Tank up grade question

[lokie]

I will move into a 180 gal long in the next 6 mos. Right now I am in the planning stage, and have questions.

1. The tank I am eyeballing is 24' deep. Will 175 watt haldies provide enough light to the bottom? I don't plan on sps on the bottom of the tank. Sps would go 8 to 10" from the top of the water. I plan on 3 175s for the 6' length.

2. Would pendant lights be better than hood mounted? How far should they be located from the top of the water? I like open tops with eggcrate. Will eggblock much light?

3. Is there a caluater that will tell me how much water will drane from the tank before the overflows stop draining? I want head room in the sump.

4. Is the extra cost of buying iron free glass woth the price bump?

5. Any pit falls you ladies and gentleman think I should be observant of?

6. Any good ways to explaine to the wife that the tank is really for her benifit, but I am willing to put up with the cost and work?

[superwizbang]

Don't think the girls go for it, but you can explain that it will lower her stress at work and see how she reacts to it! If all else fails, you can tell her how a fish will love her more than that new hand bag and much more comfortable on her feet than those new pumps she was eyeballing!


-K

[Ranran]

I have a 180 also. I keep sps and i have two 400 watt halides one on each end and a 250 watt halide in the center over my center brace. I also run two 6 ft vho,s one atinic and one 50/50. I would not recomend 175 watt halides on your tank, you will just be rebuying lights down the road.
Randy

[lokie]

I just hope my wife doesn't want a dollar per dollar trade for some useless stuff she would like. Maybe I can GIVE her the new tank for her birthday.

So 400 watt is the way to go, with a 250w in the center. Is the center dimmer with the lesser wattage?

[VWD]

She will go for that.


I agree the 250W or $00 even better on Your tank.