some simple Lighting questions

bill109

bill109

Active Member
hello to all
today at the lfs i was checking out their lighting and i was tht they use some of the things they sell as far as the lights they have on the reef.
they have 2x 150 watt pendent HQI on a 180
if i do pan on guting one of these at about 399.99.. wow yes expensive could i get away with only one over one side of the tank or is it enough. or would i do half the hqi and half PC?
or are ther better lighting sytems out there for less and the same amoutn of light to keep a good selection of corals?
-bill109
 
psusocr1

psusocr1

Active Member
the general rule og thumb is to have a halide every 2 foot of the tank length..there are many options witht hat being said.. you can get HQI or mogul base halides.. you can get retro fit kits (cheaper) or systems( alot more expensive) you can also get supplemental lighting like PC or VHO for color or a "look"
you dont want to put one halide on one side and pc's on another or it will look pretty bad and im sure you wont be very happy with it...
my suggestion is read ALOT on lighting.. just do searches for it and you will find more information that you can read in 3 years...then ask some specific questions
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by psusocr1
the general rule og thumb is to have a halide every 2 foot of the tank length..there are many options witht hat being said.. you can get HQI or mogul base halides.. you can get retro fit kits (cheaper) or systems( alot more expensive) you can also get supplemental lighting like PC or VHO for color or a "look"
you dont want to put one halide on one side and pc's on another or it will look pretty bad and im sure you wont be very happy with it...
my suggestion is read ALOT on lighting.. just do searches for it and you will find more information that you can read in 3 years...then ask some specific questions
ok.
but what about the lighting deal is it good or bad?
my lfa has a 180 with only 2 pendent 150 watt hqi lights on it

-bill109
 
joncat24

joncat24

Active Member
2 pendant 150's will not be enuf on a 180. Neither the length of coverage or the wattage will be enuf for corals in a 180. Especially clams or sps. You would need 3 of them and supplement them with power compacts or t-5's
 
trippkid

trippkid

Active Member
Don't skimp on your lighting or your skimmer, you'll end up spending ALOT more in the end. IMO the lfs 180 should have 3 250wt HQI or Mogul bas with maybe some t5's or VHO, kind of depends on what Kelvin rating the HQI's are, what you are planning to keep, and what color you are trying to achieve. the bigger the tank the more it will cost across the board.
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by trippkid
Don't skimp on your lighting or your skimmer, you'll end up spending ALOT more in the end. IMO the lfs 180 should have 3 250wt HQI or Mogul bas with maybe some t5's or VHO, kind of depends on what Kelvin rating the HQI's are, what you are planning to keep, and what color you are trying to achieve. the bigger the tank the more it will cost across the board.

well there was a ton of corals i think there was a clam on there
maybe it was more watts?
idk if i care abou color i just want ligthing to keep a reef
 
joncat24

joncat24

Active Member
you will care about the color...believe me. SOme people like the white look some like blue some like yellow. that is why there are different kelvin bulbs. That and the felling that 10k's deliver better growth while 20k's or 15'ks look better so, some peolple mix them. I have a 180 and there is no way that two 150's will give you a look you like. There will be way too much dark area. I wish I had four instead of 3
 
bill109

bill109

Active Member
Originally Posted by joncat24
you will care about the color...believe me. SOme people like the white look some like blue some like yellow. that is why there are different kelvin bulbs. That and the felling that 10k's deliver better growth while 20k's or 15'ks look better so, some peolple mix them. I have a 180 and there is no way that two 150's will give you a look you like. There will be way too much dark area. I wish I had four instead of 3
ok well i like the look of the bright white look
i m running 130 wts of pc and it makes the tank look som much cleaner with the brigt white so il guess i like the bright white color.
man so tht 800 on lights for a 90 gal reef.... wow
is there other less expensize systems out there
 
watson3

watson3

Active Member
Originally Posted by bill109
or would i do half the hqi and half PC?
You could do this if you put all of your coral on the Halide side, but then you will have a weird lighting effect on your water...400 for two 150w is not horrible...
 
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