Advice on lighting for 55 gal tank...do I have this right?

keqwow · 01-01-2005, 07:52 PM

Okay...so as many of you know by now, I am just starting out...but I am in the mindset that I want to start out right with good quality equipment as I'm looking into the future. I have a 55 gal tank....typical 48" long, and about 20" tall. I am trying to figure out the lighting I am going to want now and in the future. I am still researching the various types of corals and other tank life that I am ultimately going to want, but at this point in time I definitely know I want to have a few different anenomes, a pair of clownfish and I would really like to have a clam or two (T. Crocea or T. Maxima). I know the clams need a good amount of lighting. So it is almost looking like this is the setup I am going to need and I would appreciate any input or advice:
two MH lamps either 175 or 250 watt in the 6500K or 10,000 K range (I would appreciate clearifying which for my tank and what I want in there....) along with either one 48" actinic blue fluorescent bulb and a VHO 110watt bulb. Now again, I am still learning and trying to figure all of this out...but it sounds like I'd want to run the MH lamps along with the actinic at the same time for about 6-8 hours during the day, and then have the MH turn off and run the VHO and the actinic for the rest of the day???? Do you have all lights off at night or do you leave just the actinic on at night??? I think I'm starting to get a grasp on this...but again, I'd appreciate any input and clarification.

volitansman · 01-01-2005, 08:48 PM

Generally you'll want to run the halides for 6 to 10 hours a day and the actinics for 8 to 12. A lot of people like the 10,000k bulbs, I personally prefer the XM 20,000k bulbs. The bulb choice sometimes is all up to your personal light color preference, I like the particular blue color that comes off of the XM's myself.

keqwow · 01-01-2005, 08:59 PM

Now for a 55 gallon tank is that how many bulbs I'm going to want....just the two MH, then one actinic and one VHO bulb?? If I build a canopy for these, am I also going to want to incorporate box fans into this somehow???

volitansman · 01-01-2005, 09:18 PM

I would run two 250 watt halides and one or two vho bulbs in actinic. If you build a canopy fans will be a big help in keeping tempuratures down

keqwow · 01-01-2005, 09:39 PM

Anyone have a good source for component parts for building the canopy....reflectors/ballasts/endcaps/fans/hoods etc.???

Mrs Smith · 01-01-2005, 11:00 PM

Check out www.hellolights.com , but do price shop

My other favorite component sites (for comparison - I haven't bought lighting in years, so I'm out of touch):
www.premiumaquatics.com
www.marinedepot.com
www.reeffanatic.com

And there are many others - check out the board sponsors for other.

I'd run 2 250W MH (don't waste your money on 175s). I think that 14K is a very pretty color (and you don't absolutely need VHO actinics.) I also wouldn't bother with a daylight VHO bulb if you're running MH - they'll be plenty bright. People generally only use the VHO supplementation to get the desired blueness.

We run 14K Coralvues now, although we ran 6500 Iwasakis for years (with 2 VHO actinics, 'cause 6500 is really yellow) and the growth was awesome. Lighting is sooo complicated - took me ages to finally "get" so don't feel bad. It's tricky.

MT79 · 01-02-2005, 12:11 AM

I'm running 2x250 MH w/ 14k Coralvue lamps and 2x110watt VHO actinic(46.5 inchers not the 48s on a 55gal!) on my 55gal. and I LOVE it!! Good growth and great coral coloration IMO! Heat is an issue w/ 2x250's-I have mine mounted 9" off the surface w/ a 65 cfm fan and a 32 cfm fan mounted in the canopy and my tank still runs at 84.

keqwow · 01-02-2005, 04:55 PM

So if I'm looking at retro kits to build myself up a light canopy for my 48" 55 gal tank, I will want to be getting a 46.5" reflector and bulbs....not 48"...is that correct??

MT79 · 01-02-2005, 05:05 PM

You could use the 48" reflector, not the bulbs though. 48" bulbs + endcaps= about 49.5 inches. Buying 46.5" bulbs, if you go with VHO, will allow them to fit over your tank including room for the endcaps. I used just the two MH spider reflectors mounted on each end and DIY mounted the VHO's to them. HTH and good luck.