MH Lighting for 65 Gallon Tank

psless · 04/29/2006, 09:28 AM

I currently have a 65Gallon tank that I purchased from someone. I am a little unsure about the lighting setup. The tank is a 65G high. I think the measurements are 36"W 18"D and 24"H. The tank has 400W 20000K and a 250W 6500K MH lights on it. The picture below is the way I have them in the canopy. My question is, is this too much lighting? Would I be better off with the 400W in the middle and 2 T5 daylight bulbs to supplement? I have SPS, LPS, and softies. Let me know what you think.

mbunaman · 04/29/2006, 09:43 AM

That might be to much lighting for your size tank also take into consideration that you will have such a big color seperation in your tank. Can you live with that asthetically. The LPS might have a problem with the 400Watt bulbs depending on what species your keeping. I would just go with a 250 Watt 20K or 14K. Or even a 10K with supplementation of actinic.

michaeldaly · 04/29/2006, 10:16 AM

I run 2 150W DE on my 65, It's more than enough, unless you only want to keep very high light corals in your tank.

psless · 04/29/2006, 10:16 AM

Wouldn't that be less than 5 watts per gallon?

michaeldaly · 04/29/2006, 10:19 AM

my 65 is only 18in deep, but 48 long,

Guelphie · 04/29/2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by psless
Wouldn't that be less than 5 watts per gallon?

Don't use watts per gallon as a determining factor. As a rule it's a poor means to measure lighting. Determining factors should be depth of tank, light requirements of corals and others that more knowledgeable people could mention.

SaltyMember · 04/29/2006, 12:41 PM

I run 2 250wt 14k bulbs on my 65g and to be honest I think it is too much for the mixed reef I am keeping. I have a hard time acclimating some LPS to the lighting. I would like to eventually replace my center brace with acrylic and just run one 250 bulb with vho supplementation. If you were going mostly SPS I think you could just go with the 400 centered, otherwise the 250wt should be good.

psless · 04/29/2006, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the info Guelphie. The problem is that I don't know how to take my tank dimensions and the corals I listed that I plan to keep and make a decision. I was hoping someone could help me out. I bought the tank from someone and after doing a little research I came to think that maybe the guy that I bought it from overdid it. My tank is deeper than average but I am not sure that it is deep enough to justify the lights that are on the system. If I knew I could take the 250 down and run the 400 in the middle I would do it in a heartbeat. Anyway, if anyone can help me out please do.

Thanks

pirate2876 · 04/29/2006, 07:39 PM

im kind of in the same boat as you.i have a 65tall and im wondering if a single 400 would be enough to light the whole thing.someone mentioned cutting the support beam and replacing it with acrylic but that seems a risky venture.would the center glass really cut down on the lighting if its a 400w DE?

exoticaquatix · 04/29/2006, 11:26 PM

i am currently running a 400 watt 20k bulb on my 65 gallon. it is mounted about 8 -10 inches from the water directly above my center brace (unfortunatly) and is def too bright for lps corals when i first add them to the tank. i had to make ledges on both sides pf my tank to shade my lobo, monti's, and mushrooms and my euphyllia sit directly below the brace on the sand. the only problem i have with the 400watt is that if i switch to a lower kelvin bulb to raise my PAR ill probably cook everything unless i drop my photo period drasticly. that means less time to enjoy my tank. ill also have to modify my reflector (or get a new one) in order to fit supplemental actinic lighting to get the blues i like.

Pirate - i cut the sides of my center brace leaving the ridge in the center. this reduced the shadow slightly but im afraid that in the long run i have compromised the structural integrity of the tank. i have been toying with the idea of replacing the brace with either glass or acrylic when i move next month. ill let you all know if i go through with it.

exoticaquatix · 04/29/2006, 11:28 PM

that reminds me, does anyone know a good placed to get low iron glass to use as a brace? id basicly be turning my AGA in a Oceanic i guess.

michaeldaly · 04/30/2006, 03:29 AM

Yes it is under 5 watts per galon, but that is only a rough guide, because my tank is shallower than most 65g I need less light because it does not need to penetrate very deep. Also high light corals are positioned closer to the bulbs.

psless · 04/30/2006, 12:12 PM

Thanks everyone. I am going to try and mount the 400 in the middle like exoticaquatix. Should I supplement with anything a little more white/yellow since it is 20000K?

Does anyone know what the best reflector to get is and where? I am looking at the luminarc mini.

04/29/2006, 09:28 AM	#1
psless Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 195	MH Lighting for 65 Gallon Tank I currently have a 65Gallon tank that I purchased from someone. I am a little unsure about the lighting setup. The tank is a 65G high. I think the measurements are 36"W 18"D and 24"H. The tank has 400W 20000K and a 250W 6500K MH lights on it. The picture below is the way I have them in the canopy. My question is, is this too much lighting? Would I be better off with the 400W in the middle and 2 T5 daylight bulbs to supplement? I have SPS, LPS, and softies. Let me know what you think.

04/29/2006, 11:26 PM	#10
exoticaquatix Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: baltimore, MD Posts: 536	i am currently running a 400 watt 20k bulb on my 65 gallon. it is mounted about 8 -10 inches from the water directly above my center brace (unfortunatly) and is def too bright for lps corals when i first add them to the tank. i had to make ledges on both sides pf my tank to shade my lobo, monti's, and mushrooms and my euphyllia sit directly below the brace on the sand. the only problem i have with the 400watt is that if i switch to a lower kelvin bulb to raise my PAR ill probably cook everything unless i drop my photo period drasticly. that means less time to enjoy my tank. ill also have to modify my reflector (or get a new one) in order to fit supplemental actinic lighting to get the blues i like. Pirate - i cut the sides of my center brace leaving the ridge in the center. this reduced the shadow slightly but im afraid that in the long run i have compromised the structural integrity of the tank. i have been toying with the idea of replacing the brace with either glass or acrylic when i move next month. ill let you all know if i go through with it. __________________ This dude either has two glass eyes or he's wearing his patch on the wrong sa-sa-sa-side. -Aesop Current Tank Info: 120gal 500w MH 10K XMs 30g sump, MSX-200 skimmer, vortech MP40w and Tunze nanostreams; 9 gal, 29gal FW planted tanks

04/29/2006, 11:28 PM	#11
exoticaquatix Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: baltimore, MD Posts: 536	that reminds me, does anyone know a good placed to get low iron glass to use as a brace? id basicly be turning my AGA in a Oceanic i guess. __________________ This dude either has two glass eyes or he's wearing his patch on the wrong sa-sa-sa-side. -Aesop Current Tank Info: 120gal 500w MH 10K XMs 30g sump, MSX-200 skimmer, vortech MP40w and Tunze nanostreams; 9 gal, 29gal FW planted tanks

04/29/2006, 09:43 AM	#2
mbunaman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,031	That might be to much lighting for your size tank also take into consideration that you will have such a big color seperation in your tank. Can you live with that asthetically. The LPS might have a problem with the 400Watt bulbs depending on what species your keeping. I would just go with a 250 Watt 20K or 14K. Or even a 10K with supplementation of actinic.

04/29/2006, 10:16 AM	#3
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	I run 2 150W DE on my 65, It's more than enough, unless you only want to keep very high light corals in your tank.

04/29/2006, 10:19 AM	#5
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	my 65 is only 18in deep, but 48 long,

04/29/2006, 12:41 PM	#7
SaltyMember Premium Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 1,355	I run 2 250wt 14k bulbs on my 65g and to be honest I think it is too much for the mixed reef I am keeping. I have a hard time acclimating some LPS to the lighting. I would like to eventually replace my center brace with acrylic and just run one 250 bulb with vho supplementation. If you were going mostly SPS I think you could just go with the 400 centered, otherwise the 250wt should be good.

04/29/2006, 05:02 PM	#8
psless Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 195	Thanks for the info Guelphie. The problem is that I don't know how to take my tank dimensions and the corals I listed that I plan to keep and make a decision. I was hoping someone could help me out. I bought the tank from someone and after doing a little research I came to think that maybe the guy that I bought it from overdid it. My tank is deeper than average but I am not sure that it is deep enough to justify the lights that are on the system. If I knew I could take the 250 down and run the 400 in the middle I would do it in a heartbeat. Anyway, if anyone can help me out please do. Thanks

04/29/2006, 07:39 PM	#9
pirate2876 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego CA Posts: 70	im kind of in the same boat as you.i have a 65tall and im wondering if a single 400 would be enough to light the whole thing.someone mentioned cutting the support beam and replacing it with acrylic but that seems a risky venture.would the center glass really cut down on the lighting if its a 400w DE?

04/30/2006, 03:29 AM	#12
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	Yes it is under 5 watts per galon, but that is only a rough guide, because my tank is shallower than most 65g I need less light because it does not need to penetrate very deep. Also high light corals are positioned closer to the bulbs.

04/30/2006, 12:12 PM	#13
psless Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lake Mary, FL Posts: 195	Thanks everyone. I am going to try and mount the 400 in the middle like exoticaquatix. Should I supplement with anything a little more white/yellow since it is 20000K? Does anyone know what the best reflector to get is and where? I am looking at the luminarc mini.