need a lil help w/lights, i shoulda bought metal

seaduck · 08/02/2006, 11:44 AM

I bought coralife pc 2 x 64 watts w/ moon lights to go over a 30 gal high tank. Tank is 24" tall x 12 x 24 ' wide. After doing some searching around this forum I realize that its not enough light to support anemones. I need metal. I cant take the fixture back so im stuck with it. I dont think there is enough room to add a metal bulb inside the fixture. I am pretty handy and am wondering if i can fabricate a narrow hood to house a metal bulb and run it along with the pc hood. Any suggestions? Do they make small metal bulbs that might work in this application?

Travis L. Stevens · 08/02/2006, 12:12 PM

I believe that you mean Metal Halide.

You have three options here.

1) VHO - You can add a VHO fixture and either completely take out the PCs, or keep them in there and use them as actinic supplementation

2) T5 - Same as VHO. Either add them with the PCs or just T5s

3) Metal Halide - This would be one of the better options. You could obtain a 150-175w Metal Halide rather cheap and add it inside your canopy.

1-3) If you choose to keep the PCs, take them apart, take out the ballast, wires, reflectors, and bulbs. Mount these as wide as you can on the inside of your canopy. Then place your choice of brighter lighting in between them. I would recommend either a Metal Halide or T5s. T5s are probably better, but require a little more ingenuity. But in the long run, it will run cooler and penetrate a 24" tank quite easily. A Metal Halide will be a little easier, but you would need to find a way to keep your tank cool.

RichConley · 08/02/2006, 01:21 PM

you CAN in fact keep BTAs with those lights without a problem.

I'm keeping a BTA (thats growing quickly) under a 6w screwin fluoro in a 7 gallon minibow. 65w PCs will be fine.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/02/2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
you CAN in fact keep BTAs with those lights without a problem.

I'm keeping a BTA (thats growing quickly) under a 6w screwin fluoro in a 7 gallon minibow. 65w PCs will be fine.

True, but seaduck never stated what type of anemones

seaduck · 08/02/2006, 02:56 PM

Sorry guys, i would like to keep LTA's. Nothing wrong with BTA's mind u and i may go for a rose bta as they r beautiful. LTAs have always been my favorite. Well I sure dont want to deal with a heating prob and a cooler so t5s will be my choice. Will have to research t5s. looks like i can get a sunlight t5 retro kit w/2 24w bulbs for around the same price as i paid for the pc lights. Should i go with 2 midday bulbs or a aqua blue and a actinic??? the pc lights are aqua blue and actinic so im gonna have 4 bulbs...seems like overkill for a 30 gal tank.

08/02/2006, 11:44 AM	#1
seaduck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seminole, fl Posts: 724	need a lil help w/lights, i shoulda bought metal I bought coralife pc 2 x 64 watts w/ moon lights to go over a 30 gal high tank. Tank is 24" tall x 12 x 24 ' wide. After doing some searching around this forum I realize that its not enough light to support anemones. I need metal. I cant take the fixture back so im stuck with it. I dont think there is enough room to add a metal bulb inside the fixture. I am pretty handy and am wondering if i can fabricate a narrow hood to house a metal bulb and run it along with the pc hood. Any suggestions? Do they make small metal bulbs that might work in this application?

08/02/2006, 12:12 PM	#2
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I believe that you mean Metal Halide. You have three options here. 1) VHO - You can add a VHO fixture and either completely take out the PCs, or keep them in there and use them as actinic supplementation 2) T5 - Same as VHO. Either add them with the PCs or just T5s 3) Metal Halide - This would be one of the better options. You could obtain a 150-175w Metal Halide rather cheap and add it inside your canopy. 1-3) If you choose to keep the PCs, take them apart, take out the ballast, wires, reflectors, and bulbs. Mount these as wide as you can on the inside of your canopy. Then place your choice of brighter lighting in between them. I would recommend either a Metal Halide or T5s. T5s are probably better, but require a little more ingenuity. But in the long run, it will run cooler and penetrate a 24" tank quite easily. A Metal Halide will be a little easier, but you would need to find a way to keep your tank cool. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/02/2006, 01:21 PM	#3
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	you CAN in fact keep BTAs with those lights without a problem. I'm keeping a BTA (thats growing quickly) under a 6w screwin fluoro in a 7 gallon minibow. 65w PCs will be fine. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

08/02/2006, 02:56 PM	#5
seaduck Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seminole, fl Posts: 724	Sorry guys, i would like to keep LTA's. Nothing wrong with BTA's mind u and i may go for a rose bta as they r beautiful. LTAs have always been my favorite. Well I sure dont want to deal with a heating prob and a cooler so t5s will be my choice. Will have to research t5s. looks like i can get a sunlight t5 retro kit w/2 24w bulbs for around the same price as i paid for the pc lights. Should i go with 2 midday bulbs or a aqua blue and a actinic??? the pc lights are aqua blue and actinic so im gonna have 4 bulbs...seems like overkill for a 30 gal tank.