pc lights

[blueking]

what kind of watts do you need for a 75 gallons reef tank? would 4x55w do the trick two white and two blue and what kind of coral can i put into this tank? <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[deucey]

hi, well if you have a 75g tank with (4) 55w PC over it you will have ~3watts/gallon...not bad, but you could use a little more! You would have 220watts total divided by 75gallons that is how I came up with ~3 watts/gallon, really it is 2.9watts, but you could say 3. Anyway IMO I would add atleast two more 55 watters....although you know Custom Sea Life offers the same bulb in a 65watt version..not much more expensive. Just something to think about! You could keep some soft corals with around 3watts/gal like mushrooms, yellow polyps may do okay, maybe some star polyps..hard to say....soft corals should do okay under that amout of light though!

 

[kdlbem]

I have a 75 gal. with 4x55 watt CSL PC's that has been doing very well since July of last year. I have softies(mushrooms,polyps), LPS(green pearl bubble, green open brain, torch, goniopora) And a couple of SPS(blue-tip staghorn, hydnophora). There's others, but it's early, and I haven't finished my first cup of coffee yet <img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" />
I have noticed the SPS are not growing at the rate I had hoped for, so I am in the process of adding another 220 watts of VHO to help out. I think that you would be better off with a little more light. Another 2x55, or 2x96 would be great.
HTH,
B

 

[captained]

I have abut the same PC wattage, so I just ordered a very cheap MH retro to add: <a href="http://www.aquaticlight.com" target="_blank">http://www.aquaticlight.com</a>

 

[blueking]

I like to said thank for all your help second I think mh lights are a good ideas. c ed I went to that web site and found out that i could spent $100 on those lights. Question is that too much watt for a 75 gallon tank. The tank that I'm looking into does not have a top. I was thinking of putting a glass on top and sit the lights over the tank. The question is how does this apply to mh lights because it's a retro, do I leave it on the glass or hang it up <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" /> Need some help in this department <img src="graemlins//silly.gif" border="0" alt="[silly]" /> I'm just concern about the lights any short cut anyone <img src="graemlins//yeahright.gif" border="0" alt="[yeahright]" />

 

[reefcrazy]

if you go with mh i recomend that you hang them up, or build a canopy for it. i you put it up on the glass it will get you tank hot and you will need to get some cooling device that will cost you a harm and a leg. if you deside to go with mh you can get two 175w, 250w or 400 depending on what you may want to keep and two no bulbs for atinics or vho. i have two 175w mh with 3 no atinics and i will be adding another 250w mh and replacing the no with two vho 110w atinics. i will be keaping sps and clams on my 72g tank.
also i have my mh in my canopy with fans and temp. is not a deal they are 12in away from the water.