Lighting Question

[Afterdark]

Hi All

I am putting in a 5' x 2' x 2' tank that will contain an assortment of LR, soft/hard corals, annenomes and of course a few fish. I can't decide what amount of light will be best for this setup. Origionally, I was going to opt for 2 x 250w MH (either 10K or 14K) but the more I have been reading, the more I am wondering if 2 x 400w would be better or maybe 3 x 250w for a more even light coverage. I am getting the Arcadia Series 3 which include a couple of Actinics as well for a more balanced spectrum. Would be interested wto know what people think as I need to order them in the next 2 - 3 weeks

ps I would also like to get some moonlights but that is another topic


Cheers

AD

[VWD]

The 250s or 400 will work for You, the 10 or 14 ks also, as far as the actinics with the bulbs You mention is an option for You I don't think You need them.




Vince

[Afterdark]

Cheers

They come with the actinics as standard. What makes you say I won't need them?
I think I hav enarrowed it down to a two bulb setup rather than three, more due to space than anything else. Just need to decided on teh 250w or the 400w. Aside from cost/heat, is there any reason I wouldnt want 400's? Is there such a thing as too much light?

Cheers

AD

[VWD]

Nothing wrong with using them , But I have ran 10ks with not actinics and everything was fine, the 10k and 14 ks have plenty of blues in them. but I also have friends that use them with 10 and 14 K bulbs.





Vince

[fallen]

The wattage should be about 6-8 watts/gal and it is true certain corals don't like as much light as other, but as far as actinc bulbs go, I would put them up, it's true that the regular light as that blue spectrum in it but added more of that blue spectrum will help to bring out the truer colors of your fish/corals/invert/etc

[yardboy]

Here's how I did mine, same size tank as yours.

http://home.comcast.net/~danleyjr/Lightingforthe150.htm

[VWD]

Yardboy , Very Nice



Vince

[DAC]

yeah very nice.. is that pvc you used for your hangers?

[aussiereefer82]

DAC if you read Yardboys link i think it says it is aluminium conduit. I dont think PVC would support that weight.

[yardboy]

Yes, it's aluminum conduit painted with epoxy paint to keep from corroding. The electrical supply house can bend it for you, but I had access to one at work and it took only about 5 minutes to bend it. My primary reason for using that method was because of heat, I really didn't want to have to use a chiller and haven't had to so far.

[gearbox]

AD,

I have the same Arcadia Series 3 pendants with dual 250w 14K bulbs and actincs on analogue timers, I like the actincs as they come on 1 hour before the MH and go off 1 hour after the MH, they also keep the colour balance nice (just my opinion) I have them over a Juwel Rio 300 tank which is about the same size as yours.

With regards to hanging them I bought the brakcets that come with them, but they are quite big.