help newbie with lighting

Lanee · 10/20/2006, 08:46 AM

have a 35 gal tank with a standard hood that came with the aquarium. It has just 1 crappy bulb in it and no places for any more bulbs. I want to upgrade my lighting at the least cost possible. I currently have a clown fish and a damsel, one emerald crab and asst hermits and snails with live rock, ect. I just want to be able to keep 1 buble tip anemone and a few soft corals, zoos, ect. Nothing, I don't think, that requires great, great lighting but can someone tell me what would be sufficient? I would also like to have but is not required, a moonlight. I love the way that looks at night. Thanks

sir_dudeguy · 10/20/2006, 08:50 AM

well i'm not sure about the anemone...they generally require quite a bit of light. but there are some that dont.

But how long is your tank? If you can fit a 2x96 pc fixture, that might be fine. Or maybe a 4x65.

Also check in the selling forum..many people sell lights very low priced on here...who knows, maybe you'll end up w/a metal halide light for the same price or less than you'd pay for a pc fixture in stores.

reefmaniac1129 · 10/20/2006, 12:25 PM

We put a 150watt PC on our 20g. The quality isn't great, but we have had two bubble tip anemones that have done fine for about 5 months in it.

Randall_James · 10/20/2006, 12:30 PM

what is the depth of the tank? my 35 was 24" deep.

If yours is also, I would look at a 250W MH pendant light or similar. 18 or 19" maybe a 150W.

I would also suggest waiting till the tank is at least 12 months old to add the Anemone..

sir_dudeguy · 10/20/2006, 01:19 PM

ya depth of the tank is the main issue. If its like a 8 inch tall tank, you could prolly do sps and stuff with pc's without any problems. But if its a tall tank, you could have all the pc bulbs you want but they're still not gonna penetrate thru all that water.

MCary · 10/20/2006, 01:23 PM

Decide what your budget is and what critters you can't live without and ask again.

Brenden · 10/20/2006, 02:03 PM

A 250w MH pendant would allow you to keep the anemone (depending on tank maturity). I would not bother with a 150.

bertoni · 10/20/2006, 02:10 PM

You could also consider a high-efficiency 175 W Iwasaki setup. I have two of them in operation, and they'd allow you too keep any animal you want in that size tank, given a good reflector.

A T5 setup is another possibility. If you could view some tanks in person, you might find you like T5 and hate MH, or vice versa.

Randall_James · 10/20/2006, 03:32 PM

Need tank dimensions. My 35 (really 37) was 20x18x24 and is truly an odd tank to light.

10/20/2006, 08:46 AM	#1
Lanee Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 78	help newbie with lighting have a 35 gal tank with a standard hood that came with the aquarium. It has just 1 crappy bulb in it and no places for any more bulbs. I want to upgrade my lighting at the least cost possible. I currently have a clown fish and a damsel, one emerald crab and asst hermits and snails with live rock, ect. I just want to be able to keep 1 buble tip anemone and a few soft corals, zoos, ect. Nothing, I don't think, that requires great, great lighting but can someone tell me what would be sufficient? I would also like to have but is not required, a moonlight. I love the way that looks at night. Thanks

10/20/2006, 08:50 AM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well i'm not sure about the anemone...they generally require quite a bit of light. but there are some that dont. But how long is your tank? If you can fit a 2x96 pc fixture, that might be fine. Or maybe a 4x65. Also check in the selling forum..many people sell lights very low priced on here...who knows, maybe you'll end up w/a metal halide light for the same price or less than you'd pay for a pc fixture in stores. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

10/20/2006, 12:30 PM	#4
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	what is the depth of the tank? my 35 was 24" deep. If yours is also, I would look at a 250W MH pendant light or similar. 18 or 19" maybe a 150W. I would also suggest waiting till the tank is at least 12 months old to add the Anemone.. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

10/20/2006, 01:19 PM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	ya depth of the tank is the main issue. If its like a 8 inch tall tank, you could prolly do sps and stuff with pc's without any problems. But if its a tall tank, you could have all the pc bulbs you want but they're still not gonna penetrate thru all that water. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

10/20/2006, 02:10 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You could also consider a high-efficiency 175 W Iwasaki setup. I have two of them in operation, and they'd allow you too keep any animal you want in that size tank, given a good reflector. A T5 setup is another possibility. If you could view some tanks in person, you might find you like T5 and hate MH, or vice versa. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/20/2006, 12:25 PM	#3
reefmaniac1129 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 29	We put a 150watt PC on our 20g. The quality isn't great, but we have had two bubble tip anemones that have done fine for about 5 months in it.

10/20/2006, 01:23 PM	#6
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Decide what your budget is and what critters you can't live without and ask again.

10/20/2006, 02:03 PM	#7
Brenden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Piedmont, NC Posts: 224	A 250w MH pendant would allow you to keep the anemone (depending on tank maturity). I would not bother with a 150.

10/20/2006, 03:32 PM	#9
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Need tank dimensions. My 35 (really 37) was 20x18x24 and is truly an odd tank to light. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"