lighting 4 24in deep tank?

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 06:46 PM

im thinking of getting a 56 gal column tank 30x18x24 and im wondering what kind of lighting i should get. im looking at the sun pod 30" 150 and 250watt mh for lighting and then maybe getting a t5 fixture to put actinic along with it. I have no experience with mh lights and wanting to know if i need to have the 250 watts over this deep of a tank. id like to keep lps some zoos maybe ricordia right now, but i may want to upgrade the residents in the future to clams, nems, or sps. Maybe someone could suggest another fixture that would work over the 30 inch tank. i would prefer to run t5s, but not sure which would work for this set up.

Aquarist007 · 02/04/2008, 06:47 PM

you don't need the mh's for lps coral but you will for the clams and sps corals

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 06:54 PM

can i get by with the 150 watts?

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 07:04 PM

any one got pics of their lighting over a 56 gal column?

kremit2007 · 02/04/2008, 07:09 PM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12521640@N05/2211284348/

This is a picture of my lighting in a 46g. bowfront. It isn't the 56g. column but it is about 24" deep. I have a Satellite PC dual actinic and dual daylight bulbs. It is made by current USA and gives pretty good lighting, Im happy with it although I would like a little bit more blue tint to it.

Might as well. Anybody have any suggestions on getting more blue tint into the aquarium? Should I take apart the ballast and install a more powerful dual actinic bulb or are the little add on lights which can achieve the same affect, relatively speaking that is?

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 07:13 PM

little more help please?

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 07:38 PM

im doin a little dance how bout a little advice? should i post this in a different spot?

kremit2007 · 02/04/2008, 07:41 PM

cubsfan...any suggestions on my tank? haha, I wouldn't post it anywhere else...wait and repost it tomorrow when maybe more people will be on

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 07:45 PM

check out putting one of those dual bulb t5 fixtures from current-usa on there maybe take out the 10000k and put in another actinic and put it in front of your other fixture. theyre on sale at drs foster and smith

kremit2007 · 02/04/2008, 07:49 PM

Really? I dont know that the tank is deep enough to have two ballasts that size. Hmm..

mike126 · 02/04/2008, 08:22 PM

You could use t5 like a 4x54 i have clams in my tank that are doing great, they are on the sand bed of my 55g

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 10:34 PM

can a 4 bulb t5 fixture work with a 24 inch deep tank 18 inches wide? i would prefer to use t5s I need a fixture that can be mounted on top of my canopy and havent been able to find any with more than four bulbs 30' long

MTB · 02/04/2008, 11:22 PM

Might need to get two T-5 fixtures?. Personally, I'd go with a 10-12k 250w halide with a couple T-5's for actinic supplements. I'd even get retro fit kits where ever possible to save some $.

cubsFAN · 02/04/2008, 11:44 PM

heat will be an issue as i dont have ac as is money. i dont want to hang from the ceiling and i havent been able to find or design a canopy for this tank that is convenient as far as getting into this deep of a tank (im not very tall) for frequent water changes and maintenance. filtration will be hob skimmer and power filter to run carbon and maybe phos-ban(never used but read good things) any suggestions are appreciated.

02/04/2008, 06:46 PM	#1
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	lighting 4 24in deep tank? im thinking of getting a 56 gal column tank 30x18x24 and im wondering what kind of lighting i should get. im looking at the sun pod 30" 150 and 250watt mh for lighting and then maybe getting a t5 fixture to put actinic along with it. I have no experience with mh lights and wanting to know if i need to have the 250 watts over this deep of a tank. id like to keep lps some zoos maybe ricordia right now, but i may want to upgrade the residents in the future to clams, nems, or sps. Maybe someone could suggest another fixture that would work over the 30 inch tank. i would prefer to run t5s, but not sure which would work for this set up.

02/04/2008, 06:47 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	you don't need the mh's for lps coral but you will for the clams and sps corals __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/04/2008, 07:09 PM	#5
kremit2007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 142	http://www.flickr.com/photos/12521640@N05/2211284348/ This is a picture of my lighting in a 46g. bowfront. It isn't the 56g. column but it is about 24" deep. I have a Satellite PC dual actinic and dual daylight bulbs. It is made by current USA and gives pretty good lighting, Im happy with it although I would like a little bit more blue tint to it. Might as well. Anybody have any suggestions on getting more blue tint into the aquarium? Should I take apart the ballast and install a more powerful dual actinic bulb or are the little add on lights which can achieve the same affect, relatively speaking that is? __________________ Eric Current Tank Info: 46 g. beginner Reef system with, Xenia Corals,Hairy Mushrooms, Rhodactus Mushrooms, RPE polyps and other Misc. Polyps, Green Torch Coral, and a White Finger Coral.

02/04/2008, 07:41 PM	#8
kremit2007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 142	cubsfan...any suggestions on my tank? haha, I wouldn't post it anywhere else...wait and repost it tomorrow when maybe more people will be on __________________ Eric Current Tank Info: 46 g. beginner Reef system with, Xenia Corals,Hairy Mushrooms, Rhodactus Mushrooms, RPE polyps and other Misc. Polyps, Green Torch Coral, and a White Finger Coral.

02/04/2008, 07:49 PM	#10
kremit2007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 142	Really? I dont know that the tank is deep enough to have two ballasts that size. Hmm.. __________________ Eric Current Tank Info: 46 g. beginner Reef system with, Xenia Corals,Hairy Mushrooms, Rhodactus Mushrooms, RPE polyps and other Misc. Polyps, Green Torch Coral, and a White Finger Coral.

02/04/2008, 06:54 PM	#3
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	can i get by with the 150 watts?

02/04/2008, 07:04 PM	#4
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	any one got pics of their lighting over a 56 gal column?

02/04/2008, 07:13 PM	#6
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	little more help please?

02/04/2008, 07:38 PM	#7
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	im doin a little dance how bout a little advice? should i post this in a different spot?

02/04/2008, 07:45 PM	#9
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	check out putting one of those dual bulb t5 fixtures from current-usa on there maybe take out the 10000k and put in another actinic and put it in front of your other fixture. theyre on sale at drs foster and smith

02/04/2008, 08:22 PM	#11
mike126 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 122	You could use t5 like a 4x54 i have clams in my tank that are doing great, they are on the sand bed of my 55g __________________ WHY YOU MAD!!? Current Tank Info: 4ft 120g 4x54w aqua c skimmer

02/04/2008, 10:34 PM	#12
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	can a 4 bulb t5 fixture work with a 24 inch deep tank 18 inches wide? i would prefer to use t5s I need a fixture that can be mounted on top of my canopy and havent been able to find any with more than four bulbs 30' long

02/04/2008, 11:22 PM	#13
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Might need to get two T-5 fixtures?. Personally, I'd go with a 10-12k 250w halide with a couple T-5's for actinic supplements. I'd even get retro fit kits where ever possible to save some $. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

02/04/2008, 11:44 PM	#14
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	heat will be an issue as i dont have ac as is money. i dont want to hang from the ceiling and i havent been able to find or design a canopy for this tank that is convenient as far as getting into this deep of a tank (im not very tall) for frequent water changes and maintenance. filtration will be hob skimmer and power filter to run carbon and maybe phos-ban(never used but read good things) any suggestions are appreciated.