Will Power compacts be enough????

awg228 · 02/25/2006, 03:23 PM

I have a 90 gallon tank 48" wide. I presently have 4X65 power compacts. I was thinking of getting another 4x65 and using all 8 over my 90 gallon.

Do you think that it would be enough light for crocea clams and stuff or do I need to go with Halides and use the 4x65 I have already as actinic supplements ????

Please help any suggestions are welcome

PiNaPLeX · 02/25/2006, 03:29 PM

MH's would give you better light penetration into the water than PC's would. If you wanted to keep your crocea's on the sand bed, then the MH's are the way to go. Otherwise you will have to keep them high up in your tank.

If it's actinic supplementation you're concerned about, using a 14k, 15k, or even 20k bulb would reduce the need for supplemenation.

jwhitlow1031 · 02/25/2006, 03:39 PM

i have a 54 gallon corner tank and im looking to buy 175 Mh @ 20k and then about 48 watts pc actinic, my tank is about 20" deep, think that would be enough for clams?

PiNaPLeX · 02/25/2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jwhitlow1031
i have a 54 gallon corner tank and im looking to buy 175 Mh @ 20k and then about 48 watts pc actinic, my tank is about 20" deep, think that would be enough for clams?

You might want to look into T5 actinics. They have a higher PAR rating than PCs and will penetrate deeper into the water.

jwhitlow1031 · 02/25/2006, 06:56 PM

so you dont think that would be enough even with the 175 watt mh then?

PiNaPLeX · 02/25/2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jwhitlow1031
so you dont think that would be enough even with the 175 watt mh then?

For a tank that is 20" deep, and if I wanted to keep clams on the sandbed, I personally would go with 250W Mh. But a 175Wmh with T-5 actinics should be enough PAR to get enought light down to the bottom of the tank for the clams.

jwhitlow1031 · 02/25/2006, 09:03 PM

alright, thanks

02/25/2006, 03:23 PM	#1
awg228 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 32	Will Power compacts be enough???? I have a 90 gallon tank 48" wide. I presently have 4X65 power compacts. I was thinking of getting another 4x65 and using all 8 over my 90 gallon. Do you think that it would be enough light for crocea clams and stuff or do I need to go with Halides and use the 4x65 I have already as actinic supplements ???? Please help any suggestions are welcome

02/25/2006, 03:29 PM	#2
PiNaPLeX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 439	MH's would give you better light penetration into the water than PC's would. If you wanted to keep your crocea's on the sand bed, then the MH's are the way to go. Otherwise you will have to keep them high up in your tank. If it's actinic supplementation you're concerned about, using a 14k, 15k, or even 20k bulb would reduce the need for supplemenation. __________________ PiNaPLe X - If fate really exsists, then it HATES my guts! Current Tank Info: 29g glass tank, Penguin 330 filter, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 2x65w PowerCompacts (10k & actinic), 90g RR AGA tank /w Megaflow(in progress), 40g Sump/Fuge, 2 x Seio 1500, Dolphin 800, 2x250W MH (XM 10k), 2x54W T5 (Actinic Plus + True Actinic)

02/25/2006, 03:39 PM	#3
jwhitlow1031 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elk Grove, Ca Posts: 455	i have a 54 gallon corner tank and im looking to buy 175 Mh @ 20k and then about 48 watts pc actinic, my tank is about 20" deep, think that would be enough for clams? __________________ Some call it an obsession, i call it...well, yea its an obsession : ) To see pics of my tank click the little red house. Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon Corner tank, 130 watt pc lighting, 150watt MH, 140+ pds live rock, 2.5 inch sandbed, 3 powerheads and wavemaker, skimmer, etc, etc...lol

02/25/2006, 06:56 PM	#5
jwhitlow1031 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elk Grove, Ca Posts: 455	so you dont think that would be enough even with the 175 watt mh then? __________________ Some call it an obsession, i call it...well, yea its an obsession : ) To see pics of my tank click the little red house. Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon Corner tank, 130 watt pc lighting, 150watt MH, 140+ pds live rock, 2.5 inch sandbed, 3 powerheads and wavemaker, skimmer, etc, etc...lol

02/25/2006, 09:03 PM	#7
jwhitlow1031 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Elk Grove, Ca Posts: 455	alright, thanks __________________ Some call it an obsession, i call it...well, yea its an obsession : ) To see pics of my tank click the little red house. Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon Corner tank, 130 watt pc lighting, 150watt MH, 140+ pds live rock, 2.5 inch sandbed, 3 powerheads and wavemaker, skimmer, etc, etc...lol