Need some lighting help.

mbmijo · 10/12/2006, 01:44 PM

Looking at metal halide lighting for a 120 gallon, 6 feet long tank. Was looking at a Outer Orbit brand HQI metal halide, compact fluorescent, and lunar lights(all in one). Don't know anything about the brand. Looking for some helpful information on what to get.

Maveri9720 · 10/12/2006, 01:52 PM

It depends on what you want to do.

I am just setting up my 120 4ft long tank.

I will be putting in 2 x 250w MH's, but I prefer the retrofit kits, with the seperate reflector, mogul end and ballast. Then add VHO lighting to either side of the MH's for accent lighting.

I am doing this b/c I want to build a canopy for my tank.

If I were to keep it open top, then I would consider what you are looking at, or possbily pendants.

There are alot of those fixtures out there and alot of reviews on them. Sorry I don't know much about them.

Hopefully, someone else will come along with more knowledge about them.

bertoni · 10/12/2006, 03:09 PM

Since the tank is 6' long, you'll probably want 3 MH bulbs, if you want to light all of it brightly.

Does the tank have a canopy? What animals do you want to keep?

10/12/2006, 01:44 PM	#1
mbmijo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 2	Need some lighting help. Looking at metal halide lighting for a 120 gallon, 6 feet long tank. Was looking at a Outer Orbit brand HQI metal halide, compact fluorescent, and lunar lights(all in one). Don't know anything about the brand. Looking for some helpful information on what to get.

10/12/2006, 03:09 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Since the tank is 6' long, you'll probably want 3 MH bulbs, if you want to light all of it brightly. Does the tank have a canopy? What animals do you want to keep? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/12/2006, 01:52 PM	#2
Maveri9720 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 63	It depends on what you want to do. I am just setting up my 120 4ft long tank. I will be putting in 2 x 250w MH's, but I prefer the retrofit kits, with the seperate reflector, mogul end and ballast. Then add VHO lighting to either side of the MH's for accent lighting. I am doing this b/c I want to build a canopy for my tank. If I were to keep it open top, then I would consider what you are looking at, or possbily pendants. There are alot of those fixtures out there and alot of reviews on them. Sorry I don't know much about them. Hopefully, someone else will come along with more knowledge about them.