120 gal. tall perfecto tank lighting

jim48 · 03/02/2007, 02:26 PM

If I am just going to have a fowlr for...say 2 years and eventually progress into a full blown reef tank, what would be the best lighting for my 120gal. tall tank if I wanted to keep just a few corals such as open brain corals or just grow what is on the live rock. I would like to build my reef over time and enjoy the process. Is it better to start with less expense in the lighting department and upgrade as I go, or would it be better and less expense and hassle in the long run to just bite the bullet and purchase more lighting and the correct kind for the reef that is to be in the future?

FZ1Rider · 03/02/2007, 02:29 PM

Bite the bullet. You're going to need it later and 2 years will shrink into 6 months really really fast

jim48 · 03/02/2007, 02:37 PM

Yeah, I can see that happening to! What would you recommend? Would I have to get into metal halides with a 22" depth?

jim48 · 03/02/2007, 02:53 PM

Well, anyway, I can see this lighting decision will probably be the most difficult and the most expensive of the whole reef process. I'm just trying to force myself to go slooooow. I'm building this tank in the wall of an alcove in my soon to be den in my basement. I believe I've got the filtration figured out. It will be my first sump, first refugium, and first protein skimmer, but I think I'm up to the task. I have the sump setup on the schedule for this weekend.

03/02/2007, 02:26 PM	#1
jim48 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Williamstown, Pa. Posts: 293	120 gal. tall perfecto tank lighting If I am just going to have a fowlr for...say 2 years and eventually progress into a full blown reef tank, what would be the best lighting for my 120gal. tall tank if I wanted to keep just a few corals such as open brain corals or just grow what is on the live rock. I would like to build my reef over time and enjoy the process. Is it better to start with less expense in the lighting department and upgrade as I go, or would it be better and less expense and hassle in the long run to just bite the bullet and purchase more lighting and the correct kind for the reef that is to be in the future?

03/02/2007, 02:29 PM	#2
FZ1Rider Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alexandria Posts: 210	Bite the bullet. You're going to need it later and 2 years will shrink into 6 months really really fast

03/02/2007, 02:37 PM	#3
jim48 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Williamstown, Pa. Posts: 293	Yeah, I can see that happening to! What would you recommend? Would I have to get into metal halides with a 22" depth?

03/02/2007, 02:53 PM	#4
jim48 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Williamstown, Pa. Posts: 293	Well, anyway, I can see this lighting decision will probably be the most difficult and the most expensive of the whole reef process. I'm just trying to force myself to go slooooow. I'm building this tank in the wall of an alcove in my soon to be den in my basement. I believe I've got the filtration figured out. It will be my first sump, first refugium, and first protein skimmer, but I think I'm up to the task. I have the sump setup on the schedule for this weekend.