Will my current lighting work

sd75i_bnsf · 01/13/2006, 04:36 PM

I have a 50 gallon tank that is about 5 months old and want to start adding coral to it. Right now I have 285 watts of VHO that sits about 18in above the tank. These are some of the coral that I would like to have.

Galaxea
Zoanthus
Euphyllia ancora (Hammer coral)
Blastomussa
Acanthastrea
some SPS

Will my current lighting set up work for these or would I need to upgrade to MH. If I do upgrade to MH will 2 175 watt lights be enough.

Also are these corals compatible in the same tank.

Thanks
Ryan

jgoodrich71 · 01/13/2006, 04:40 PM

That would be fine for all that you list. Some SPS may do better with other light, but that would be a good setup for the LPS.

Andrew · 01/13/2006, 04:41 PM

Theres not enough light for SPS. You should be fine with soft corals and ect.

sd75i_bnsf · 01/13/2006, 05:17 PM

If I want SPS on one side of my tank, would a single 175 watt MH be enough.

Andrew · 01/13/2006, 05:38 PM

You really cant have a single mh on a 48'' tank because one mh can cover around a 2 x 2' area. You would need 2 mh units. I would get 2 250 watt retro kits if you have money to do so.

Dubbin1 · 01/13/2006, 06:12 PM

You can put the 175 on one side of the tank but the lighting would be REALLY uneven. I would look at lowering the VHO's even for the LPS corals that you want.

jastormont · 01/13/2006, 08:35 PM

I would think you would have enough lighting. The only thing is you say it is above the tank by 18". If that is the case I would try lowering it. I have seen a 8 foot long Marine tank with one set of M/H on one end and they are only 150 watts (There where 2 of them to cover a 3foot area) and the corals where all placed under there and they where all growing great.

01/13/2006, 04:36 PM	#1
sd75i_bnsf Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belgrade, MT Posts: 58	Will my current lighting work I have a 50 gallon tank that is about 5 months old and want to start adding coral to it. Right now I have 285 watts of VHO that sits about 18in above the tank. These are some of the coral that I would like to have. Galaxea Zoanthus Euphyllia ancora (Hammer coral) Blastomussa Acanthastrea some SPS Will my current lighting set up work for these or would I need to upgrade to MH. If I do upgrade to MH will 2 175 watt lights be enough. Also are these corals compatible in the same tank. Thanks Ryan

01/13/2006, 04:40 PM	#2
jgoodrich71 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 849	That would be fine for all that you list. Some SPS may do better with other light, but that would be a good setup for the LPS.

01/13/2006, 04:41 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Theres not enough light for SPS. You should be fine with soft corals and ect.

01/13/2006, 05:17 PM	#4
sd75i_bnsf Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Belgrade, MT Posts: 58	If I want SPS on one side of my tank, would a single 175 watt MH be enough.

01/13/2006, 05:38 PM	#5
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	You really cant have a single mh on a 48'' tank because one mh can cover around a 2 x 2' area. You would need 2 mh units. I would get 2 250 watt retro kits if you have money to do so.

01/13/2006, 06:12 PM	#6
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	You can put the 175 on one side of the tank but the lighting would be REALLY uneven. I would look at lowering the VHO's even for the LPS corals that you want.

01/13/2006, 08:35 PM	#7
jastormont Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 69	I would think you would have enough lighting. The only thing is you say it is above the tank by 18". If that is the case I would try lowering it. I have seen a 8 foot long Marine tank with one set of M/H on one end and they are only 150 watts (There where 2 of them to cover a 3foot area) and the corals where all placed under there and they where all growing great.