Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > New to the Hobby

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-04-2005, 07:02 AM
megatron_55's Avatar
megatron_55 megatron_55 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 199
megatron_55 is on a distinguished road
Default MH lighting vs. PC?Need help

Hey guys . . quick question . . I really need help on this one. Now I have a 27 gallon (long) reef tank about . . . 12-13 inches deep. I am currently running it under coralife 2 - 96 watt PC (192 watts = 1-96watt actinic 1-96 watt 10000k). I really really want to be able to keep colorful acroporas and blue maxima's. Now i'm thinking of getting the coralife pro (includes 1 - 150watt MH + 2-55 watt actinic PC) now is that too much light? would heat be a factor? Should I keep the PC's or switch to halide's??? HELP!!! Any info would be appreciated
__________________
\"Money can\'t buy happiness\" . . . . Sure Helps ThO\'
  #2  
Old 01-04-2005, 12:48 PM
Invigor's Avatar
Invigor Invigor is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Regina
Posts: 905
Invigor is on a distinguished road
Default

being an aqualight i'm sure it comes with those mountable legs which put it about 3" above the water..but in a 27 that still might be too close.

what you could do if you're a handyman is do a DIY MH canopy with a 150w hqi or something and make it a tall canopy with fans, then you should be ok. if you get say a 14000k MH bulb you won't need actinc pcs, thus reducing more heat.

and with your pcs you currently have you have 6.8watts/gal which is quite a bit, and since your tank is only 12-13" high, the pcs should still be able to penetrate good enough for acros. someone else will have to say about the maxima, but I don't know much about them other than they need hella light.
  #3  
Old 01-04-2005, 01:51 PM
StirCrazy's Avatar
StirCrazy StirCrazy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 7,872
StirCrazy is on a distinguished road
Default

a 150 watt MH will work good on there. I don't know what the concern about 3" off the water is as I have never seen those but I assume they have a splash shield which would make that distance no problem.

the PAR value of a 96 watt MH is no where near that of a normal 175 watt MH so a 150 MH will definitely allow you to keep more and get better results.

Steve
__________________
*everything said above is just my opinion, and may or may not reflect the views of this BBS, its Operators, and its Members. If cornered on any “opinion” I post I will totally deny having ever said this in a Court of Law…Unless I am the right one*

Some strive to be perfect.... I just strive.
  #4  
Old 01-04-2005, 02:45 PM
Invigor's Avatar
Invigor Invigor is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Regina
Posts: 905
Invigor is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by StirCrazy
I don't know what the concern about 3" off the water is as I have never seen those but I assume they have a splash shield which would make that distance no problem.
more room for heat dissipation
  #5  
Old 01-04-2005, 03:37 PM
megatron_55's Avatar
megatron_55 megatron_55 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Delta, BC
Posts: 199
megatron_55 is on a distinguished road
Default Halides or PC?

So should I stick with my PC's for now?? I know as a fact that I can keep acroporas in my tank. . My main question is . . is there enough light provided in order for acro's to keep its colors??? (7.2 watt's per gallon PC's) Anyone have PC's and able to keep colorful acro's??? LMK! Also, does anyone know where I could get a canopy which holds halides and includes fans?? Still need help =( What would you guys reccomend??? Thanks a million
__________________
\"Money can\'t buy happiness\" . . . . Sure Helps ThO\'
  #6  
Old 01-04-2005, 05:55 PM
Invigor's Avatar
Invigor Invigor is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Regina
Posts: 905
Invigor is on a distinguished road
Default

find someone to make one for you

then it'll be exactly what you want. canopies are easy to make and mh supplies are easy to come by
  #7  
Old 01-05-2005, 12:55 AM
StirCrazy's Avatar
StirCrazy StirCrazy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Kamloops, BC
Posts: 7,872
StirCrazy is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Invigor
Quote:
Originally Posted by StirCrazy
I don't know what the concern about 3" off the water is as I have never seen those but I assume they have a splash shield which would make that distance no problem.
more room for heat dissipation
it is going to be a open top. not a issue.

Steve
__________________
*everything said above is just my opinion, and may or may not reflect the views of this BBS, its Operators, and its Members. If cornered on any “opinion” I post I will totally deny having ever said this in a Court of Law…Unless I am the right one*

Some strive to be perfect.... I just strive.
  #8  
Old 01-05-2005, 06:50 PM
AJ_77's Avatar
AJ_77 AJ_77 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Calgary NW
Posts: 2,772
AJ_77 is on a distinguished road
Default

Another option: Get the hanging kit for the Aqualight pro and suspend it at a height that will give you enough spread from the single 150 MH. If it sits at only 3" up you may not get light to the sides of your long 27gal.

A hanging MH canopy is a beautiful thing.
What are the tank dimensions?
__________________
----------------------
Alan
 


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.