Lighting for 40 gal

normanfine · 11/05/2007, 05:01 PM

Hi everyone,

Not sure where to put this in lighting or nano section so it is in both:
I would like some opinions or possible suggestions.

I have a 40 gal tall 22" height aquarium. My question is regards to lighting. I have two 175 watt MH fixtures laying around that I would like to install on this tank with maybe 2 t5 retrokits for actinics. I also have a 1/5 hp chiller which will be installed as well. The canopy will allow the mh bulbs to be 6" from the surface of the water. I will have 2 4" fans on the back and a 3" fan on the side. I would like to know if I am crazy in putting this much light on the tank and is it even possible in regards to heat, wattage, or light output to the corals? I also have a piece of plastic which extends from the front to back in the middle of the tank and that is the reason for 2 MH instead of one.
Any thoughts are most appreciated.

Thanks,
Norman

normanfine · 11/08/2007, 03:40 PM

Does anyone have any thoughts or considerations about what I am going to try and do. If anyone thinks I will be wasting my time and its not really probable please tell.

Thanks,
Norman

Bump

Crackerballer · 11/08/2007, 04:06 PM

On a 22" deep tank, that's not a ton of light. Are the 175 HQI double ended?

I think it will be perfect, but at 22" deep you may need MORE Mh down the line if you want good growth from some light demanding corals.

normanfine · 11/11/2007, 04:58 PM

The MH are the mogul style. This tank is taller than a normal tank but I may choose to go to a shorter tank but I am glad to here that it is deamed reasonably possible. I was not sure if this would be too much and too close with a heat issue if I had the chiller running as well as fans.

Thanks for the advise.

Norman

11/05/2007, 05:01 PM	#1
normanfine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 113	Lighting for 40 gal Hi everyone, Not sure where to put this in lighting or nano section so it is in both: I would like some opinions or possible suggestions. I have a 40 gal tall 22" height aquarium. My question is regards to lighting. I have two 175 watt MH fixtures laying around that I would like to install on this tank with maybe 2 t5 retrokits for actinics. I also have a 1/5 hp chiller which will be installed as well. The canopy will allow the mh bulbs to be 6" from the surface of the water. I will have 2 4" fans on the back and a 3" fan on the side. I would like to know if I am crazy in putting this much light on the tank and is it even possible in regards to heat, wattage, or light output to the corals? I also have a piece of plastic which extends from the front to back in the middle of the tank and that is the reason for 2 MH instead of one. Any thoughts are most appreciated. Thanks, Norman

11/08/2007, 04:06 PM	#3
Crackerballer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chapel Hill Posts: 455	On a 22" deep tank, that's not a ton of light. Are the 175 HQI double ended? I think it will be perfect, but at 22" deep you may need MORE Mh down the line if you want good growth from some light demanding corals. __________________ No tank currently setup. Last edited by Crackerballer; 11/08/2007 at 04:12 PM.

11/08/2007, 03:40 PM	#2
normanfine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 113	Does anyone have any thoughts or considerations about what I am going to try and do. If anyone thinks I will be wasting my time and its not really probable please tell. Thanks, Norman Bump

11/11/2007, 04:58 PM	#4
normanfine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 113	The MH are the mogul style. This tank is taller than a normal tank but I may choose to go to a shorter tank but I am glad to here that it is deamed reasonably possible. I was not sure if this would be too much and too close with a heat issue if I had the chiller running as well as fans. Thanks for the advise. Norman