pc ligting question??

[trimmer156]

i am trying to decide on what light setup to use for a 37 show reef tank
--- would 260w of pc lighting be overkill -- has to penetrate 22" or would a 150w mh and 65-96w pc work better --- according to the cost and heat transfer, it almost seems like the 260w pc would be better. This is my first reef what do you guys think? i have to pick my lighting so that i can build my canopy to suit it.

 

[8x8nhl]

Originally Posted by trimmer156
i am trying to decide on what light setup to use for a 37 show reef tank
--- would 260w of pc lighting be overkill -- has to penetrate 22" or would a 150w mh and 65-96w pc work better --- according to the cost and heat transfer, it almost seems like the 260w pc would be better. This is my first reef what do you guys think? i have to pick my lighting so that i can build my canopy to suit it.

yes i think that would be great im no expert on sps or clams but i think you could keepsps and clams as long as they were near the top

 

[seannmelly]

what kind of coral do you want? if you want to have everything go with the halide

 

[viper_930]

I'd go for the 150w halide with a 65 watt PC actinic. That way you can also keep SPS corals, clams, and an anemone. Make it a double-ended halide if you can - they're more powerful than the single endeds.

 

[trimmer156]

I'm not really into the sps or clams , so i quess i only want to keep softies and lps. Is 260w too much then - can too much light hurt anything, how many watts per gallon would be good -- 260w is like 7 watts per gallon . I an actually very worried about heat with metal halide, my tank i upstairs and in summer is already is a chore to keep it at 80-81 degrees - thats with only 65w light
i may have to build a chiller

 

[fishfreek]

I used to run 2X96w pc lights over my 37g reef and i kept all softies and LPS corals with no problems. If you don't think you will be getting into the SPS and clam thing, go with PC or VHO lighting. I recently switched from PC to 4X95w VHO and really like the look of VHO much better, they also run a bit cooler than pc lights.

 

[trimmer156]

thanks fish freak!!
who makes a 2x96 or 4x96 vho lighting, is it a retro kit??

 

[fishfreek]

I run a Ice Cap 660 ballast retro set up. If you want to go with a 2X95w set up you could also get the Ice Cap 430. PFO also makes a decent retro kit too. If you want, email me and i'll let you know where to pick one up cheap. *Email Removed*