irishstout
Member
Im considering switching over to a MH system on my 55 reef. What size bulbs and such would be sufficient for a 55 gal?? Any input is absolutley appreciated!! 
From VHO's to MH
- Thread starter irishstout
- Start date
???fish
New Member
i have a 75g w/4 VHO 2-atinic,,2-50/50
i have an anemone, toadstoll mushroom. elegance coral,maze coral,sun polyps.it works great and everything is growing fast.
if you'll have no prob with the extra heat that MH put out then go for it.make sure you have corals for it or you'll just be wasting light
i have an anemone, toadstoll mushroom. elegance coral,maze coral,sun polyps.it works great and everything is growing fast.
if you'll have no prob with the extra heat that MH put out then go for it.make sure you have corals for it or you'll just be wasting light
rabid frog
Active Member
how much did your mh cost and where did ya get it at? If ya dont mind me asking. you can email me at joelees@cox-internet.com
adrian
Active Member
Irishstout, nice name by the way What type of halides youll need will depend on what you want to keep. I have a 55 with 2 175 MH running Ushio 10Ks, the tank is dominated by soft corals, but some of the lower light wp like montipora sp. would fare well. 175s will allow you to keep a wide array of corals, but there will be some things that may not fare well. A quick response to your question would be 175s would work well for softies and most LPS corals, 250s would allow you to keep a mixture of softies, LPS, SPS, and ceratin clams, 400s would most likely limit you to SPS and clams, although there are several other corals that can handle 400s. What do you plan to do with this tank? HTH
What type of halides youll need will depend on what you want to keep. I have a 55 with 2 175 MH running Ushio 10Ks, the tank is dominated by soft corals, but some of the lower light wp like montipora sp. would fare well. 175s will allow you to keep a wide array of corals, but there will be some things that may not fare well. A quick response to your question would be 175s would work well for softies and most LPS corals, 250s would allow you to keep a mixture of softies, LPS, SPS, and ceratin clams, 400s would most likely limit you to SPS and clams, although there are several other corals that can handle 400s. What do you plan to do with this tank? HTH
irishstout
Member
Honestly, I am new to the entire hobby. I want to be able to maintain a tank with a diversity of corals. Seeing as I'm in the learning process, and have the money to upgrade, I want what would be a wise and quality investment for my tank. So far all I have is "softies" ie. mushroom colonies, yellow polyps (Dying as I speak) and starburst polyps, however I want the ability to add as I learn without lighiting complications. Any advice that anyone can give me as far as "bang-for-the-buck" goes I would appreciate.
Ultimately, I want to raise and maintain a tank that I could rival the quality of the incredible tanks that are on your web site. (If you havent checked out Adrian's Tanks, you are missing out!!) I know I'm shooting high, but with the research, and patience, I know I can do it. And lighting seems to be one of the key ingredients to having a successful REEF!!! So any help I can get is much appreciated. LHS REBELS 95'!!!
Ultimately, I want to raise and maintain a tank that I could rival the quality of the incredible tanks that are on your web site. (If you havent checked out Adrian's Tanks, you are missing out!!) I know I'm shooting high, but with the research, and patience, I know I can do it. And lighting seems to be one of the key ingredients to having a successful REEF!!! So any help I can get is much appreciated. LHS REBELS 95'!!!
irishstout
Member
But to answer your questions, I want a mixture of soft and hard corals, I want diversity. The thought of clams has never entered my mind, so what I would need to keep a well rounded reef. Just a reef that causes reef envy, thats all I want. Colin
Colin
irishstout
Member
sorry for my rambling, too many stouts I guess <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
adrian
Active Member
Colin, thought that was you this is based on my opinon and personal experience, I would suggest dual 250 watt MH running Iwasaki 65K bulbs in combinatin with 2 actinic VHO, this would allow you to keep most anything wtih the exception of the most light loving sps and clams. You could also use dual 175 att MH running the Ushio 10K bulbs, this would again limit you as far as sps and clams go, but it would depend on the speciemen and placement. The 250s would be best in my opinon if ypu dont want to worry about having enough light for certain corals. I must say though that not all coral appreciate a lot of light, and certain corals may need to be provied with some shade depending on the type of lights you go with.
This hobby is simple, some people would like to think its a feat to keep a nice reef, but its like anything else, you get what you put into to it, as long as your willing to do some research and put a good bit of time and $ into your tank you cant go wrong.
Colin, I have a ton of books and stuff, most of them are on loan right now, but I will have them back in a few days and your welcome to borrow them sometime.
this is based on my opinon and personal experience, I would suggest dual 250 watt MH running Iwasaki 65K bulbs in combinatin with 2 actinic VHO, this would allow you to keep most anything wtih the exception of the most light loving sps and clams. You could also use dual 175 att MH running the Ushio 10K bulbs, this would again limit you as far as sps and clams go, but it would depend on the speciemen and placement. The 250s would be best in my opinon if ypu dont want to worry about having enough light for certain corals. I must say though that not all coral appreciate a lot of light, and certain corals may need to be provied with some shade depending on the type of lights you go with. This hobby is simple, some people would like to think its a feat to keep a nice reef, but its like anything else, you get what you put into to it, as long as your willing to do some research and put a good bit of time and $ into your tank you cant go wrong.
Colin, I have a ton of books and stuff, most of them are on loan right now, but I will have them back in a few days and your welcome to borrow them sometime.
irishstout
Member
I knew that was U!! LOL I would appreciate the reading material very much. I want to learn as much as I can about this addiction so as to be successful in it. Ballpark, what should I look to spend to get the 175's? that would probably be the rout I would go seeing as I just invested in VHO's and Holly would whup me for investing "too much" but of course what she does'nt know wont kill her <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> !!
I would appreciate the reading material very much. I want to learn as much as I can about this addiction so as to be successful in it. Ballpark, what should I look to spend to get the 175's? that would probably be the rout I would go seeing as I just invested in VHO's and Holly would whup me for investing "too much" but of course what she does'nt know wont kill her <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> !!