help on reef lights please

emporer angel

emporer angel

Member
hi i have a 4 foot 75 gallon tank that i want to get lights to make it a reef.
it is a 75 gallon but i have a built in sump so the actual volume of the main oart of the tank is 52 gallons. but there is still 75 gallons of water...
so does this mean i dont need as much lighting?
how many watts per gallon should be neccesary for a reef tank with an anemone?
i calculated for 5 watts per gallon and it came out to be 260w...
do i need more than 5 w per gallon?
i wanted to get MH lighting so does this mean i would be ok with a 36" mh bulbs? that are 250w?
i already have the light fixture that came with the tank...
so would i need anything else other than the bulbs?
sorry for the long post....your help is greatly appreciated.
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Your post is not long. MY posts are long.
The watt-per-gallon rule is based upon the design capacity of your display area, and is meant to be a rough figure. Lighting has more to do with the dimensions of your tank but it's an easy way to guestimate assuming you have a normally proportioned tank. Figure how much water you have in there, not counting what is displaced by live rock, etc and you have yoru value.
A 250w metal halide lamp would be fine for your anemone, but be careful. Assuming this is a standard 75g (48x18x18") that you've modified with a sump across the back you have a width issue. You generally need one metal halide lamp for every 24" of tank width. You can get away with your setup for other light loving organisms because they stay where you put them, but anemones can move so you really need to light the tank more evenly.
(2) 150w halides evenly spaced across the top would be better, or a T5 system.
 
eugenez_21

eugenez_21

Member
check out my poster its WILL 440W of VHO be.....PLEASE VOTE. BTW I have the same tank and im going to get the PFO Retro Kit with 4 bulbs from ********* The pros told me that it will be good for anything exept clams. If u want the place were im getting mine give me ur email.
 
emporer angel

emporer angel

Member
my email is bassboy3103@cox.net
im looking at the Current 48 in. Dual Satellite 4x65 watt SunPaq with Lunar Lights & Fan. is this ok with an anemone? the corals i would generally like to keep would be zoos, mushrooms, polyp, and leathers. is this ok? if i get this lighting what wont i be able to keep? would i be able to keep a clam if i place up high in the liverock?
the tank demensions without the back is 48lx10.5wx24h.
i probably have about 13 gallons of water worth of live rock.
if the anemone is such a problem i can live without it.
thanks
 
emporer angel

emporer angel

Member
i want to get the Current USA 48 in. Dual Satellite 4x65 watt SunPaq with Lunar Lights & Fan...
what corals could i keep with this?
has anyone else used this lighting?
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Originally Posted by emporer angel
i want to get the Current USA 48 in. Dual Satellite 4x65 watt SunPaq with Lunar Lights & Fan...
what corals could i keep with this?
has anyone else used this lighting?

Don't bother getting a PC system, which is what that is. You are much better off getting either T5s or Metal Halides. Take a look at either TEK or Aquatinics for T5s. I have a TEK 6 bulb T5 system on my 75 and it is fantastic. With you sump setup the way it is you could probably get away with their 4 bulb system. Either choice is MUCH better than Power Compacts.
 
emporer angel

emporer angel

Member
this is only temporary until christmas. i can get these lights for $50. when christmas comes, my parents said i can get whatever lighting i need.
my plan is to use these and get some easier, low light using corals to put up top by the lights.
what would be some of the corals that could work high in the rock work under these pc lights until christmas?

thanks
 
emporer angel

emporer angel

Member
actually, this is the light im planning on getting at christmas time.
48" SunPod Pro Series Light - 2-250W
will i need a chiller for this?
 
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