Compact lights

[joelyelina2001]

I have power compact lights for my 55 gallon tank. Both compact lights are 10K. I want to add a metal halide bulb, but I don't know how many watts I should get..?? Any help would be great...

 

[lion_crazz]

Either a 150 or 250 would be fine over your 55. In adding a halide though, I would change both PC's to actinic.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by joelyelina2001
http:///forum/post/3049396
I have power compact lights for my 55 gallon tank. Both compact lights are 10K. I want to add a metal halide bulb, but I don't know how many watts I should get..?? Any help would be great...
Just to make sure, you don't mean you want to add a MH bulb to your existing unit do you??

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3049404
Just to make sure, you don't mean you want to add a MH bulb to your existing unit do you??
I was a little uncertain of that too, but thought that the OP must realize the impossibilities of that.

 

[joelyelina2001]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/3049399
Either a 150 or 250 would be fine over your 55. In adding a halide though, I would change both PC's to actinic.
So I would basically eliminate the whites and replace them with actinic...

 

[joelyelina2001]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3049404
Just to make sure, you don't mean you want to add a MH bulb to your existing unit do you??

Okay right now I have PC's. I was told that I can add a MH to my setup by eliminating one PC....Is that true???

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/3049405
I was a little uncertain of that too, but thought that the OP must realize the impossibilities of that.
It's just the way it reads...lol....so I just thought better off asking

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by joelyelina2001
http:///forum/post/3049409
Okay right now I have PC's. I was told that I can add a MH to my setup by eliminating one PC....Is that true???
NO...you can not add a MH light to a PC fixture

 

[joelyelina2001]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3049411
NO...you can not add a MH light to a PC fixture
Okay, and if I were to eliminate my PC's what would be my setup for MH?

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by joelyelina2001
http:///forum/post/3049412
Okay, and if I were to eliminate my PC's what would be my setup for MH?
In order to get a metal halide, you need a fixture that can run a metal halide. That means you need a light fixture with a ballast that can light a metal halide. Usually the cost difference between a PC light and metal halide light is $300.

 

[joelyelina2001]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/3049414
In order to get a metal halide, you need a fixture that can run a metal halide. That means you need a light fixture with a ballast that can light a metal halide. Usually the cost difference between a PC light and metal halide light is $300.
Okay, I know that...how many watts would I need? Do I need two MH for a 55 g

 

[lion_crazz]

No, one halide over a 55 will cut it. As far as 150 or 250, it really depends on what kind of corals you want to keep. Either one of the lights will work for softies and LPS, but if you want to get into SPS, I would get the 250 watt halide.

 

[joelyelina2001]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
http:///forum/post/3049418
No, one halide over a 55 will cut it. As far as 150 or 250, it really depends on what kind of corals you want to keep. Either one of the lights will work for softies and LPS, but if you want to get into SPS, I would get the 250 watt halide.
Thank You guys for your answers. It helped me out a lot.... I guess I'll be buying MH...

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by joelyelina2001
http:///forum/post/3049417
Okay, I know that...how many watts would I need? Do I need two MH for a 55 g
What exactly do you want to keep? That would be your first question.
Then you can look up metal halide light fixtures....there are a lot to choose from too...