55g. Reef lighting

mexican

mexican

New Member
I am starting over on doing a reef(I followed the LFS advice on setting up a reef before I found this site). I now have a refugium, sump, and an RO filter setup on the tank. I am in the process of adding LR, and will work up to about 100lbs. I have roughly 80lbs. of LS now. Plus while I was in the process of starting over I had a friend build a custom stand that brought the tank up to eye level!!! And he is building a canopy now!
I want to know what is the best lighting for a reef which will include corals, blue anenome, and clams.
THANK GOD I found this site because I had spent thousands listening to the "experts" at the LFS.
Thanks
 
nas19320

nas19320

Active Member
If you want clams go with Metal Halide. You can get away with dual 175w setups but 250's would be far better. If you decide to do MH keep heat issues and canopy height in mind.
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
If money isn't an issue, you can go with 2x250 watt mh with 2 or 4 bulbs of PC or VHO actinics. The clams would do even better like that.
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
Keep in mind about the heat issues like Nas said. If u go with 250's i cna almost garantee u will need a chiller. THe chiller will need to be plumbed outside. Hope ur tnka is by a window or on a wall leading outside. With all this electricity u will probably need 2 breakers to run on.
 
mexican

mexican

New Member
Alright 2-250 watt MH's and 4 actinics. Cooling fans on either end of the canopy. How far do the MH's need to be off the water? 12"-14"?? And what about two cooling fans on either side blowing across the water and two fans in the top sucking the heat out?
Any corrections welcomed!
And thanks for the help.
Sandman- please say it isn't so about the chiller. I live in a log house and you can't just run stuff outside the logs:nope:
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
its not for usre that u will needa chiller just make sure the place and cash flow is right if u do need one. DO they make 175 HQI's?
 
mexican

mexican

New Member
150w HQI DEs on magnetics?? Please explain I missed that one somewhere. It sounds like what I need!
 
sandman12

sandman12

Active Member
yeah.^^^ found this out after i got my 400w SE's. may have been able to avoid the chiller but its all good now.
 
mexican

mexican

New Member
Ok, Kip, I'm sold where do I purchase the HQI setup. And how do I setup this up exactly? You have to forgive all the questions I still have bad memories from the LFS, and want to get everything right the first time around this time no matter how much it costs!!!:yes:
 
flatzboy

flatzboy

Active Member
Hey sandman I currently have a 75 gallon with 2-175 watt metal halides and would like to switch over to the double ended ones could you send me a email on where to get them please. My email is flatzboy@hotmail.com.
Thanks
 
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