Another simple lighting question.

tjhallock · 05/26/2006, 09:38 PM

I have made up my mind to most likely get a 65 gallon tank. 36x20x24. I was wondering if the Reefstar Pendant MH that measures 16.5x10.5x3.5 would be suitable for this length/width of the tank. Still trying to work out which light would work out best for the given dimensions.

fishbaiter · 05/26/2006, 10:51 PM

I'd be interested to hear what others would have to say on this as well...

scottfarcuz · 05/26/2006, 11:09 PM

Most will say one MH bulb will light a 24"x24" area well. Being the tank is only 36" long and you will want to leave some space between the rockwork and the ends of the tank it should work really well.

hahnmeister · 05/27/2006, 12:40 AM

A single 400watt bulb or a 250wattHQI (if a 10,000K, supplimented with a couple 39watt T5 bulbs) would work very well for a 65g, but most 65g tanks have a center brace that makes single central mounting of a halide difficult...

The solution is to get a eurobraced tank, or DIY eurobrace mod it (its very easy to do). Then rock & roll.

fishbaiter · 05/27/2006, 06:09 PM

Good point Hahnmeister, that's correct about the center brace except for Oceanic up to 70GAL.

scottfarcuz · 05/27/2006, 09:45 PM

I didn't even consider a center brace. I think my old 65g was oceanic. That would complicate things.

I would be tempted to go to t5's if shimmer lines arent imprtant to you.

05/26/2006, 09:38 PM	#1
tjhallock Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 31	Another simple lighting question. I have made up my mind to most likely get a 65 gallon tank. 36x20x24. I was wondering if the Reefstar Pendant MH that measures 16.5x10.5x3.5 would be suitable for this length/width of the tank. Still trying to work out which light would work out best for the given dimensions. Last edited by tjhallock; 05/26/2006 at 09:50 PM.

05/26/2006, 10:51 PM	#2
fishbaiter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 70	I'd be interested to hear what others would have to say on this as well...

05/26/2006, 11:09 PM	#3
scottfarcuz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,610	Most will say one MH bulb will light a 24"x24" area well. Being the tank is only 36" long and you will want to leave some space between the rockwork and the ends of the tank it should work really well.

05/27/2006, 12:40 AM	#4
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	A single 400watt bulb or a 250wattHQI (if a 10,000K, supplimented with a couple 39watt T5 bulbs) would work very well for a 65g, but most 65g tanks have a center brace that makes single central mounting of a halide difficult... The solution is to get a eurobraced tank, or DIY eurobrace mod it (its very easy to do). Then rock & roll.

05/27/2006, 06:09 PM	#5
fishbaiter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 70	Good point Hahnmeister, that's correct about the center brace except for Oceanic up to 70GAL.

05/27/2006, 09:45 PM	#6
scottfarcuz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,610	I didn't even consider a center brace. I think my old 65g was oceanic. That would complicate things. I would be tempted to go to t5's if shimmer lines arent imprtant to you.