Lighting

[lowkey485]

Can anyone get me started with a few tips on proper lighting for a 90 gallon bow front tank. I am looking to have a mix of coral as well as coral friendly fish.

 

[dueces]

look into t5's....tek or acquatinics..good lights you keep keep almost anything

 

[jrthomas40]

i just put 2 x 250wat hqi and 2x 96 watt actinics....not real sure how i feel about the hqi so i might end up going back to 4 48" vho's....tank looks awesome with the hqi's and i think i may have killed my xenias by going from the 10k vhos to 14k hqi to fast

 

[fanker]

Originally Posted by lowkey485
Can anyone get me started with a few tips on proper lighting for a 90 gallon bow front tank. I am looking to have a mix of coral as well as coral friendly fish.
ya a tek 6x54w will be the same results as the mh,

 

[lowkey485]

Thanks for the reply's everyone

 

[frankthetank]

I highly recommed the current usa satellites. They are great lighting systems and priced very affordable.

 

[teen]

Originally Posted by fanker
ya a tek 6x54w will be the same results as the mh,
imo, youll get better growth with the MH, and it looks more natural imo.

 

[lowkey485]

FRANKTHETANK,
What wattage and model do you suggest for a 90 gallon? I am looking to have coral, fish and LR.

 

[jjd0313]

has anyone found that MH kill coraline algae

 

[teen]

it can kill it, and coraline will usually grow in more shaded parts of the tank.
i only have coraline on my overflow, under rock ledges, and on the glass where its shaded, everywhere else it wont grow. i believe its because of the MH.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by lowkey485
FRANKTHETANK,
What wattage and model do you suggest for a 90 gallon? I am looking to have coral, fish and LR.
Sorry, I have been sick with the flu. Hope my response is not too late.
The Dual Satellite will have 2x96watt daylight bulbs and 2x96 watt dual actinic. You can get them for under $200 and they're very dependable. You can grow almost anything under them as well.
Just to tie this off, a very respectable LFS near me thinks they are the best light for the money available. And I didn't buy mine from them either.
My corals do great under them.

 

[lowkey485]

Hope your feeling better Frank,
Thanks for the info, and yes your response was in time. I found a dealer online and called them today to get more info. Will be ordering one of the units by this Friday.

 

[lowkey485]

Ok, so is Coraline Algae bad or good?

 

[sand125]

Originally Posted by lowkey485
Ok, so is Coraline Algae bad or good?

good.....its has cool looking colors

 

[aztec reef]

Originally Posted by fanker
ya a tek 6x54w will be the same results as the mh,
IMO you can't compare mh to anything less, is not about wattage it's about intensity. MH is the closest you can get to sunlight.

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
IMO you can't compare mh to anything less, is not about wattage it's about intensity. MH is the closest you can get to sunlight.
MH are great and top of the line lights. But problems come with them as well. First off, the pocket. They are very expensive!! Secondly, problems with controlling the water temp as MH get very hot.
I just think if you want a damn good lighting system and very affordable at that, dual satellites are hard to go wrong.

 

[lowkey485]

Thanks Frank I think I will follow your advice, and what the hey; if I need ot upgrade it will just be a lesson learned.

 

[teen]

just remember the rule, you buy cheap, you buy twice.