lights

[cichlidguy22]

To provide adequate wattage, a aquarium tank that is 24" deep or less requires a minimum of 175 watts, 18" to 30" deep requires a minimum of 250 watts,and a tank that is 24" to 36" requires a 400 watt metal halide lighting system. A core and coil design, mounted in an extruded aluminum heat sink single enclosure for maximum heat dissipation. Professionally wired for 120 volt, with 6 feet supply cord for each ballast, with an independent on-off switch and can be control by independent timers for controlled programmed lighting. All socket mounting hardware comes with a quick disconnect, 8 feet of water and moisture resistance cables, ceramic mogul sockets, and aluminum mounting brackets. NO METAL HALIDE BULBS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS. A full size 96% reflective, polished aluminum reflector, 48" x 12", that you can cut and bend to fit your particular custom canopy. This retro kit comes pre-wired, with everything you need for a metal halide lighting system, but the bulbs and screws. can use any bulb as long it has a mogul socket and it's the same wattage as the ballast
Going by the above i was thinking of getting 2 of these 48" set ups for my 125 this woud give me 4 mh i could do 400 watts 250 watts or 175 which would you recommend...besides bulbs what else would i need with these set ups??? if i go with the 400 watts i woul get 1600 watts over my 125 and the 250 would be 1000watts the 250 would give me bout 9 watts a gal.. with either the 400 watts or 250 watt systems is there aything i cant keep... also with the way these are set up it holds 2 bulbs on each 48" set up so i would have 2 bulb inces away would this hurt anything or could i just put the more light needy things in the middle???

 

[slothy]

rule of thumb is a mh ever 24" so if your tank is only 48" get 2 400's with some type of atinic set up (vho or pc's)

 

[cichlidguy22]

my tank is 72" and i wass gonna get 2 of these 48" set ups. i can either get the 250w or the 400w with m buying 2 sets that would give me 4 bulbs total and with the 250 would be 1000w and 400 would be 1600w. Please read my 1st post it will give you details on the systems im looking at. my main question would 2 of these work? Is there anything i wound not be able to keep with these? What else would i need with this system besides the bulbs???i asked a few other questions in my original post... any help in answering hese questions would be greatly apprciated as i am ready to make the jum from freshwater to saltwater

 

[cichlidguy22]

anyone else with an opinion

 

[jim672]

cichlidguy,
I'm not sure I understand the point of getting two 48" hoods to put over your 72" tank. Why not just get one 72" hood? I just looked at one that offers 3 MH's and 2 VHO's. You can select 175w, 250w, or 400w bulbs. I suspect the VHO's are 120 w so you end up with the same wattage as 4 MH's at 250watts each.
If, somehow, doing it the way you've described will save you lots of money, 9 watts per gallon will allow you to have just about anything you want including clams.
Jim

 

[sebae0]

your description sounds very famaliar with one that i got off ---- last year. it is a retro fit which would mean you have to put it in a canopy or build one for it. I got 2 250w and it works great all i did was build a canopy box out of plywood mounted some polished sheet metal for heat and to reflect light, also used the reflector i got with them to help with light and than hung it above my tank.