help a 150g newb - let's do this reef together

[jon in alberta]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I really appreciate it.

I am just finishing off the plumbing and starting to think about lighting. I have to buy new stuff, and am 99% convinced I want to go with LED (I know they are expensive).

Here is the question: how many do I need? Specifically, I am looking at the Radion LEDs - what should I be thinking about? Does the watts/gallon apply with LEDs? ... advice please.

[jon in alberta]

Originally Posted by jon in alberta

Specifically, I am looking at the Radion LEDs - what should I be thinking about? Does the watts/gallon apply with LEDs? ... advice please.

quoting myself ... ok?

So I am about to buy the Vertex Illumina 200 series 48" fixture (for my 60" tank). I hope that will be enough light down the road.

yikes! they are expensive ... but worth it IMO.

[jon in alberta]

anyone know any good references for aquascaping?

I have 100+ lbs of Marco live rock (dry) and am planing to add it to the aquarium before adding water. Will still need some living (cured?) rock to seed the aquarium.

please share you advice or what you might change.

Cheers

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by jon in alberta

anyone know any good references for aquascaping?

I have 100+ lbs of Marco live rock (dry) and am planing to add it to the aquarium before adding water. Will still need some living (cured?) rock to seed the aquarium.

please share you advice or what you might change.

Cheers

put it in and play with it and play some more until you like it., on my 240 i went with pillars. But you are limited to have what type of corals to grow on the rocks so I went back to leaning the rock in a wall like.

[lastlight]

What's the consensus with LED with regards to glass center braces? Is he ok to place one over that massive brace? Otherwise his scape might be somewhat dictated by that brace...

[jon in alberta]

Originally Posted by lastlight

What's the consensus with LED with regards to glass center braces? Is he ok to place one over that massive brace? Otherwise his scape might be somewhat dictated by that brace...

Thanks Brett,

I was just thinking the same thing tonight as I was working on the tank. The Vertex has the lights evenly spaced across the fixture. That would mean the middle lights would be obscured by my brace.

Does it make a difference? (the glass in the way). If so, I should go for the Radions and put them on either side of the glass brace, huh?

Jon

[lastlight]

With halides of course the heat issues would almost force you to use 2 lights and scape with two towers with a center valley. I'm asking not so much about the light penetration but the safety of have the LEDs over the glass brace. I'm thinking it would be ok as the fixtures are all designed to draw most of the heat out the top right?