Wanting to do the reef tank ThAnG

[tangy-tang]

I have a 55 gallon salt tank that has been up for about 10 months. It has around 60 pounds of LS. The tank also has about 20 pounds of LR and 25 pounds of base rock. I plan to get around 20 or more punds of LR. I have one large aquaclear powerhead and i plan to get 1 or 2 more powerheads for advanced flow. I have a HOB filter and a skimmer. I have a few shrimp, few fish, and a hermit crab at the moment.
Saying that, i have decided to buy a lighting system next month. I want to know what I really need. I cant afford to keep upgrading so I want to do it right. I know the answer im going to get most is MH. I realize what MH is but I need to know more. Like, what do I need bare minimum to pretty much know that I can get what ever I want. Please remember that this is a 55 gallon.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[littlebuck]

Do you have a canopy all ready? Because if you do then you can get a ice cap system which you can build your own set up.

 

[a&m aggie 04']

if you want to keep SPS and clams, MH is a must. On a 55 gallon id go with 2- 250Watt MH bulbs. I dont run MH so others will have to chime in on what bulb and ballast would be best.
If you just wanna keep LPS and softies you can go with VHO or PC. I run 4 VHO's on a 58 gallon with an IceCap ballast.
If i were to buy a completely new setup id go with 2 250 watts 10k MH bulbs and 2 VHO as actinic supplements.
MD

 

[ron thomas]

Mark,
I have a 55-gallon tank that I converted over to a reef tank. Some of my difficulties stem from the fact that it is only 13" front-to-back. I put on JBJ power compact lights and a HOB skimmer. For the lights, I got the JBJ legs that allow one to lift the front of the lights up on the rear hinge. Nice, but the lights hit the return pipe of the skimmer!when I start to lift it So, each time I need to get in the tank I have to pull the whole light fixture forward to be able to swing it up and clear the skimmer pipe. Pain in the neck, but I don't want to spend money on a new set of lights. Bottom line is that, light intensity aside, what's going to give you also most convenient access to the tank?
As an aside, the leaflet that JBJ included with the lights recommended replacing the cooling fans every two years. What do people think of that?

 

[a&m aggie 04']

A well designed canopy would be the 1st thing I'd look at. A picture of what ur working with now would really help.
As for the fans, id say replace them when they quit running. Id remove them and look at the inners of them. They might be rusted and such from the salt water, in that case I'd look at replacing.

 

[kdfrosty]

I clean my fans as part of my regular maintenance, but replace them every two months. It's no big loss since 120mm fans run about $3 each.

 

[paulcoates]

I havea 55 gallon reef tank and run 260 watt power compacts
4x65w (2 10k and 2 actinic)

 

[r22wink]

aggie.. 500watt halides over a 55gal is alittle over kill.. u could get away with 250 watt halides over that tank.. IMO..

 

[a&m aggie 04']

id go with 250 watt halides...think they cover 2 feet wide each, so if the tank is 4 feet long you'll need 2 of them.

 

[tangy-tang]

Okay, can someone kind of explain the difference between a hood and retro fit. Also i dont know anything about pricing. I this a good deal for instance:
48 in. hood with 2 175w metal halides for $439.00 (5500k)

 

[a&m aggie 04']

Im not sure on the difference between those but I do notice that you dont want 5500k metal halide bulbs...your tank will be yellow unless you throw lots of actinic supplement at it.
I also see that you are going with 175Watt bulbs, on a 55 which is shallow they would do just fine.
MD

 

[rubberduck]

i have a 55 and i got the coralife/aqualight setup with 2 150 watt halides 2 actincic 96 watt vhos and 3 moon lights with a grand total of around 500 watts and it was 600$$$ total. not a bad price and they work great.

 

[tangy-tang]

Hey I found that same set-up today. The corallifeaqualife set-up was at my LFS. It has 2 150 watt MH bulbs at 10000k, 2 96 watt actinec, and 3 moon lights. The one i saw was 787.99. First of all is that a good price and second, is that enough light for anything that I could put in my 55 gallon aqaurium?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[rubberduck]

light wise yes, thats awsome, im planing on sps and clams, allso that is a very fair price from a lfs, i got mine off _ _ _ _. great job and came all together.