Lighting Question

[fraggle]

Right now I have 55g tank, and I want to make sure I get the best lighting I can get. I can't do MH yet. I have 2 "light holders". 1 of them is 2 lights deep the other is 1 light deep. So, I would be able to have 3 different lights. What shoudl I get?

Thanks! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

It really depends on what you are going to have in your tank, but since it seems your question asks what the best (strongest?) light you can (should) get for your aquarium without having metal halides, I would recommend either VHO (Very High Output) fluorescent tubes or PC (Power Compact) tubes with an appropriate ballast. Ice Cap 660 is what I use with a 4 bulb VHO system. I also found metal halides to be cost prohibitive. (Although heat output is a concern as well)

I can't recommend specific bulbs or wattages because you didn't give your tank and canopy dimensions.

 

[fraggle]

I am not sure of the dimensions off hand, but it is a standard 55g

 

[Entacmaea]

Go MH, yes it is more expensive up front, but I guarantee you will want to convert eventually! Doing it now you will actully save money...

 

[fraggle]

how much will that cost me?

 

[Anonymous]

Do this first. Get a small tank, 5 gallons, 10 gallons, whatever. Put a small amount of sand in it, a few rocks. Now take it out in the sunlight and fill it with water. Notice how it looks. VHO and PC's will NOT look like this. They look like fake office lights - albiet much brighter. For some reason some hobbiests have gotten used to a fake, blue, flourescent look to their tanks.
It's personal preference, but I like may tanks to look natural.
The exception is the 7 gallon nano on my desk here at work. I love it, and it's lit by PC's for practicalities sake. Nobody would ever mistake it for sunlight though.
MH is all I use on my other tanks.
Jim

 

[fraggle]

I would like to do it. But I have no idea where to start....

 

[Entacmaea]

For a standard 55 with one(?) center brace, the premiere lighting for this tank would be, in my opinion, 2 150 watt HQI 10K pendants, with 2 110watt VHO actinic bulbs on an icecap 660. This will run you about $800-$900, or if you do the pendant DIY, about $700, but will seriously rock. More economic would be 2 175 MH bulbs and 2 NO actinic, at about $400-$500. It all depends on your budget, and especially if you can buld the hood yourself, to save money...

 

[fraggle]

Where could I get that at?

 

[Entacmaea]

Before shopping, I would suggest doing a quick read of some of the reef lighting articles in the reefs library, so you can feel confidant making informed decisions. This will be a huge help as you go forward...

Hamilton Technology makes a good 150 low profile 150watt HQI pendant, or I purchased the components for my set-up through Jason at Premium Aquatics. Do a little research first into what you would like to keep in the tank, you MAY not need this type of lighting, for instance, if you are only keeping fish.