lighting for 25 gallon reef

dawgs

dawgs

New Member
I'm going to make a 24 x 12 inch fixture for my 25 gallon. What do ya'll think would be a good choice for lighting. I plan on just keeping the easy soft corals. With my research, I have seen people recommend anywhere from 3-12 watts per gallon. I figure the 3-5 range is safe (and cheaper). The choices I have considered are:
1. (2) 65watt smartlamps 130 total
2. (2) 55watt power-compacts 110 total
3. (1) 175 watt mh 175 total
4. I'm not sure about VHO
thanks for any info
--doug--
 
fat_ed

fat_ed

Member
Sounds like PC's are your best bet -- cheaper than MH, run cooler, lower energy bills, and smaller. You could also mix and match actinic and white lighting very easily that way.
 
fishfreek

fishfreek

Active Member
Wich is the best color temp combo for pc lighting? 1-6,500k or 10,000k with 1- actinic in a 2 X55w set up?
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
I guess im the minority that would choose a single metal halide, or a couple of VHOs over PCs. A single MH depending on what size you get will allow you to keep anything that you might want to keep in the future. VHOs have a much better color than PCs, on the right ballast they run much cooler, and they are cheaper to replace. In the past I had a 25 and a 29 gallon, on the 25 I had a single 175 watt 12K MH, and on the 29 I started with 2 75 watt VHOs, and then added two 55 watt PCs. With the exeception of not being able to keep many sps or clams, I liked the VHO set up the most. What ever you do make sure you think it over, its expenisve to upgrade when you decide you want to keep a wider range of corals. Dont be fooled by the "watts per gallon rule", its nonsense, watts are a measurement of power consumption not output, intensity is what your after. Some lighting systems are more intense than other regardless of the wattage. HTH
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
I always run MH because it is the most intense lighting you can use in a reef tank. I ran a 175watt in my 10gal when it was setup, thats 17.5 watts per gallon.
BurnNSpy
 
dawgs

dawgs

New Member
Thanx for the replies. If I went with a 175watt MH, would I also need to have some other actinic bulb with it? Does the 12k MH bulb have any tint to it? You know... lighting is a tuff choice to make.
thanks
-doug-
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
I only use 12000K lamps and have had no problems and don't use any other actinic lighting either.
BurnNSpy
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
I have 3 12K bulbs, want one? :) They are very dim, but still not a bad bulb, a little blue for me. With a 12K bulb you will not need any actinic supplementation, you might want an actinic white or two :) If you go with a lower kelvin bulb, say a 55K youll want an actinic bulb or two. IMO the lower K bulbs are much better, theyre cheaper, last longer, and have more PAR than higher K bulbs. HTH
[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: Adrian ]
 
adrian

adrian

Active Member
about 3 -4 months a piece, they still have a good 6-8 months left on them. I was trying to sell them since they cost be $90 a piece, but no on seems to want them :confused: Let me know if your interested, theyre just sitting around my house collecting dust.
 
option720

option720

Member
Adrian-
How would you like to help out a poor newly wed and give me one for a wedding present. :D I'll pay for the shipping and you can just soak up the good feelings of charity and goodwill. Man that sounds good, makes me want give away some stuff for free. Give it some thought, i hate to beg!
 
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