reef lighting help

ll62883 · 01/26/2008, 11:40 PM

My tank is 62 (length), 18 (wide) and 26 (deep) and 120 gallons. I currently have a few fish and live rock. i want to get a lighting system to support inverts and coral. I do not want to have to use a chiller and would like a lighting system that has fans built in. I would also pefer to mount it to my tank if possible (as opposed to hanging it). I ahve read alot but it is still confusing. I am reading thta the best would be a combination of compact floresent and metal halide. could someone advise on exactly what type/style light i would need to accomplish my ideal tank. I do not want to purchase lghting online without knowing the right info

derick2724 · 01/27/2008, 12:22 AM

if your tank is 26 Height then I recommend you go with 2x250w metal halide but you have to go with chiller in the summer if not use chiller just try to make your sump long so more air cool intake underneath your tank, if your tank was 24 height like everybody else tank then you can just run 4xt5's and never worry about chiller at all. good luck

atrain5851 · 01/27/2008, 01:00 AM

or you could get a pfo solaris depending on how much you want to spend... no chiller needed...comes with mounts and hanging hardware.. led lighting system no heat has the same light intensity as metal halides... it is a pretty sweet system!!!

freedominco · 01/27/2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by atrain5851
or you could get a pfo solaris depending on how much you want to spend... no chiller needed...comes with mounts and hanging hardware.. led lighting system no heat has the same light intensity as metal halides... it is a pretty sweet system!!!

Very nice lights......but at over 2 grand they better be. What do you want to have in the tank? If you are just doing soft corals you could get away with compact fluorescent but I would look in to getting a quality set of t-5 lights since you want to stay away from the MH's

tmz · 01/27/2008, 01:56 AM

Metal halide with actinic supplementation via vho actinic is going to give you the most satisfying results in terms of color and growth ,in my opinion. Check out hamilton technologies. The hamilton fixtures can be hung above the tank or placed right on top. They are tall enopugh so the light bulb sits 4 to 5 inches above the tank top. They have powerfull fans. They do generatae heat. I use them and don't have a chiller but I live in Buffalo and my home is on central air in the summer. I also run an extra fan across the open water in the sump in the summer time.

Bambalam · 01/27/2008, 02:09 AM

JMO,

MH lighting with VHO supplements is best. I have friends that have used T5 and not been real happy with their coral growth. They said the spectrum just doesn't promote growth like the MH/VHO combo.

01/26/2008, 11:40 PM	#1
ll62883 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: daytona beach, fl Posts: 9	reef lighting help My tank is 62 (length), 18 (wide) and 26 (deep) and 120 gallons. I currently have a few fish and live rock. i want to get a lighting system to support inverts and coral. I do not want to have to use a chiller and would like a lighting system that has fans built in. I would also pefer to mount it to my tank if possible (as opposed to hanging it). I ahve read alot but it is still confusing. I am reading thta the best would be a combination of compact floresent and metal halide. could someone advise on exactly what type/style light i would need to accomplish my ideal tank. I do not want to purchase lghting online without knowing the right info

01/27/2008, 01:56 AM	#5
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Metal halide with actinic supplementation via vho actinic is going to give you the most satisfying results in terms of color and growth ,in my opinion. Check out hamilton technologies. The hamilton fixtures can be hung above the tank or placed right on top. They are tall enopugh so the light bulb sits 4 to 5 inches above the tank top. They have powerfull fans. They do generatae heat. I use them and don't have a chiller but I live in Buffalo and my home is on central air in the summer. I also run an extra fan across the open water in the sump in the summer time. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

01/27/2008, 12:22 AM	#2
derick2724 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoCal, Garden Grove Posts: 273	if your tank is 26 Height then I recommend you go with 2x250w metal halide but you have to go with chiller in the summer if not use chiller just try to make your sump long so more air cool intake underneath your tank, if your tank was 24 height like everybody else tank then you can just run 4xt5's and never worry about chiller at all. good luck

01/27/2008, 01:00 AM	#3
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	or you could get a pfo solaris depending on how much you want to spend... no chiller needed...comes with mounts and hanging hardware.. led lighting system no heat has the same light intensity as metal halides... it is a pretty sweet system!!!

01/27/2008, 02:09 AM	#6
Bambalam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OH Posts: 688	JMO, MH lighting with VHO supplements is best. I have friends that have used T5 and not been real happy with their coral growth. They said the spectrum just doesn't promote growth like the MH/VHO combo.