5 gallon with metal halide

[larry broderic]

Im setting up a new tank and right now i have a 5 gallon tank that i drilled and set up an over flow on and now i was looking for lighting and i got a great deal on a coral life 150 watt metal halide so i couldnt say no. so now im wondering if i could put the halide over the 5 gallon? i figured that if i raised the hood up a bit it might not be as intense and burn the corals. if this is too much light does anyone know how to get an acrylic tank that a little bigger that is reasonably priced and unique?

 

[jtrzerocool]

Originally Posted by Larry broderic
Im setting up a new tank and right now i have a 5 gallon tank that i drilled and set up an over flow on and now i was looking for lighting and i got a great deal on a coral life 150 watt metal halide so i couldnt say no. so now im wondering if i could put the halide over the 5 gallon? i figured that if i raised the hood up a bit it might not be as intense and burn the corals. if this is too much light does anyone know how to get an acrylic tank that a little bigger that is reasonably priced and unique?
IMO...yes i think that this is too much light...you will not be able to keep the 5g cool enough with a 150w metal halide...

 

[grabbitt]

150 is too much. Personally, I wouldn't even do 70 with that.

 

[larry broderic]

even if the light is 18 inches off the water with cooling fans?

 

[jtrzerocool]

Originally Posted by Larry broderic
even if the light is 18 inches off the water with cooling fans?
if you add cooling fans to a 5g you will have some extreme evaporation and your parameters will be all out of wack...i personally dont think that a 150w MH is a good choice for a 5g...

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by jtrzerocool
if you add cooling fans to a 5g you will have some extreme evaporation and your parameters will be all out of wack...i personally dont think that a 150w MH is a good choice for a 5g...
Ditto.

 

[halostalker]

lmao y not just upgrade to a 10g lmao only 10 buckz

 

[larry broderic]

well i have a 5 gallon all drilled then i got the deal on the metal halide so im not sure what to do. i have a 15 gallon sump for the 5 gallon tank. i would love a bigger tank but i need one that had overflows or is acrylic so i can drill it so im would rather put the halide on the 5 gallon with a tall hood and have a highly lighted 5 gallon. i was doing some math while i was in the shower today and realized that i would have about 30 watts per gallon think that would support of clams lol jk so im not sure what to do now

 

[coral keeper]

30 watts per gallon!! WOW!! If I were you id sell the metal halide for the same price or more and get T-5s that like 20-40 watts and it wont give off hardly any heat at all and you will be able to keep clams, some anemones, softies, LPS, and some low light stonys. But I wouldn't add a clam, anemone or any stonys because your system is small. I found an online store thats selling a 40 watt Nova Extreme T-5 Fixture for only $50!

 

[renogaw]

wow, my first thought was HOLY EVAPORATION.
there are some pretty cool LED lights outhtere that would go perfect on a 5 gallon.

 

[zeke92]

if you can afford a halide i would just buy a bigger tank!

 

[larry broderic]

well i think im gonna take zekes advice and go with a 36 gallon bow with a 10 gallon sump
then i can have enough room for an anemone and two clowns plus some corals