100gallon reef tank lighting

mikegray

mikegray

Member
hey guys.. i guess i decided to go 100gallon reed tank.. since if i got like a 150.. it would be like 3times more $ to fill it with live rock heheeh
so a 100 gallon long acrylic, BLACK back, 60 inch L by 18 inch W by 20
i think thats all all the 100 gallon long size tanks.. i hope hehe
for lighting for a reef... a retro fit for my canapy.. for reef tank.. i wanna be able to put polys and all corals.. i mean all so enough lighting to put watever i want.. i found this kit i can pick watts and stuff but it has:
5" long retro. 2MH and 2lights of PC or VHO.. which one should i get..
for enough lighting on this 100gallon would (2)250watt MH bulbs be enough and either the other 2 VHO or 2 PCs... but would this be plenty or should i get the 400watt MH?
with the MH kit... VHO or PC? whats better?
 
robchuck

robchuck

Active Member
The dimensions of that tank will make for a very nice reef. At 20"H, 2x250W MH retros would work well, though the center or ends may appear somewhat dim depending on where the MH are placed in your canopy. 400's would do a nice job of lighting the tank, but with the tank itself only being 20"H, you would be limited to keeping the more light demanding corals and clams.
If you have the option to go with VHO for actinic, I would definately take that option. VHO actinics are more visually appealing than any other type of fluorescent actinics on the market.
 
mikegray

mikegray

Member
so with the 250watt ones i may still have trouble keeping the clams etc etc... what if i got 2 400watt MH... would that solve the problem.. i can get VHO with the MH or T5 or PC.... what one?
 
mikegray

mikegray

Member
soo 2 400watt MH ATLEAST maybe if iw anted 500watt would be cool. but what about MH+VHO or MH+PC or MH+t5 whats the best combo....
soo i got in mind.. atleast 2(400wMH) if i can get 500watt.. and whatever other kinda of light to use for combo ill get best wattage i can no clue what the wattage are on the pc/t5/vho though heh
 
robchuck

robchuck

Active Member

Originally posted by MikeGray
so with the 250watt ones i may still have trouble keeping the clams etc etc... what if i got 2 400watt MH... would that solve the problem.. i can get VHO with the MH or T5 or PC.... what one?
I don't think you'll have a problem with keeping clams but rather the tank just wouldn't have full lighting coverage and there would be some darker spaces in the tank (especially at the sides) where clams, SPS, etc. would have trouble.
Check out NM Reef's tank; he has a 5' long tank lit by two MH lights.
 
mikegray

mikegray

Member
i dunno im thinking of possibilites to my 100gallon.. some1 said in some areas u might not have good light with 2 400watt MH and PC lights...
cause if the 2 MH are on left and right.. maybe mid wont do good? so what if i had 3 MH left right mid and PC's with teh combo.. i dont kno if its possible but would that like FRY the corals and fish ahaha. thats 3 400watt MH AND Powercompacts.. maybe i can drop to 250watt ones.. but letme kno guys.. i just wanna have the best lighting i can possible ever set up on my 100gallon so i do it right the first time and will never need to worry about do i have enough light at all. or is there enough light in that side.. i want it the best i can possibly get..
give me info
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
I run 2x400 Ushio 10K MH's and 2x110 actinic VHO's(48") over my 100 display. The lighting has been great....clams...assorted LPS/SPS...'shrooms/polyps/softies...I don't feel I'm limited in my coral selection and the lighting covers the 5' display real well...except under the center brace. What lighting you go with will be determined by your budget and what you plan to keep. The best advice I could give would be to carefully research all the options available and decide what will best work in your situation.:thinking:
 
mikegray

mikegray

Member
NM reef some1 told me talk to u about my tank said u got a 100g.. well can i see pics of urs? well what if i get a 60" retro isntead of 40.. that still fine or will that change it a little?
 
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