choosing lighting

[teen]

ok, so i have a 30 gallon long tank. the dimensions are LxWxH 36x12x17
im going to be keeping softies lps, maybe a few small sps frags
i want to be able to keep a clam sometime down the road, most likely deresa or crocea.
now, i cant find lights that are good for my tank that wont be to intense for shrooms, but are going to be strong enough for sps/clams. if anyone could come up with a good combo of lights that would fit over the top of this tank, and be a good choice for this size tank, that would be great. thx

 

[reefreak29]

one 250 watt 14k bulb should be fine .

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by teen
ok, so i have a 30 gallon long tank. the dimensions are LxWxH 36x12x17
im going to be keeping softies lps, maybe a few small sps frags
i want to be able to keep a clam sometime down the road, most likely deresa or crocea.
now, i cant find lights that are good for my tank that wont be to intense for shrooms, but are going to be strong enough for sps/clams. if anyone could come up with a good combo of lights that would fit over the top of this tank, and be a good choice for this size tank, that would be great. thx
Cant go wrong with that SunPod fixture. 2 150w HQI 14k.

 

[teen]

im afraid that the single 250 watt wont shine throughout the tank, and there will be dark spots.
i think i might need a chiller with the sunpod, so thats why im trying to avoid that route, but if i do go that way, instead of a chiller, im going to freeze 2 liter soda bottles and then place those in my sump and also run a two fans

 

[teen]

i just ordered the 250 watt mh reefstar pendant :jumping: hope this is a good choice.
anyone else have this light?

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by teen
i just ordered the 250 watt mh reefstar pendant :jumping: hope this is a good choice.
anyone else have this light?
What K did you get the bulb?

 

[teen]

i got 10k because im not a big fan of the blue, plus i think ill get faster growth rates with the 10k. it takes 3-5 days to build and then probably 3-5 days for shipping. i figure ill have it by end of next week .

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by teen
i got 10k because im not a big fan of the blue, plus i think ill get faster growth rates with the 10k. it takes 3-5 days to build and then probably 3-5 days for shipping. i figure ill have it by end of next week .
Cool. Post a pic when you get it.

 

[teen]

ill be sure too.
i seen pictures of your tank in another thread, where did you get your live rock from, it looked like some good stuff. was it like that when you bought it?

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by teen
ill be sure too.
i seen pictures of your tank in another thread, where did you get your live rock from, it looked like some good stuff. was it like that when you bought it?
Got it all from Fishtown. Couldnt beat $3.99/lb for Tonga.

Got about 75lbs in there. What did you think about the new lighting?

 

[teen]

i always buy my LR from fishtown, but it never gets covered in coraline like yours was. im probably going to go there this weekend, or friday night and get about 40-50 lbs.
what kind of sand are you using, is it really fine like sugar, or more coarse like lawn fertilizer?
i thought the lighting looked good, at least you already have an established tank with corals. i just glued mine and its in my back yard filled with water right now. im making sure the glue filled up all the edges nicely.

 

[drew2005]

Originally Posted by teen
i always buy my LR from fishtown, but it never gets covered in coraline like yours was. im probably going to go there this weekend, or friday night and get about 40-50 lbs.
what kind of sand are you using, is it really fine like sugar, or more coarse like lawn fertilizer?
i thought the lighting looked good, at least you already have an established tank with corals. i just glued mine and its in my back yard filled with water right now. im making sure the glue filled up all the edges nicely.
I think i used a bag of aragonite 20lbs and live sand 20lbs. Im not sure. Its fine not coarse. I havent been to fishtown in a few months. I usually check their website to see what kinda specials they have for the month. They have Kailini rock right now. $4.99/lb. I try to keep my calcium around 430 and i also use purple up so that helps a bit. When i bought the rock it had nothing on it at all. I bought a 50lb box and i handpicked 25lbs from their tank.

 

[teen]

if that picture is what they actually have at the store right now, then id pay the extra for the kailini. looks like some nice rock
i was using purple up for a while, but i didnt see any difference so i stopped using it.

 

[reefreak29]

good choice , i have 1 250 watt 10k mh for my 90 and it lights the whole tank up, i also have 260 watts of pcs though but for a 30 g i think youll be impressed

 

[teen]

i hope this isnt too much light. its like 8.3 watts per gallon, not sure what the PAR rating is. i was going to go with the 175, but i figured for an extra $45 i wont ever have to ask myself if my lighting is strong enough to support this coral.
i figure it doesnt stretch across the whole tank, so ill keep the mushrooms and lower light corals towards the sides, and then everything else in the middle.