Still learning..help please.

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 10:13 AM

I'm still learning about starting a reef. Right now I'm trying to figure out what lights to get. I've been looking at 48" 4 65W VHO with lunar or a MH. I don't know anything about the MH. Can someone give me advise?

dme330i · 12-09-2004, 10:14 AM

Depends on what you want to keep. SPS, LPS, Softies, Clams?

dme330i · 12-09-2004, 10:15 AM

I finally gave in and got a double ended metal halide system and run 14K bulbs. So far I gotten away with no actinic flourscent bulbs. I have a mixed tank with all of the above.

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 10:16 AM

right now i have NO with a couple of differnt kinds of polyps and spotted mushrooms. I haven't decided. I'd like to know which light is good for which corals.

dme330i · 12-09-2004, 10:34 AM

In general:

SPS, Clams - Halides
LPS - HO, PC Lighting in most cases is sufficient
Softies (shrooms, etc) - NO Flourescent - HO Flourscent

There are always exceptions, however.

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 10:36 AM

so would VHO work for most? Thanks for your help

Lutrah · 12-09-2004, 10:39 AM

I use 3 48", 110watts each, VHO's over my 50 gallon tank. One actinic, a 50/50, and a 10,000K (couldn't make up my mind so I bought all 3). I don't have the nice shimmer of MH, but I didn't have to pay the extra cost for it either. I only keep LPS and leather's since my fish are slobs. I plan on an anemone, but right now the tank is too new.

dme330i · 12-09-2004, 10:39 AM

Should be fine for most LPS and Softies. I've seen ATLG8TR's tank and he runs VHO's (like 500Watts? in a 55). His clam and SPS seems to be okay.

I also have a 55 in my son's room with 160W of normal output lighting. Leathers, shrooms, GSP's all do fine in his tank.

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 10:42 AM

thanks for all yalls help! I think I'll stick with getting the 4 65W VHO.

Thanks again!

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 10:46 AM

Dme330i, do you know where i can get one at a good price aroud atlanta

Big Dave · 12-09-2004, 11:08 AM

I see you keep putting down "65 Watt" for VHO. You may be confused a bit - I believe you should be seeing the VHO 4 footers in 110 watts each bulb. You might double check what you're actually looking at there. HTH!

-Big Dave

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 11:10 AM

the aqualight i've been looking at says its a 4 65W bulbs which i think is a total of 260 watts. Am I looking at it wrong?

Big Dave · 12-09-2004, 11:17 AM

No, you're not looking at it wrong, but I think those bulbs are just HO(high output) and not the VHO(very HO). The VHO bulbs should be big and fat like the lights you find in an office type setting. This is just a guess, but are the bulbs you're looking at (4x65W) skinnier than that?

What size tank do you have? and are you going to stick with shrooms and softies? That may make a difference in how much light you need as well, not to mention tank depth, do you want your corals to survive or thrive?

bluegrasssweety · 12-09-2004, 11:23 AM

I haven't actually looked at the bulbs themselves. My tank is at the moment a 55 but will be a 90 in Jan. Im not sure on the corals, as of right now im gonna stick with what i have and maybe look into some hards later. Im still learning about the different types of coral. as of right now i just want what's best for the corals i have now and possibly some hards.

Big Dave · 12-09-2004, 11:33 AM

Good job doing a little research first!!

I like a tank with more movement from the corals, so I am more partial to the softies and LPS(bubbles, brains, frogspawns, etc), and not so much the SPS (fuzzy sticks). My suggestion to you, for now I would get 2 4' VHO 110W and put over your 55. You will see double the growth rate you are getting now from your NO lights. Plus, that leaves you room in the future (read as 90 gallon tank) to add more VHO or even MH lighting depending on what kind of corals you decide you want to keep. HTH!!

-Dave