lighting good enough?

createdlight · 10/24/2010, 06:20 PM

hey all, im starting up a reef tank again after years of absence of having one.
i bought a 210 gallon dimensions are 72" x 30"(high) x 24" (width).
for the light we got a g12 aquatic life fixture.
is this lighting good enough for the tank thats 30 inches tall?
and also the mh are 150w can i just put in high watt bulbs in or am i limited on what the ballast requires?

THANKS ALL!!

zigzag1 · 10/24/2010, 07:04 PM

Ballasts are typically paired to the bulb wattage. I think there are some 'select-a-watt' type ballasts, but not a typical feature on most MH lighting systems. And, and I would think that you want a higher wattage for that depth of tank.

zigzag1 · 10/24/2010, 07:06 PM

Oh, and WELCOME ABOARD!!

aleonn · 10/24/2010, 07:17 PM

For a deep tank you'd need 250 or 400w halides imo

Mr.Maska · 10/25/2010, 03:52 PM

so are u guys saying he can stick any mh bulb in that he wants?

Mr.Maska · 10/25/2010, 04:48 PM

bump a lump, would really appriciate a simple answer cause im not the brightest star in the sky:P

seapug · 10/25/2010, 04:51 PM

no, you can only use 150W MH bulbs in that fixture, and I think you're stuck with the HID lamps that are specifically designed for that fixure. They aren't standard double ended or mogul based bulbs.

If you are running 150W MH over a 30" deep tank, I'd recommend a 10K or 14K or you're just not going to get enough par to reach the bottom of the tank, unless the plan is to make this a low light tank for mushrooms or LPS corals.

A 250W or 400W fixture would be much more appropriate for a tank that size.

createdlight · 10/26/2010, 04:27 PM

hmm, i ordered the light from lfs and payed for it in order for him to order it.. i hope i can get a refund.. anyhow is the hamiton mh fixtures good. im not to familiar with what a good lighting brand is. def gonna go with at least 250-400 watts. with t5's and response is helpful.. thanks all

seapug · 10/26/2010, 04:53 PM

Many people use the Hamilton fixtures, but it really depends on what kind of space you have. If you are looking for a good, reliable MH/T5 combo fixture, I'd personally recommend the Sunlight Supply Maristar line. They are American made and have some of the largest reflectors (very important) you can get in a combo fixture.

Mr.Maska · 10/26/2010, 05:40 PM

does sunlight have 400w mh fixtures? i only found this one
http://www.aquacave.com/maristar-72-...pply-702.html#

Palting · 10/26/2010, 05:42 PM

Here, use this for a quick reference. It's a Cliff note's chart about tanks and what lights. http://www.marineandreef.com/Articles.asp?ID=121

No affilation. In fact, I bought mine from somewhere else.

Mr.Maska · 10/26/2010, 05:43 PM

this is the one createdlight and myself are considering getting
http://www.marineandreef.com/Hamilto...a63h1502t5.htm
decent?

ReefFandS · 10/26/2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Maska

this is the one createdlight and myself are considering getting
http://www.marineandreef.com/Hamilto...a63h1502t5.htm
decent?

i am also looking at that but the 48" version for my 80 bowfront because it is 27" deep

Palting · 10/26/2010, 05:50 PM

That was actually the light in a 48" length I was going to get for my 30" deep 110 gal. I'd go 400 w 14k MH, and actinics for the T5. Get the hanging fixture, 'cuz you don't want all that heat close to the tank.

ReefFandS · 10/26/2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

That was actually the light in a 48" length I was going to get for my 30" deep 110 gal. I'd go 400 w 14k MH, and actinics for the T5. Get the hanging fixture, 'cuz you don't want all that heat close to the tank.

i was going to go with 250 w 14K. i think that should be sufficent for high light corals and low light corals

Palting · 10/26/2010, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefFandS

i was going to go with 250 w 14K. i think that should be sufficent for high light corals and low light corals

Yours is 27" tall, right? You should be fine. You may even want to create shade in your scape for the lower light softies/shrooms. The additional 3" for the 30" tank makes the 400 a little better, because it allows for clams ans SPS probably all the way down to the substrate.

ReefFandS · 10/26/2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

Yours is 27" tall, right? You should be fine. You may even want to create shade in your scape for the lower light softies/shrooms. The additional 3" for the 30" tank makes the 400 a little better, because it allows for clams ans SPS probably all the way down to the substrate.

okay so would you say the MH/T5 combo may be to much. i plan on running my MH for 7-8 hours a day and the other 2-3 hours i plan on using the t5's

Palting · 10/26/2010, 06:14 PM

No, no, not saying that. It's actually good. What I meant was, you can always shade if your livestock wants less light, but you can't just add light. And, it's good to plan ahead with the aquascaping. I had a ricordea colony that was thriving 30" below a PC. Talk about an underlit tank! When I transferred it over to the MH lit tank , it would not open even with light acclimation over several days. Finally created a shaded spot, and it's happy again.

Your lighting sched sounds good to me.

createdlight · 10/27/2010, 03:26 PM

Good news! store is taking back the light we ordered, and is ordering this new one for our 30" deep tank

http://www.marineandreef.com/Hamilto...a63h1502t5.htm

10/24/2010, 06:20 PM	#1
createdlight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 184	lighting good enough? hey all, im starting up a reef tank again after years of absence of having one. i bought a 210 gallon dimensions are 72" x 30"(high) x 24" (width). for the light we got a g12 aquatic life fixture. is this lighting good enough for the tank thats 30 inches tall? and also the mh are 150w can i just put in high watt bulbs in or am i limited on what the ballast requires? THANKS ALL!!

10/24/2010, 07:04 PM	#2
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	Ballasts are typically paired to the bulb wattage. I think there are some 'select-a-watt' type ballasts, but not a typical feature on most MH lighting systems. And, and I would think that you want a higher wattage for that depth of tank. __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

10/24/2010, 07:06 PM	#3
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	Oh, and WELCOME ABOARD!! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

10/25/2010, 03:52 PM	#5
Mr.Maska Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield,Mass Posts: 317	so are u guys saying he can stick any mh bulb in that he wants? __________________ Look at the beautiful creatures in your tanks in amazement, now look to the sovereign God who created them. Current Tank Info: 210 gallon 72x25x30, hamilton belize sun fixture 3x400 watt mh, 2 t5's 80watts.reefbrite all blue48" supplement light, octo extreme250 skimmer, 80 gal sump/40gal refug 40 gal bow front hospital tank

10/25/2010, 04:48 PM	#6
Mr.Maska Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield,Mass Posts: 317	bump a lump, would really appriciate a simple answer cause im not the brightest star in the sky:P __________________ Look at the beautiful creatures in your tanks in amazement, now look to the sovereign God who created them. Current Tank Info: 210 gallon 72x25x30, hamilton belize sun fixture 3x400 watt mh, 2 t5's 80watts.reefbrite all blue48" supplement light, octo extreme250 skimmer, 80 gal sump/40gal refug 40 gal bow front hospital tank

10/24/2010, 07:17 PM	#4
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	For a deep tank you'd need 250 or 400w halides imo

10/25/2010, 04:51 PM	#7
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	no, you can only use 150W MH bulbs in that fixture, and I think you're stuck with the HID lamps that are specifically designed for that fixure. They aren't standard double ended or mogul based bulbs. If you are running 150W MH over a 30" deep tank, I'd recommend a 10K or 14K or you're just not going to get enough par to reach the bottom of the tank, unless the plan is to make this a low light tank for mushrooms or LPS corals. A 250W or 400W fixture would be much more appropriate for a tank that size.

10/26/2010, 04:27 PM	#8
createdlight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 184	hmm, i ordered the light from lfs and payed for it in order for him to order it.. i hope i can get a refund.. anyhow is the hamiton mh fixtures good. im not to familiar with what a good lighting brand is. def gonna go with at least 250-400 watts. with t5's and response is helpful.. thanks all

10/26/2010, 04:53 PM	#9
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Many people use the Hamilton fixtures, but it really depends on what kind of space you have. If you are looking for a good, reliable MH/T5 combo fixture, I'd personally recommend the Sunlight Supply Maristar line. They are American made and have some of the largest reflectors (very important) you can get in a combo fixture.

10/26/2010, 05:40 PM	#10
Mr.Maska Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield,Mass Posts: 317	does sunlight have 400w mh fixtures? i only found this one http://www.aquacave.com/maristar-72-...pply-702.html# __________________ Look at the beautiful creatures in your tanks in amazement, now look to the sovereign God who created them. Current Tank Info: 210 gallon 72x25x30, hamilton belize sun fixture 3x400 watt mh, 2 t5's 80watts.reefbrite all blue48" supplement light, octo extreme250 skimmer, 80 gal sump/40gal refug 40 gal bow front hospital tank

10/26/2010, 05:42 PM	#11
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Here, use this for a quick reference. It's a Cliff note's chart about tanks and what lights. http://www.marineandreef.com/Articles.asp?ID=121 No affilation. In fact, I bought mine from somewhere else. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/26/2010, 05:43 PM	#12
Mr.Maska Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Springfield,Mass Posts: 317	this is the one createdlight and myself are considering getting http://www.marineandreef.com/Hamilto...a63h1502t5.htm decent? __________________ Look at the beautiful creatures in your tanks in amazement, now look to the sovereign God who created them. Current Tank Info: 210 gallon 72x25x30, hamilton belize sun fixture 3x400 watt mh, 2 t5's 80watts.reefbrite all blue48" supplement light, octo extreme250 skimmer, 80 gal sump/40gal refug 40 gal bow front hospital tank

10/26/2010, 05:50 PM	#14
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	That was actually the light in a 48" length I was going to get for my 30" deep 110 gal. I'd go 400 w 14k MH, and actinics for the T5. Get the hanging fixture, 'cuz you don't want all that heat close to the tank. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/26/2010, 06:14 PM	#18
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	No, no, not saying that. It's actually good. What I meant was, you can always shade if your livestock wants less light, but you can't just add light. And, it's good to plan ahead with the aquascaping. I had a ricordea colony that was thriving 30" below a PC. Talk about an underlit tank! When I transferred it over to the MH lit tank , it would not open even with light acclimation over several days. Finally created a shaded spot, and it's happy again. Your lighting sched sounds good to me. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/27/2010, 03:26 PM	#19
createdlight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 184	Good news! store is taking back the light we ordered, and is ordering this new one for our 30" deep tank http://www.marineandreef.com/Hamilto...a63h1502t5.htm

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