Noob lighting question

revnull · 02/13/2006, 04:29 PM

I'm looking for recommendations for a versatile lighting setup. My tank is only 60 gallon right now, but I'd like to be able to move the setup to a larger tank in the future. I was thinking of a combination of T5 actinic and 10-15k metal halides. How much lighting is too much? How many T5 fixtures should I use? How many watts per bulb? Should I use just T5's with this size tank and just get MH later?

Thanks for the help!

Entropy · 02/13/2006, 04:31 PM

What are the dimensions on your current tank and what you plan to upgrade to?

revnull · 02/13/2006, 04:35 PM

Right now, 48Lx15Wx18H (60 gallon). In the future, a 190 gallon.

Entropy · 02/13/2006, 04:40 PM

I would go with two 250w metal halides and get either 14k or 20 k bulbs for the current tank. It will be a little overkill more than likely but the setup will transfer to the new tank much better than any lighting designed spefically for the 60g IMO.

revnull · 02/13/2006, 04:52 PM

From what I have read, most lighting setups would benefit from some kind of supplemental actinic lighting to increase the spectral range. I was thinking of T5's to save space.

Wish List:
2x Icecap 250mh
2x Spider Reflectors
2x (Unknown MH bulbs)
1x Icecap 660
2x (Unknown T5 reflectors)
2x (Unknown T5 Bulbs)

02/13/2006, 04:29 PM	#1
revnull Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morgan Hill, CA Posts: 235	Noob lighting question I'm looking for recommendations for a versatile lighting setup. My tank is only 60 gallon right now, but I'd like to be able to move the setup to a larger tank in the future. I was thinking of a combination of T5 actinic and 10-15k metal halides. How much lighting is too much? How many T5 fixtures should I use? How many watts per bulb? Should I use just T5's with this size tank and just get MH later? Thanks for the help! __________________ - Ray Current Tank Info: Moving from 90g to 30g AIO

02/13/2006, 04:31 PM	#2
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	What are the dimensions on your current tank and what you plan to upgrade to? __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/13/2006, 04:35 PM	#3
revnull Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morgan Hill, CA Posts: 235	Right now, 48Lx15Wx18H (60 gallon). In the future, a 190 gallon. __________________ - Ray Current Tank Info: Moving from 90g to 30g AIO

02/13/2006, 04:40 PM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	I would go with two 250w metal halides and get either 14k or 20 k bulbs for the current tank. It will be a little overkill more than likely but the setup will transfer to the new tank much better than any lighting designed spefically for the 60g IMO. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/13/2006, 04:52 PM	#5
revnull Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morgan Hill, CA Posts: 235	From what I have read, most lighting setups would benefit from some kind of supplemental actinic lighting to increase the spectral range. I was thinking of T5's to save space. Wish List: 2x Icecap 250mh 2x Spider Reflectors 2x (Unknown MH bulbs) 1x Icecap 660 2x (Unknown T5 reflectors) 2x (Unknown T5 Bulbs) __________________ - Ray Current Tank Info: Moving from 90g to 30g AIO