Lighting Debate

alf

New Member
Hi, very new to these forums, but have been following the great lighting debate pretty close. Not enough lighting knowledge to have an opinion yet, but do have a question. I understand more watts per gallon the better, but what about length? If you have a 4 foot tank for example..... would say two 2 foot bulbs(one on each side of the tank)at 50watts each be 100watts total or 50watts total covering the whole tank? Would they then be equal to one 4foot long bulb at 100watts? I guess the real question is.....does length matter.LOL https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/newt...ewthread&f=15#
thinking
 

caillou

Member
I guess in my opinion size doesn't matter in respect to the length of the bulbs. I have 2x 4" DE MH bulbs over my 4 foot tank. Each are 250 watts so you really can't compare the length of the bulb to it's intensity. I did so much searching on this and other forums before I took the plunge in upgrading my lighting. I even asked probably some of the stupidest questions I've seen on the boards but that's how you learn. Something else to consider is the spread of the actual bulb. MH's are good for about 2' of tank per bulb not even getting into the depth question yet. Wait until you start getting into the K ratings to really get confused. Tizzo put up alot of good threads on it (so did many others but she just comes to the top of my head). The answers your looking for don't come easy and no matter how much you know you realize how little you know.
 

bang guy

Moderator
If you're discussing flourescent bulbs, the longer they are the more efficient.
A 4' flourescent bulb will put out more light than a pair of 2' bulbs.
It's not significant enough to weigh in for your WPG calculation but it is significant enough for design considerations.
"would say two 2 foot bulbs(one on each side of the tank)at 50watts each be 100watts total or 50watts total"
It would be 100 watts total.
 

alf

New Member
Thanks for the quick replies.....especially to Bang Guy, that's what my main concern was...WPG calculation. Well, at least that's one part of hte mystery solved.
 

wax32

Active Member
Bang was a great influence on my lighting decision. Based on his (and others) input I went with 4-75w VHO bulbs on my 29 and WOW corals look good!
 

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Alf
that's what my main concern was...WPG calculation.
Don't read too much into the WPG calculation. It's just a general guideline. Basically a starting point to begin your research.
 

annanymous

Member
bang guy, question for you, if you please.
im setting up a 90 gal reef. its 48x18x24. i asume i would need 2 MH bulbs [sinse each lights up 2 feet].
so here is my question to you....
i want a MH/VHO combo but not sure what to get. should i get 2-400watt MH/2-110watts VHO or should i get 2-250 watts MH/ 4-110 wats VHO. and no matter what your answer is maybe you know good places to buy the lights from. the famous auction site is good, but many times their fine print leaves you without light bulbs or ballasts or refurbished stuff. i'm looking for a vendor who specializes in lighting and has compatibile prices.
thanx
btw i want to keep SPS and clams in this tank and my e-mail is annanymous@aol.com
 

bang guy

Moderator
If it were me I would choose a pair of 10,000K 250 watt HQI DE MH plus 4 48" VHO URI SuperActinic run off an IceCap 660 Ballast.
 

jedi

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
If it were me I would choose a pair of 10,000K 250 watt HQI DE MH plus 4 48" VHO URI SuperActinic run off an IceCap 660 Ballast.
I agree.
I have 660 watts VHO on my 90, and I would love ot have the Mh addition. I however cannot add them due to "asthetics". My wife wants to keep the canopy on the tank, and the heat under the canopy would be to much.
with my lighting though, the tank is great, all corals are thriving.
Jedi
 

mr_bill

Active Member
Maybe you all could lend me a hand....
My wife is expressing interest in corals but I have a corner tank 50 gallon. The dimensions across the top of the tank at the longest part is 32". I don't have alot of room around the top, but wouldn't one nice light be enough given the 2' rule I'm reading??
Maybe this...
24" Aqualight™ Retrofit - 1-65 watt True Actinic 03 and 1-65 watt 10,000K™ Daylight Compact Fluorescent , that would give me 130 watts total for pretty small area.
Thanks
 

wax32

Active Member
Mr. Bill: that SEEMS like a lot of light, but wouldn't be. Shrooms would be ok, maybe some of the less demanding softies. No way you can fit a four bulb fixture on there?
 

mr_bill

Active Member
Originally Posted by wax32
Mr. Bill: that SEEMS like a lot of light, but wouldn't be. Shrooms would be ok, maybe some of the less demanding softies. No way you can fit a four bulb fixture on there?
I could try for 4 of the 24" fixtures but it will be tight. Would 4 24" bulbs do the trick for me?
Thanks alot
 

mr_bill

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Is there space for a MH pendant right in the middle of the tank?
Yes there is but the ceiling above is very high, I didn't want to try and run a line that far. Which pendant would you suggest if I find a way to rig a pendant? Would I run 2x 24" 65wat Actinic in addition to the pendant?
Thanks
 

bang guy

Moderator
IMO a 250 watt DE HQI mini pendant from Hamilton work work well for moderate light corals. If you added the PC to the front I think it would be really nice.
I've seen tastefully done shelves that sit on top of the tank to allow a pendant to be hung from.
.__.
|...|
 

farmboy

Active Member
HEY Jedi,
Maybe you could tell MR. BILL how to do the "Jedi mind trick" on his wife and then he could get a BIGGER tank!!!! (Let me know if this works for you MR. BILL)
 
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