Lighting for 65g? Dimensions - 36x18x24

matgilbert · 09/03/2007, 06:41 PM

Hi everybody, I need some advice on lighting. I recently acquired my 65g reef ready tank, and I'm currenlty in the process of drawing up plans for the stand and hood. Much like I'm desigining the stand around the size of the tank, I also want to get the lighting equiptment before I build the hood.

This is my first saltwater tank, and while I realize corals and such are tough to keep, you have to get started somewhere

I am going to keep smaller community fish in my tank, and I am consciously making an effort to steer away from fish that nip at coral polyps. I know lighting is important based on what kind of critters you keep in your setup, so this is why I included this info.

I am willing to spend a bit of money to have my tank ready, but I can't really decide between T5 lights or Metal Hallides. My tank dimensions are 36x18x24, and I would like to know if anybody has a tank simmilar to mine, what lights they are running, and how they have them set up (either retrofit or a premade unit).

The tank is sort of squat, so for argument's sake would two MH lights suffice for the whole tank? I hear MH lights are more intense, but I also really like the look of Flourescent atinic (sp?) lights, the cool blue hue just does it for me. Does anybody have a setup with MH lights and flourescent tubes?

davefan13 · 09/03/2007, 06:51 PM

if you go with t5s, it will possibly be a bit cheaper, but you will have to get more lights to compensate for the loss that you wouldn't be getting from the metal halides. for the metal halides, you would need to get like a seperate flourescent light or something and incorporate it into your hood as an actinic source. it would be easy . . like 10 bucks just to pick up some lights from your local home depot or similar store and put them in your hood.

matgilbert · 09/03/2007, 07:05 PM

One of the best things about speculating is that it's free! My issue is not what is cheaper, I want to know if the metal hallides are really worth the extra money. Like I said before, I want to set up the tank in a way that I won't need to worry about upgrading the lights later. Also, another big concern is the heat that MHs produce. If I do decide to go with these, I want to build in some heat ducting into the hood.

Toddrtrex · 09/03/2007, 07:17 PM

On my 58g ( which isn't as tall as a 65, but otherwise the same size ) I have a complete hood over it. It has 2*175 MH plus 2*96 PC. I am very please with it, I've had it for about 4 years now. I can't comment on a fully T5 set up since I don't have one.

Here is an older picture of it, the right hand side is bit darker because one of the MH is off.

matgilbert · 09/03/2007, 07:29 PM

Thanks todd, those corals on the right look awesome! What is the white one with the purplish tinge in the top right, closest to the two powerheads?

Toddrtrex · 09/03/2007, 08:37 PM

Thanks.

You know I am not sure what it is. It was one of my first SPS, it was just a little stick when I got it. I recently moved it into my 75 -- one of these days I am going to redo the 58.

Drock169 · 09/04/2007, 12:28 AM

Looks like a purple acropora

09/03/2007, 06:41 PM	#1
matgilbert Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 57	Lighting for 65g? Dimensions - 36x18x24 Hi everybody, I need some advice on lighting. I recently acquired my 65g reef ready tank, and I'm currenlty in the process of drawing up plans for the stand and hood. Much like I'm desigining the stand around the size of the tank, I also want to get the lighting equiptment before I build the hood. This is my first saltwater tank, and while I realize corals and such are tough to keep, you have to get started somewhere I am going to keep smaller community fish in my tank, and I am consciously making an effort to steer away from fish that nip at coral polyps. I know lighting is important based on what kind of critters you keep in your setup, so this is why I included this info. I am willing to spend a bit of money to have my tank ready, but I can't really decide between T5 lights or Metal Hallides. My tank dimensions are 36x18x24, and I would like to know if anybody has a tank simmilar to mine, what lights they are running, and how they have them set up (either retrofit or a premade unit). The tank is sort of squat, so for argument's sake would two MH lights suffice for the whole tank? I hear MH lights are more intense, but I also really like the look of Flourescent atinic (sp?) lights, the cool blue hue just does it for me. Does anybody have a setup with MH lights and flourescent tubes?

09/03/2007, 06:51 PM	#2
davefan13 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 192	if you go with t5s, it will possibly be a bit cheaper, but you will have to get more lights to compensate for the loss that you wouldn't be getting from the metal halides. for the metal halides, you would need to get like a seperate flourescent light or something and incorporate it into your hood as an actinic source. it would be easy . . like 10 bucks just to pick up some lights from your local home depot or similar store and put them in your hood. __________________ Seize the Moment Current Tank Info: 29G Freshwater Community

09/03/2007, 07:17 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	On my 58g ( which isn't as tall as a 65, but otherwise the same size ) I have a complete hood over it. It has 2175 MH plus 296 PC. I am very please with it, I've had it for about 4 years now. I can't comment on a fully T5 set up since I don't have one. Here is an older picture of it, the right hand side is bit darker because one of the MH is off. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

09/03/2007, 08:37 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Thanks. You know I am not sure what it is. It was one of my first SPS, it was just a little stick when I got it. I recently moved it into my 75 -- one of these days I am going to redo the 58. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

09/03/2007, 07:05 PM	#3
matgilbert Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 57	One of the best things about speculating is that it's free! My issue is not what is cheaper, I want to know if the metal hallides are really worth the extra money. Like I said before, I want to set up the tank in a way that I won't need to worry about upgrading the lights later. Also, another big concern is the heat that MHs produce. If I do decide to go with these, I want to build in some heat ducting into the hood.

09/03/2007, 07:29 PM	#5
matgilbert Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 57	Thanks todd, those corals on the right look awesome! What is the white one with the purplish tinge in the top right, closest to the two powerheads?

09/04/2007, 12:28 AM	#7
Drock169 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 318	Looks like a purple acropora