Lighting for 29 tall

WildFoxMedia · 02/21/2010, 03:13 AM

So, there are a million and one options for lighting out there and im not sure what I need or what I could get by with...

My tank is a 29 tall, it measures 30 x 12 1/2 x 18

I am looking to keep some beginner-esque corals like brain coral, zoanthids, polyps, etc. Potentially down the line, if a 29 is large enough, maybe a small clam.

What type of light and wattage is necessary? I would like to be able ot grow into the light, down the line as I get more comfortable and want to get more corals.

Right now, I was thinking a 150 watt MH pendant, but im worried that it wont spread the light through-out the entire 30 inches of tank.

Any and all suggestions are very welcome.

lordofthereef · 02/21/2010, 03:53 AM

150 halide will work fine IMO. Generally they are recommended for 24" of spread. IMO you have two options if you want to stick with halides. You can either stick with that and limit the sides of the tank to low light corals. Another option is getting a lumenarc reflector (if you are worried about looks there is a pendant type fixture I believe), which will give you more spread, enough to reach the full 30" I believe.

WildFoxMedia · 02/21/2010, 04:17 AM

Im not limiting myself to just halides.

I guess my other options would be T5s or VHOs?

lordofthereef · 02/21/2010, 04:30 AM

Just from reviews here I would go with T5s over VHOs. I have no experience with T5s aside from supplementing MHs with T5 actinics, so hopefully someone else will chime in.

Thekingy · 02/21/2010, 07:30 AM

I just picked up the Aquatic Life 420035 T5 HO 24inch Light, I told that with this light i could do 60% of the corals out there. My tank is a 35 Gallon Hex and is around 25 inches deep. this is an awsome light it has built fan/timer and has 3 phases 700+ Lamps, 420/460 lamps and Lunar LED's. All 3 phases can be prgramed to run either at different times or all at once. I picked the light up brand new for 255$ out the door and it comes with the bulbs already so u dont need to buy the bulbs. Check out www.aquaticlife.com they have them up to 72in and they are all adjustable.

andrewknies · 02/21/2010, 11:00 AM

I've always just used halides because it work for me and I don't fix things that work, But there are a lot of people that rock T5s and they do a great job and their lighting always looks way better than mine! :/

SwampyBill · 02/21/2010, 01:34 PM

search through the lighting forum on here for a ton of info.

02/21/2010, 03:13 AM	#1
WildFoxMedia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 50	Lighting for 29 tall So, there are a million and one options for lighting out there and im not sure what I need or what I could get by with... My tank is a 29 tall, it measures 30 x 12 1/2 x 18 I am looking to keep some beginner-esque corals like brain coral, zoanthids, polyps, etc. Potentially down the line, if a 29 is large enough, maybe a small clam. What type of light and wattage is necessary? I would like to be able ot grow into the light, down the line as I get more comfortable and want to get more corals. Right now, I was thinking a 150 watt MH pendant, but im worried that it wont spread the light through-out the entire 30 inches of tank. Any and all suggestions are very welcome.

02/21/2010, 03:53 AM	#2
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	150 halide will work fine IMO. Generally they are recommended for 24" of spread. IMO you have two options if you want to stick with halides. You can either stick with that and limit the sides of the tank to low light corals. Another option is getting a lumenarc reflector (if you are worried about looks there is a pendant type fixture I believe), which will give you more spread, enough to reach the full 30" I believe. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/21/2010, 04:30 AM	#4
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Just from reviews here I would go with T5s over VHOs. I have no experience with T5s aside from supplementing MHs with T5 actinics, so hopefully someone else will chime in. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/21/2010, 04:17 AM	#3
WildFoxMedia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 50	Im not limiting myself to just halides. I guess my other options would be T5s or VHOs?

02/21/2010, 07:30 AM	#5
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	I just picked up the Aquatic Life 420035 T5 HO 24inch Light, I told that with this light i could do 60% of the corals out there. My tank is a 35 Gallon Hex and is around 25 inches deep. this is an awsome light it has built fan/timer and has 3 phases 700+ Lamps, 420/460 lamps and Lunar LED's. All 3 phases can be prgramed to run either at different times or all at once. I picked the light up brand new for 255$ out the door and it comes with the bulbs already so u dont need to buy the bulbs. Check out www.aquaticlife.com they have them up to 72in and they are all adjustable.

02/21/2010, 11:00 AM	#6
andrewknies Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hobart, IN Posts: 117	I've always just used halides because it work for me and I don't fix things that work, But there are a lot of people that rock T5s and they do a great job and their lighting always looks way better than mine! :/

02/21/2010, 01:34 PM	#7
SwampyBill Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: St. Pete, FL. Posts: 2,369	search through the lighting forum on here for a ton of info.