Lighting Suggestion for 46 Bow

cam78

cam78

Active Member
I'm looking for a good set of MH's for a 46 bow tank. Make and model would be great. I'm having a hard time finding a good set for this tank. 36" x 12ish. Don't care how much. Want to keep all kinds of coral. Thanks!
 
grubsnaek

grubsnaek

Active Member
there are many brands that you can go with...you will get many opinions on that. but if your trying to keep any or many corals i would suggest going two 250w halides.... again many choices on brands.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
The problem I'm having is finding one that will fit the width of the tank. Front to back.
 
topfins-mj

topfins-mj

Member
I can talk to this, as I have a 46 bowfront. Had I known that all the fixtures come in standard sizes not fitting this bowfront I would have had a bigger tank.
What I ended up having is the Coralife 36inch fixture with a 150watt MH bulb two actinics and two lunars. You cna go with the 175mh but no need
There are no fixtures this small that would hold two MH bulbs due to space constaints and heating problems.
I personally would not recommend two 250watts MH, you will need to get yourself a chiller for sure. If you want two MH bulbs you will have to make your own canopy and such.
I just settled for my fixture and left it at that. I have a shadow in the middle but it works for me sinc eI have a suncoral placed there.
See my tank and decide for yourself
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
Yeah 46 gallon bows suck. But it is what it is. I was told the 250's wouldn't be a problem. Maybe I'll keep looking. I was just about to order a Current USA Sunpod with 2X250watt HQI. I think they make this exact set up with 2 X 150's.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
Can anyone tell me if the 250's will run too hot for 46 bow? I def. do not want to run a chiller.
 
turbohaulic

turbohaulic

Member
250W metal's get really hot
, I'd opt for a 150 or 175 to keep things cooler in a smaller tank like a 46 gal. I'd also look into t5's, some say if you do four of these you can put what ever you want in your tank and don't get the heat like a metal.
 
kingfish8302

kingfish8302

Member
your in luck my friend becuase i have a 46 g too and its made by oceanic. The only lights i could find that works and can keep and coral and clame you want is Current USA Sunpod 36" Dual 150w 14,000k Metal Halides, 18 mixed color lunar lights. It fits inside the canopy (made by oceanic) with the leg mounts on. I just drilled some holes on the side on the canopy where the fans are localed to get better air flow. I love this light system.
 
turbohaulic

turbohaulic

Member
Originally Posted by kingfish8302
your in luck my friend becuase i have a 46 g too and its made by oceanic. The only lights i could find that works and can keep and coral and clame you want is Current USA Sunpod 36" Dual 150w 14,000k Metal Halides, 18 mixed color lunar lights. It fits inside the canopy (made by oceanic) with the leg mounts on. I just drilled some holes on the side on the canopy where the fans are localed to get btter ir flow. I love this light system.
Where did you get this system from and how much was it? Thanks
 
topfins-mj

topfins-mj

Member
Me too I am interested to see the set up. PM me Thankx
CAM78, if you go with two 150MH 14K you will be fine, but I will suggest you suspend the fixture 8 to 10 inches over the tank to allow better airflow.
My one MH bulb rest on the stock legs and I am going to raise it a little for easy feeding and better light spread. Oh an dsince the fixture is 15inch wide, part of the fixture sticks out in the front, which is why I want to suspend it instead.
Hope you get a good set up and let us know.
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
Originally Posted by TopFins-MJ
Me too I am interested to see the set up. PM me Thankx
CAM78, if you go with two 150MH 14K you will be fine, but I will suggest you suspend the fixture 8 to 10 inches over the tank to allow better airflow.
My one MH bulb rest on the stock legs and I am going to raise it a little for easy feeding and better light spread. Oh an dsince the fixture is 15inch wide, part of the fixture sticks out in the front, which is why I want to suspend it instead.
Hope you get a good set up and let us know.

Thanks, I really don't have any other option other than using legs. I cannot suspend it. Thank you for your replies. I was looking at the Sunpod and prob will get those. Thanks
 
cam78

cam78

Active Member
Originally Posted by kingfish8302
the 46 g made by oceanic is only 12 inches wide at the ends. This mean you cant have a 15" wide light system on your tank.
The sunpod 36" with 2 150w MH says it only 8.25". Where do you see 15"?
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
many other light fixtures r 15x36 pr 15x48. and it wont fit over a bowfront. as stated above, sunpod is the only one that seem to fit. i hv the sunpod 2x150 over my 72 bowfront. prior to that, i had 4x54w t5. thought about getting 8x54w t5, but the fixture would hv been 15 inches deep.
 
kingfish8302

kingfish8302

Member
oops read the post wrong.. I know the fixture is 8.5 becuase its the only one i can get for my tank. I thought someone said get a 15 inch deep fixture for the 46 g tank. sorry
 
mscarpena

mscarpena

Member
You guys are thinking about this too much. I got a 250 watt pendant with 2-36" 95 watt VHO(though I would reccomend 24" because they will fit better) and just made a hood to fit all in there. I have one 4 " fan and it works great. MH is in the middle and I have a clam about 8" from the side and the clam is doing great and growing great. You could go with a 150 or 175. I got an electronic ballast and DE bulb they both are supposed to run cooler than standard MH bulbs. Thats what worked well for me. I am sure you can find some one to make a hood for you. I made both of mine. Good luck.
 
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