Lighting on my 50 gallon

KB2202 · 03/18/2008, 08:12 PM

I have an IceCap 175 watt Mh retrofit with 2 22 inch T-5 actinic lights running on an IceCap 660 ballast in a canopy. The tank is 36"x24"x18". What is going to grow well in my tank? I would like to grow SPS and clams if possible. I don't want to add anything if it is only going to wither away and die from insufficient lighting. I can always upgrade the ballast and bulb if I had too.

demonsp · 03/18/2008, 08:15 PM

Anything. Just place more light dependant coral higher up.

bertoni · 03/18/2008, 08:47 PM

The ends of the tank will be rather dim, I suspect, unless the fixture is raised fairly high, which will make the tank rather dim. The IceCap kits I've seen come with a Spider Light reflector, which isn't all that great. What bulb is being used?

KB2202 · 03/18/2008, 08:51 PM

The fixture is about 9" off of the surface of the water, bulb is a 10K German bulb. And yes, a Spider Light reflector. Would it be worth it to swap out the reflector and gain a little better coverage in the tank?

KB2202 · 03/18/2008, 08:53 PM

This might help as well.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~ICSPK1.html

bertoni · 03/18/2008, 09:04 PM

They don't list a brand for the bulb, so I can't say much. There are some good 175 bulbs, though. I would start saving up for a better reflector. The PFO parallel isn't too bad, and the Lumenarc modes are supposed to be excellent. This link might help:

http://www.lumenarclighting.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LA3

For the short term, the Spider isn't a disaster, and you likely could keep about any animal in the brighter areas of the tank, although at 9" up, the bottom might (or might not) be a little dim for the more demanding animals, like T. crocea.

KB2202 · 03/18/2008, 09:14 PM

Any recommendations on the brand of bulb to use?

bertoni · 03/18/2008, 09:19 PM

I like the Iwasaki 175 K bulb, and some of the Aqualine Buschke bulbs get very good reviews, too. This site has an enormous amount of data:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

KB2202 · 03/18/2008, 09:26 PM

Thanks for your help.

bertoni · 03/18/2008, 09:31 PM

You're welcome!

03/18/2008, 08:12 PM	#1
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	Lighting on my 50 gallon I have an IceCap 175 watt Mh retrofit with 2 22 inch T-5 actinic lights running on an IceCap 660 ballast in a canopy. The tank is 36"x24"x18". What is going to grow well in my tank? I would like to grow SPS and clams if possible. I don't want to add anything if it is only going to wither away and die from insufficient lighting. I can always upgrade the ballast and bulb if I had too.

03/18/2008, 08:47 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The ends of the tank will be rather dim, I suspect, unless the fixture is raised fairly high, which will make the tank rather dim. The IceCap kits I've seen come with a Spider Light reflector, which isn't all that great. What bulb is being used? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2008, 09:04 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	They don't list a brand for the bulb, so I can't say much. There are some good 175 bulbs, though. I would start saving up for a better reflector. The PFO parallel isn't too bad, and the Lumenarc modes are supposed to be excellent. This link might help: http://www.lumenarclighting.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LA3 For the short term, the Spider isn't a disaster, and you likely could keep about any animal in the brighter areas of the tank, although at 9" up, the bottom might (or might not) be a little dim for the more demanding animals, like T. crocea. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2008, 09:19 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I like the Iwasaki 175 K bulb, and some of the Aqualine Buschke bulbs get very good reviews, too. This site has an enormous amount of data: http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/ __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2008, 09:31 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/18/2008, 08:15 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Anything. Just place more light dependant coral higher up.

03/18/2008, 08:51 PM	#4
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	The fixture is about 9" off of the surface of the water, bulb is a 10K German bulb. And yes, a Spider Light reflector. Would it be worth it to swap out the reflector and gain a little better coverage in the tank?

03/18/2008, 08:53 PM	#5
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	This might help as well. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~ICSPK1.html

03/18/2008, 09:14 PM	#7
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	Any recommendations on the brand of bulb to use?

03/18/2008, 09:26 PM	#9
KB2202 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 57	Thanks for your help.