125G lighting tips

[mfrisby2]

My tank is 125 gallons, 72 1/2" long and 18 3/4" wide. The tank is yet to have any thing done with it, due to lack of funding . Now that my job has started up it's time to get cranking on my tank. I plan on putting LR, coral, anemone's, and fish in it. Another catch too, I bought the tank from my neighbor who once used it for a freshwater. He never used any chemicals and never treated fish with illnesses in the tank because he was going to switch the tank over saltwater eventualy himself. So I got the tank for $300 - a stand, a tank, and NO LID. Appearently he melted it or some thing along those lines. So I'm lidless and have no lighting. I need to solve both these problems and they seem to go hand in hand, what would be the best way to approach this? Should I buy two smaller lights that cover one half of the tank a piece, or should I just go ahead and buy one big long light that covers the whole thing? Also from what I've read in other forums, the light's heat the tank causing excelerated evaporation and heating of the tank. So what would be the best way to approach the lid? Any feedback would be much appreciated, Thank you,

Mike

 

[a4twenty]

are you planning to go with halides? and what are you planning on keeping? for a lid you could just use some eggcrate. this allows good air movement.

 

[Hop]

Looks like a perfect time to start reading like mad here on RC. Lights are expensive and if you don't do it right the first time, plan on spending double

You need to evaluate what you want to keep, their lighting needs and balance it with your tank design. Inevitably people try to skimp at first, loose some live stock and then save and save to get what they should have bought in the first place Do some home work, run a search on 125 gallon tanks (there are a ton) and see what others are doing!

Good Luck...

 

[jimbo045]

I would go with 5' VHOs so ya have a little more room to play. JD

 

[reefnetworth]

what type of corals planed. these things are a need to know in order to help with lighting. LPS and anemones can make it on T-5's. SPS will need metel halides. you can go with both on each half the tank or in the middle. your imagination along with set-up will datermine lighting. also you will melt eggcrate with MH's if closer than 5-6"

 

[reefnetworth]

evaporation is going to happen. surface flow is needed and so are lights. a hood holds moisture and salt spray even if you have fans. i dont use them for that reason and the heat factor.