120 help

[joker_ca]

ok i just got a 120g aquarium and now i have the time and money to setup a reef, im wondering what kind of lights i should go with Metal halides or VHO, eventually i want to put a anomone in the aquarium i believe its 18" deep

 

[rujelus22]

I'm a big fan of VHO stays cooler, the bulbs last longer, and the lumen output is about the same as MH

 

[beavis4040]

Just get MH lights with a 14/15K bulb. perfect look. just make sure youhave fans to help cool.

 

[joker_ca]

i was worried about MH making the water warmer, that would mean i would have to get a chiller and i dont want to spend $700 on a chiller

 

[rujelus22]

As long as the MH are high enough off the water and you have some fans it shouldn't heat up your tank that much, but I still like my VHO's heres some pics of mine

 

[wangotango]

id go with the VHO, unless you wanted sps. you can probably get 6 or 7 bulbs over a 120, but you may want some fans.

 

[rujelus22]

I have one fan on mine and if you get an 8 bulb setup you can easily have sps

 

[joker_ca]

i want to do some zoos, mushrooms, but i mostly want to put a anomone into the tank.
i have been looking at a 2 250MH w/ 96w pc retrofit but its only 48" long not the lenght of the tank (60"), i would rather put vho's into the canopy but i keep hearing that if u want a anomone that u need MH.... REJELUS22 what size is your aquarium?

 

[rujelus22]

Mines a 55 it's 18 inches deep and the ligths are 4" above the tank, I have had my sebae in there for about 9 months now, and the long tentacle for 6 months. my sebae is really happy and doing well. When i bought it, it was bleached and now it has all of it's color back. And I have t5 HO sorry not VHO. for the price and benefits you can't beat them.