Newbie Lighting Question...

rlanders67

Member
I have a 65g 36L X 18W x 24H. Is this too much lighting... 1x250 watt 10,000K MH lamp, 2x65 watt True Actinic 03 Blue PC lamps, 2x1 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED lamps. Not sure if I should go with the 1x150. :thinking:
 

rlanders67

Member
Just getting started so 50lbs of LR and probably reef package from swf.com. Eventually some corals. Fish - still debating...
 

mandarin w

Member
That is not a definate. First set up the lights so they are not sitting directly on the tank. Make sure that you can get a good air flow under the lights, Then you can use a fan to blow the heat away from the tank. Then make sure that you do not use the glass covers over the tank. No matter which lighting you choose you do not, should not use the glass covers over the tank. It inhibits gas exchange. That being done, your tank will hardly ever get over 82 degrees. And that is a very good temp to keep your tank at. I know that most of the sites say 78. But my personnal opinion is they say that so most will think they need a chiller, and they will buy them. But the fact of the matter is, that if you go to Figi, Austriala and the Phillippines where these fish are mostly caught, the water temps were these fish are caught run at about 79 -83 degrees. So a tank that is kept at 81 or 82 degrees is not in danger. The danger is the temp swinging back and forth to much is the real danger.
As far as knowing the temps of these area, I know for a fact the temps of the Phillippines, I lived there for over 15 years. I spent a good part of each and everyday in the ocean. The water is definnately warm.
 

mandarin w

Member
I have 3x 250 Metals over my 180, I use phoenix 14K bulbs so I have a little actinic lighting to my tank. The 10K are just too white for my taste. I have kept my tanks at 81-82 for the past five years with no problems. As I stated I have my light up off my tank about 8 inches with a fan that blows across the top of the tank.
To be honest, I think the heater on in my house raises my tank temp more than my lights do.
 

rlanders67

Member
Thank you... I get so much information from this site. I dislike my LFS... always feed you a line of bull and not very friendly.
 
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