birds nest - Page 2

hng · 06-20-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindsgoneawol

24W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent work? haven't figured out the actually wattage yet.. sps, clams, anenomes are what i am after.. although some of the soft coral is on my list also..

660 Electronic Ballast gives me 440 watts to play with.. but i don't want too much light and well.. since the electric co is doubling rates.. i don't want to get too wastefull.. you think 3 54watt would be a good start or would i need more?

That ATI bulb is exactly what I would use. I wouldn't recommend the Ice Cap ballast for you since they do overdrive the bulbs and that would be too much light for such a shallow tank. You also really couldn't use 54 watt bulbs since those are 48 inches long and a standard 29 gallon tank is around 30 inches long (wasting a lot of light). Personally, I would keep the old fixture and just add another one or two bulbs and make those actinics so you would get a nice dawn/dusk effect, but still plenty of PAR. That would also give you more than enough light for your anemones and clams!

icebear · 06-20-2007, 03:05 PM

wish i could have one of those, there aren't a lot of the hard corals i like, but the somewhat random growth directions of those are pretty appealing to me.

Mindsgoneawol · 06-20-2007, 03:59 PM

oops.. guess i didn't see the bulb lengths.. lol.. what ballast would you suggest?

i don't mind redoing the lighting on the 29 gallon to be honest.. i have 2 10 gallon tanks i am going to move into 2 20L's (1 for my yellow tail damsel) and my daughters tank.. my daughters want clownfish anyway.. i can use the 10's for refuges.. i can give my clowns to them and get me some that i know will be all up and in anenomes.. i know the LFS's i normally go to usually have some clowns and anenomes together and most hosting.

oh well.. i do need to prioritize anyway.. i still need almost a 100 lbs of rock for my tank and to help out my sister in starting hers.. lol.. get the 20L's drilled and the 10's drilled and finish my stand.. i can order parts here and there until i am ready to get it all together.. i only have 5 more months in this apartment then i am moving again.. so maybe by then..

hng · 06-20-2007, 04:56 PM

Are you planning on keeping the 29 for the anemone tank or do you plan on upgrading to a bigger tank? If you are sticking with the 29 and want to add more light, then the ballast linked below will do just fine. You will need to get wires from Home Depot/Lowes/Radio Shack and the endcaps and reflectors from reefgeek.com. If you plan on moving to a bigger tank, then an Ice Cap ballast would be a good choice because of the ability to upgrade to longer lamps without having to get a new ballast.

http://www.ballastwise.com/item.asp?...FID=15&level=1

Mindsgoneawol · 06-21-2007, 05:12 AM

thank you for the link.. bookmarked!!! its going to be a very long time before i can upgrade.. this will work good for me and won't break me at the same time.. in the distant future i plan on 2 tanks.. 1 220 fowlr and a 90 or 220 reef.. the latter i haven't decided on just yet.. all depends if i can find a real job and what i learn taking care of my critters..

and again.. thank you for the help.. i am truely greatful..