LiGhTiNg QuEsTiOn!!!!!!!!!

8x8nhl

8x8nhl

Member
hey u guys i am getting a 75 reef in the next month or soo and i was wondring what i should do for lightin.. Ok i have to tell yall i can't do mh because of the heat issue and because of were we are putting it. But i was thinking about using 4x65 watt pc's or 6x65 watt pc's wixh would be better and also what could i have under the 6x65's that i couldn't have on the 4x65's?
 
fedukeford

fedukeford

Active Member
you should get an icecap 660, so you could have 4, 4ft. bulbs, i think 140 watts each, so youd have some pretty stong lighting
 
skyhi

skyhi

Member
sorry for the intrustion. but i have a lighting question also, :thinking: a friend is giving me a 55 gallon, i'm sure it just has the standard fluorescent hood. my question, should i keep that one and use the strongest available for it. or buy a ice cap? as of now i will just have live rock and inverts and a few fish. maybe later i'd like to try some coral but for now just that.
by the way what is the max k's i can use in an ordinary fluorescent? 6000K? and if i use a fan should it come on the light or do you recommend one to use?

thanks
 
agent707

agent707

Member
In response to 8x8nhl
If you think over 400 watts of flouresent is not going to put out any heat? You're in for a rude awakening. Very rude.
Watts = Heat. Pretty much. The source is irrelevant.
MH's just "seem" hotter, simply because the source is "Concentrated" at the arc. A flourescent's heat is spread across a MUCH larger transmitting area... so it doesn't "seem" as hot.
Don't fool yourself in thinking you're going to be running cooler because you're not using MH bulbs.
 
agent707

agent707

Member
Originally Posted by skyhi
by the way what is the max k's i can use in an ordinary fluorescent? 6000K? and if i use a fan should it come on the light or do you recommend one to use?
Until you drop corals or anemones in your tank, the standard hood lamps should be sufficient. What ever replacement bulbs they take should be fine (6000+k). LFS should have the right kind.
I wouldn't worry about cooling them at all. To get started, just use what you have. Trust me, you'll need PLENTY of money for everything else.
For fish, LR and inverts, normal lighting and filters should be sufficient. Just need to have a skimmer I believe.
Believe me (looking at my empty wallet), you want to take it slow and in small steps.
 
skyhi

skyhi

Member
thanks, i just didn't want to get something set up and find out it's not good enough for what i wanted. thanks sooooo much. the expense and options are endless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top