DO I really need MH lights with my current setup?

[civileng68]

Do I need to upgrade and spend alot of money for the Metal Halide light system? Here is what I have now.

[hr]
I currently have:
130 watts of PC 50/50 lights
29 gallon tank
Live Rock, 1 coral towards the top of the rock that does great (wanting to add lots of coral)
Anemone, 2 clowns, inverts

[hr]
What I want to do:
I want a full reef aquarium. I know the aquarium is not large but I dont want a large one. I want to take the one I have and make it completely beautiful. With this setup, I can buy a 24" setup that has 1, 175W MH bulb and 2 25W PC bulbs, for a total of 225W of light.
This is going to cost me alot, but worth it if I need it.
If I do not need it, please let me know. One person at my fish store said I have enough wattage for my size tank for corals, and another said I have enough ONLY if I keep the corals at the top of the rocks in the tank.

[hr]
PS: I cannot hang the new fixture over the tank, so my question is, if I put a glass cover (which has a hood to open to release heat) over my tank and sit the new fixture (if I get it) on legs about 3" over the glass, will that be ok?

 

[viper_930]

Depends on what corals you want to keep. With your current lighting you can keep soft corals and LPS. If you want SPS corals and clams, then go for the halides. SPS and clams need prestine water conditions and aren't very hardy. What else do you have on/in your tank?
The glass cover won't allow for enough heat to get out, and I guarantee you you will have heat problems. How wide is your tank?

 

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
Depends on what corals you want to keep. With your current lighting you can keep soft corals and LPS. If you want SPS corals and clams, then go for the halides. SPS and clams need prestine water conditions and aren't very hardy. What else do you have on/in your tank?
The glass cover won't allow for enough heat to get out, and I guarantee you you will have heat problems. How wide is your tank?

My tank has:
2 false percs
1 yellow goby
1 anemone
a few snails, a few hermits
1 emerald crab
1 cleaner shrimp
sand sifting star
Live Rock
Live Sand
My tank is 30" long and 12" thick (front to back), 18" tall
Filtration: HOB filter and an Aqua C Remora Protein Skimmer
1 powerhead in the corner (not counting the powerhead used for the skimmer)

 

[viper_930]

Is the yellow goby a yellow clown goby? They like to perch on acroporas and montiporas and that would stress out smaller pieces. If you plan on getting mini colonies or frags, I'd suggest removing that goby.
For the lighting, you could get a canopy with fans for the tank and buy a retrofit lighting kit. Then just mount the lights inside the canopy. If you want to save some money, you could actually just make your own canopy. Retrofit kits are cheaper than entire hoods, too.

 

[civileng68]

Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
Is the yellow goby a yellow clown goby? They like to perch on acroporas and montiporas and that would stress out smaller pieces. If you plan on getting mini colonies or frags, I'd suggest removing that goby.
For the lighting, you could get a canopy with fans for the tank and buy a retrofit lighting kit. Then just mount the lights inside the canopy. If you want to save some money, you could actually just make your own canopy. Retrofit kits are cheaper than entire hoods, too.

My goby is just a yellow goby for all I know. He stays in a cave and comes to the edge of it and that's it. He never swims around. He stays on the bottom in his little cave most of the time. The guy at the fish store told me he was coral safe as HE recommended it with my first purchase of coral. Then again, I dont know how much to trust fish store employees as they are trying to make money.