56 gallon tall tank

sugarridgeranch · 12/01/2009, 08:23 AM

Hi Everyone-
I have a 56 gallon tall tank... 30 wide, 18 deep, 24 tall...
I am looking into lighting. In the past I have only had FOWLR, but would love to try some easy corals- mushrooms, leathers, polyps

Wondering if (4) 24 watt t-5's would work?
Or should I go with a 150 watt MH?
Or CP floro (2) 65 watt straight pins??

Unfortunately, a 250 watt MH, isn't in the budget

If none of these lights will work, I may just wait on setting it up...
Your thoughts are appreciated!!

leeit2me · 12/01/2009, 08:30 AM

Would you consider getting a Odyssea MH lights? There is a huge thread about it. I have one and it's working fine. You can't really go wrong with this light fixture if your on a budget.

sugarridgeranch · 12/01/2009, 08:50 AM

Thanks for the info on Odyessa. I had no idea that MH could be that affordable! But, sometimes if it seems too good to be true, often it is. That being said, I guess I prefer to deal with Drs Fosters & Smith or my LFS. I know then that who I am dealing with is reliable with great customer service. I have been bitten in the butt before by going cheap. Once bitten twice shy, I guess. Burning down my house is not worth saving some $$$ IMO. I do appreciate the info though. I hadn't heard of Aqua traders before.

username in use · 12/01/2009, 09:17 AM

You could retro fit a 6 bulb t5 unit into a hood and have plenty of light with the individual reflectors and save on some heat. You should be able to fit that in the 18" foot print, and if you use 24" bulbs can stagger them left to right to get full coverage of the tank.

sugarridgeranch · 12/01/2009, 09:29 AM

If all else fails, I may just look into retro fitting. I actually have an old hood that might actually work for that...

So you think I would definatley need more than (4) 24 watt T-5's? I kind of figured that I might, even for softies, since the tank is 24" deep..

Juruense · 12/01/2009, 09:56 AM

Really that tank is a very poor design I would use it for fresh water only.

The ideal tank is two cubes side by side: 18x18x36, 24x24x48, etc

Tanks that are tall are difficult to work with, difficult to light, have a minimal water surface for gas exchange, are hard to reach into, the list goes on and on.

I would use that tank for a simple freshwater setup only myself.

username in use · 12/01/2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juruense

Really that tank is a very poor design I would use it for fresh water only.

The ideal tank is two cubes side by side: 18x18x36, 24x24x48, etc

Tanks that are tall are difficult to work with, difficult to light, have a minimal water surface for gas exchange, are hard to reach into, the list goes on and on.

I would use that tank for a simple freshwater setup only myself.

Not really true. Thats your ideal tank.

It all depends on what the person wants out of it. Gas exchange can be handled by the sump, and tall aquascapes can look really good if you take the time to do it. There is someone on here with a 3ft tall tank that is only like 24" square and it looks awesome.

If its only softies and low light lps than 4 bulbs would be fine, but it wouldnt hurt to add 2 more bulbs and have more options of where you are placing your corals.

Xtreme Audio · 12/01/2009, 10:28 AM

I have an Oceanic tank with the same exact dimensions of 30" wide x 18" deep x 24" tall and I just reauqascaped it for my Green Spotted Puffers. For lighting I went with 4 36 watt Power Compacts and it was all retro fit. I bought the Fulham Pony ballasts off the web from a place in Tennesse and got the PC light connectors from Nano-customs.com and for the cords and switch's, got those at Home Depot.

This tank is going to be a swim tank and probably do a micro algea in it.

Elysia · 12/01/2009, 03:01 PM

I love my 56 gallon column! There are some marine fish that you want the height for, such as seahorses.

Anyway, I light my column with a 4 light HO T5 unit w/ moonlights. The bulbs are 24", so on each side of my glass canopy I have maybe 2" not covered by the fixture. It lights down to the bottom of the tank (and all 30" of it), and the fixture and the bulbs are affordable, plus the light doesn't add as much heat to the tank as PC or MH lighting does.

The lighting is able to grow softies; 'shrooms, ricordea, zoas, palys; LPS like blastos, acans, and pagodas; and even SPS like montipora. I am very happy w/ my HO T5s and would go with them again for any 24" deep tank, especially since I don't plan to be growing "sticks" anytime soon.

sugarridgeranch · 12/01/2009, 03:14 PM

Elysia-
If you don't mind me asking- what is your total wattage? What brand is your fixture or did you retro fit it?

I was looking at maybe a 30" coralife that has (2) 65 watts compact & the lunar lights
or Sundial t-5 (4) 24 watts plus the moon lights

With the Coralife fixture I would have enough room to add a GLO 5 double t-5 light to bring my wattage up to 178 watts. This would equal out to about $260..

For about the same I could go MH 150 watts & get the "sparkle" LOL

Glad to hear that I will be able to grow some stuff with this lighting. I was worried that I would need a 250 watt MH. I am actually pretty excited about this tank & it fills a space in my family room that a long tank wouldn't work in.

username in use · 12/01/2009, 03:22 PM

Sent PM

sugarridgeranch · 12/01/2009, 04:10 PM

replied pm

gonpostal · 12/01/2009, 10:27 PM

I have the same tank as you do, and I have the Sundial T5 HO. I'm keeping leathers, frogspawn, candy cane, kenya tree, ricordea, green star polyps, mushrooms and zoanthids. Some are on or near the bottom of the tank (including candy cane and frogspawn), and all are doing well. The Sundial has 2 built in timers, LED moonlights, only one power cord, and the reflector is contoured around each bulb. I'm happy with mine.

sugarridgeranch · 12/02/2009, 01:14 AM

Thanks for the info guys. I'll have to post some pics when I get things squared away!!!

12/01/2009, 08:23 AM	#1
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	56 gallon tall tank Hi Everyone- I have a 56 gallon tall tank... 30 wide, 18 deep, 24 tall... I am looking into lighting. In the past I have only had FOWLR, but would love to try some easy corals- mushrooms, leathers, polyps Wondering if (4) 24 watt t-5's would work? Or should I go with a 150 watt MH? Or CP floro (2) 65 watt straight pins?? Unfortunately, a 250 watt MH, isn't in the budget If none of these lights will work, I may just wait on setting it up... Your thoughts are appreciated!! __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

12/01/2009, 08:50 AM	#3
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	Thanks for the info on Odyessa. I had no idea that MH could be that affordable! But, sometimes if it seems too good to be true, often it is. That being said, I guess I prefer to deal with Drs Fosters & Smith or my LFS. I know then that who I am dealing with is reliable with great customer service. I have been bitten in the butt before by going cheap. Once bitten twice shy, I guess. Burning down my house is not worth saving some $$$ IMO. I do appreciate the info though. I hadn't heard of Aqua traders before. __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

12/01/2009, 09:17 AM	#4
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	You could retro fit a 6 bulb t5 unit into a hood and have plenty of light with the individual reflectors and save on some heat. You should be able to fit that in the 18" foot print, and if you use 24" bulbs can stagger them left to right to get full coverage of the tank. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

12/01/2009, 09:29 AM	#5
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	If all else fails, I may just look into retro fitting. I actually have an old hood that might actually work for that... So you think I would definatley need more than (4) 24 watt T-5's? I kind of figured that I might, even for softies, since the tank is 24" deep.. __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

12/01/2009, 03:14 PM	#10
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	Elysia- If you don't mind me asking- what is your total wattage? What brand is your fixture or did you retro fit it? I was looking at maybe a 30" coralife that has (2) 65 watts compact & the lunar lights or Sundial t-5 (4) 24 watts plus the moon lights With the Coralife fixture I would have enough room to add a GLO 5 double t-5 light to bring my wattage up to 178 watts. This would equal out to about $260.. For about the same I could go MH 150 watts & get the "sparkle" LOL Glad to hear that I will be able to grow some stuff with this lighting. I was worried that I would need a 250 watt MH. I am actually pretty excited about this tank & it fills a space in my family room that a long tank wouldn't work in. __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

12/01/2009, 08:30 AM	#2
leeit2me Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: bklyn,ny Posts: 241	Would you consider getting a Odyssea MH lights? There is a huge thread about it. I have one and it's working fine. You can't really go wrong with this light fixture if your on a budget.

12/01/2009, 09:56 AM	#6
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Really that tank is a very poor design I would use it for fresh water only. The ideal tank is two cubes side by side: 18x18x36, 24x24x48, etc Tanks that are tall are difficult to work with, difficult to light, have a minimal water surface for gas exchange, are hard to reach into, the list goes on and on. I would use that tank for a simple freshwater setup only myself.

12/01/2009, 10:28 AM	#8
Xtreme Audio Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 32	I have an Oceanic tank with the same exact dimensions of 30" wide x 18" deep x 24" tall and I just reauqascaped it for my Green Spotted Puffers. For lighting I went with 4 36 watt Power Compacts and it was all retro fit. I bought the Fulham Pony ballasts off the web from a place in Tennesse and got the PC light connectors from Nano-customs.com and for the cords and switch's, got those at Home Depot. This tank is going to be a swim tank and probably do a micro algea in it.

12/01/2009, 03:01 PM	#9
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	I love my 56 gallon column! There are some marine fish that you want the height for, such as seahorses. Anyway, I light my column with a 4 light HO T5 unit w/ moonlights. The bulbs are 24", so on each side of my glass canopy I have maybe 2" not covered by the fixture. It lights down to the bottom of the tank (and all 30" of it), and the fixture and the bulbs are affordable, plus the light doesn't add as much heat to the tank as PC or MH lighting does. The lighting is able to grow softies; 'shrooms, ricordea, zoas, palys; LPS like blastos, acans, and pagodas; and even SPS like montipora. I am very happy w/ my HO T5s and would go with them again for any 24" deep tank, especially since I don't plan to be growing "sticks" anytime soon.

12/01/2009, 03:22 PM	#11
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Sent PM __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

12/01/2009, 04:10 PM	#12
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	replied pm __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks

12/01/2009, 10:27 PM	#13
gonpostal Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 550	I have the same tank as you do, and I have the Sundial T5 HO. I'm keeping leathers, frogspawn, candy cane, kenya tree, ricordea, green star polyps, mushrooms and zoanthids. Some are on or near the bottom of the tank (including candy cane and frogspawn), and all are doing well. The Sundial has 2 built in timers, LED moonlights, only one power cord, and the reflector is contoured around each bulb. I'm happy with mine.

12/02/2009, 01:14 AM	#14
sugarridgeranch Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 23	Thanks for the info guys. I'll have to post some pics when I get things squared away!!! __________________ Today is international disturbed People's Day! Send a word of encouragement to fellow reefkeepers, just as I have done...I don't care if you lick windows, take the special bus or occaisionally pee on yourself- you hang in there 'cause you are special Sunshine!! Current Tank Info: (2) FOWLR Nanos 30 & 15 gal, (2) 55 gal & (1) 20 gal fresh water display tanks, fresh and salt QT tanks