tank in wall??

[Blue]

Hello all i have lighting question im putting and 80 gallon tank in the wall ill post a pic so you can get a better idea of the set up my question is above the tank should i close it in or get a nice fixture to hang above it what would look best and what lighting should i use i know i want MH but i dont know what set up the tank is 80 gallons and ill be keeping softies LPS and clams so please help me ive posted on other boards and got poor results i was thinking about using and aqua space light i might even still close it in with the fixture simply because i want the built in look but any and all suggestions would be greatly apreciated, oh the tank is going where the plant is sitting now after the tanks in there there will be 21 inches above it.
Thanks,
BLue

[big t]

Well if your house is airconditioned, I would go with this setup from premium aquatics http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...gory_Code=PFOr It is a 2 250 watt iwasaki 65k w/ PFO ballast for $365. Then get some fans and close that sucker in and add some vho actenics to finish it off and you will be able to keep anything you want in that baby, so once that SPS bug bites all you will need is a calcium reactor.

[Casie]

Because you are going to be installing it in a closed piece of furniture I would highly suggest that you go URI VHO. Not having to worry with the baking heat of MHs, is going to be a definite plus!

And don't think that you will have to strickly limit your coral selections to low light varieties. I don't know if you have seen Garf's website but they use only VHO lighting and have some amazing SPSs. I'll admit, I have no idea what clams require to be happy. Maybe one of the other TRT peeps can give ya the skinny on their lighting needs.

Great VHO reef thread here!

[Blue]

Big t
I have seen that set up and almost bought it but i just dont like the heat factor. I have thought of going maybe will dual 175 watt halides though whould that be ok? I was thinking if i did 175 watters with 10k halides i could get buy with just dual 40 watt NO actinics.

Casie

I truley feel VHo would be a great option as well but i dont think i will be able to keep any clam under this lighting im not worried about SPS because i have another tank for it. Yall may be wondering why i dont put the clam in the sps tank well this tank im setting up is for my parents house. my mother like the LPs and soft corals and all my father can say is i want one of them clams so that is the reason but if i can keep a clam or two under VHO that whould be great but i really do like the glittery lines you get from halides well let me know what yall think.
THanks,
Blue
PS: thanks for the quick responses

[GeoJoe]

Here's a pic of my in-wall tank, but I'm lucky - the laundry room is on the other side for easy access.

2 5' VHO's. 2 175 MH's

[cath]

Hey Blue! That looks like it will be a sweet set up!

and WOW, GeoJoe....what a great portrait of the little one there gazing at your beeeeutiful tank!

[Geoff]

i guess i would like a little more info on the location. how much room do you have behind the aquarium? how are you going to gain access to sump/refugium/whatever? how strong is that shelf you are goint to put the tank on? where are the ballasts going?

i like info. heat will be an issue regardless of the lights you use, watts=heat. some are pinpoint sources and others are distributed. in an enclosed area you will need to get the hot air out. i have found that if i draw the heat out of the canopy instead of blowing the air into the canopy the tank stays cooler. i have 2 400w MH and 2 160w VHO's and i only get a rise of 3 degrees. with less light you should be able to keep the temp even more stable.

G~

[David Grigor]

Originally posted by Geoff
i like info. heat will be an issue regardless of the lights you use, watts=heat. some are pinpoint sources and others are distributed. G~

I would agree that wasted energy equals heats but not necessarily watts = heat. IE: Ballast input 168w to produce 150W of light yes the extra 18w is heat.


Another example from my recent switch from 150W MH back to VHO. Total wattage is not necessarily proportionate to tank temps. Tank volume is also a big factor.

150W MH 8" above a 37g tank with Icecap fan = 82 degrees.

4X75W VHO over the same tank with no fan and bulbs closer to the watter = 78 degrees in tank.

[Blue]

more about the location there will be about 18 behind the tank i will acess the sump and what not from below the tank just like it was n a regular stand the room is the living room to the left of the tank is a hall way or you can go past that and go in to a dining romm and then the kitchen the living room and dining room are tied together and the ceiling are vaulted the go up to the second story you can look over a wall and see everyone downstairs so the down stairs stay cool all year round. i hope that is enough info for you.

Blue

[Casey]

I think it will look great good plan Casey