams/sps directly under while I put the LPS off to the edges more given the difference in intensity. Whatever the case there's still plenty of light to go around.

[Myka]

It really depends what kinds of corals he wants to keep. If he doesn't want to keep SPS, then there's another reason why T5's would be a better choice. I have the exact same tank, and I struggle with heating issues just with 2x39W T5s, I can't imagine how bad it would be with a MH. There is no way I would put a MH over my 33g.

[nano-man]

well,I've run a 33gal on a 250mh and not one problem as for heat.On the other hand most reefers may agree the smaller the system the faster the changes . Now not to scare you away, read as much as you can go to LFS's ask questions go to other sites on the web, and lastly dont let frustration and failuer beat you down. All of us started right where you are now, and still don't have all the answers,and fail with all the info and experance

[VFX]

+1 for Metal Halides if you want to keep LPS or SPS or clams.

My Nano - 34 Gallons - 150w HQI Metal Halide - 3 Power Heads - No Over Heating Problems.
.

[Myka]

What the heck?? Why aren't you guys getting heating issues??? What kind of powerheads do you have? Maybe it's my powerheads, and not the lights...