What's A Sump??

[finfighter]

The $300 light i dont have but it a complete mh light in a cooling case for that price. The retrofit kits i found were around $200 on that site. The 9.75 in. was how big the window was on the mh light with the cooling case. So when you get a retrofit kit you have to build a case for it? Also do u know how many mh retrofit kits id have to get for a 55 gal? I heard it was 2 retrofit kits. Can i build them both into one hood thing?

 

[jobob]

well they say u need one mh for every 2 feet of tank. so i have 2 mh bulbs on a 55gal. u only need one 48in retro kit for a 55, that comes with 2 mh lamps. but u also need either power compact or vho lights for the actinic. yes u need something to put the retro fit kits in. usaually u put them into a canopy. i built one for about 40 bucks. its 10inches high. cause the mh needs to be about 8-12in off the water. so u dont cook the corals. but im put in the canopy the 2 mh lamps ans 4x55w pc of actinic. so i will have 6 lights in the one canopy. and theres fans on the back of the canopy. to control the heat. its much cheaper to get the retro kits and built a canopy for them. or ur u cant build on u could always buy one. its still cheaper. and u get to use what ever u want for the actinics.

 

[finfighter]

To tell the truth i dont know wut actinics are but if it involves buying another light ill be saving for alot more.
My tanks gonna end up costing alot of money becuase i plan to make a reef/community aquarium since i cant decidebetween the 2. Maybe 3-5 corals and 10-15 fish not including the fuge life.

 

[jobob]

u need actinics to keep corals. what kind of lights u have now? u can get a cheap power compact on an auction site for about $100. i think i got about $2000 in my 55 gal.

 

[yeffre kix]

Originally posted by FinFighter
To tell the truth i dont know wut actinics are but if it involves buying another light ill be saving for alot more.

[hr]
:happyfish
:happyfish
Actinics are needed for the color of the light output. A good MH bulb IMO is 10k which gives beautiful ripples in your tank and just right color of light to view you fish and corals. Actinics supliment the blue spectrum need by corals even though the MH will overpower them. You can also create a cool dusk to dawn effect by having the actinics on for 30 min. before and after your MH are on.