Lighting Requirements...So Confusing...NEED HELP!!!

[lilzeus99]

I'm new to the saltwater aquarium game, but am taking my time building all the necessary components to try and up my sucess rate. LOL I have started collecting everything since April.
I'm building this for my office at work...Tank dimensions are:
36x12 and 24 High.
I have been told that with a taller tank I will need strong lights.
My plans are to do a live rock tank with some corals. Do I have to go with MH lights, or will T5 HO's be enough?
Here is the light fixture I'm looking at, and it may be overkill, but you can change the wattage of how you order it and I'm not sure the best way to order it at all...PLEASE ADVISE....
Light:
"1 X 400 Watt Metal Halide – 15k bulbs included (10k and 20k are also available per inquiry- let us know and we can set up special for you)
4 X 39 watt T5 HO Lights included- 4 actinic 03 bulbs
(We also have 50/50, 10k, and 6500k bulbs available- let us know if you would like and we can set up a special for you.
6 lunar moonlights included on fixture – 6 blue 1 watt LED's
Unit has 3 Chords and 3 switches
1- chord for metal halide
1- chord for T5's
1- chord for Moonlights
Unit made in USA with 5 year warranty
Bulbs are (….) Straight pin configuration and can be replaced by any
brand bulb of your preference.
5 Year warranty highly efficient electronic ballast powers light fixture for both Metal Halides and Power Compact
Legs are designed to fit aquariums 15'' and wider- if you have a
smaller aquarium there are different style legs that we can include if
requested.
Reflector is made of German Polished Aluminum – it is the best reflector in the industry"
Thanks for you input, just wondering if a light such as this without the MH will be okay, since a similar fixture is about a bill cheaper.
Shane

 

[cmaxwell39]

24" is border line for T5's at the bottom. I think you could get away with a quality T5 fixture (individual reflectors) and just keep you light demanding stuff in the upper half of the tank.
If you do decide to go metal halide though I do not think that you will need 400w. I think 250w would be enough for a 24" deep tank. I am not an expert though so get some other input if you decide to go the MH route.
One more thouht. With the tank only being 12" wide you are going to have a heck of a time aquascaping it. You will end with no sand bed and will have a hard time getting your rock built up more than half to 2/3 the way up the tank. Personally I don't like 12" wide tanks for this reason and prefer a tank that is at least 18" wide. Just something to think about before you commit yourself totally to this tank.

 

[wangotango]

Either 250w halide or a better T5 fixture like the Aquactinics TX5, or four over-driven T5 would work.
-Justin

 

[lilzeus99]

Thanks for the advice...I am commited to the 12 wide tank, as I don't have much room in my office for a tank....I'm thinking something of the aquascaping route like towers of rocks, and maybe building a live rock arch in the tank between two rock islands...something like that...
This is the light fixture I'm looking at now...What do you think? It is a retrofit light so I can mount it in my canapy....
Dimensions: (2X) 36" X 4" X 1.5" (there are two reflectors)
One 96 Watt Dual Actinic (half 420nm Actinic/ half 460nm Actinic) and one 96 Watt Dual Daylight (half 10K/ half 6700K) lamp
Remote electronic ballast
Patented end-cap locking system
Parabolic aluminum reflectors
Two on/off switches
No wiring necessary
Then later maybe adding another single 96 watt fixture to it....
Will this lighting make corals glow with vibrant colors, or will something other be needed.
thanks again
shane

 

[wangotango]

Those are power-compacts (PCs). They are not nearly as powerful as T5ho or metal halides. In your tank you'd be fine for softies and most LPS.
-Justin

 

[lilzeus99]

thanks, these are the lights I'm thinking of going with...

 

[wattsupdoc]

LILzues if it were me, I'd go with 2, 2 lamp T5 retrofits and then the coralife moon lights. This will allow you to run actinic only as well as you "white" lights for growth. I am sure that 4 individually reflected T5's with good quality bulbs will hook you right up. Those PC's aren't really going to get you where you want to go and will simply be money wasted in a short time. Be sure you get a good quality retro kit with solid reflectors and just as important quality bulbs. This will make a huge difference.