75 Gallon Lighting

[InADream]

Will 1 400W Metal Halide Bulb be sufficient enough for a 55 - 75 gallon tank... I will either be using a 55 or 75 gallon tank... Or should I just split it into (2) 175 watt fixtures... I will have a few LPS & SPS, and some clams...

Dream

 

[cerolost]

I would say 2 175 watt fixtures would be ideal just because of the center brace. Are you looking to do a hood, pendent's or a custom canopy?

 

[smcdonn]

Go dual 175's or even dual 250's if your wanting a lot of light demanding corals. I personally did dual 250's over my 75 just so I knew I wouldn't be lacking no matter what I wanted to add.

 

[InADream]

I will be doing a custom canopy, I will look into doing dual 175 or dual 250s... Would it be the same for a 55 gallon?

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10003314#post10003314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by InADream
I will be doing a custom canopy, I will look into doing dual 175 or dual 250s... Would it be the same for a 55 gallon?

pretty much, but IMHO the 175s would be better on the 55g.


now on a 75g, 250's work well, but if you do the center brace mod to acrylic and you can have a centrally mounted single 250w MH and do quite well with it.


a friend in my local club has a std 75g with 2x54 of blue + t5 ho reflectored and a centrally mounted 250w SE 10k MH and he has amazing growth from his sps with it.

I think 2x250 is a little overkill on a 75g although many have that and it does work well, I personally would do 2x175 SE or 2 x 150 DE with t5s for additional light if I had a 75g.

seeing that I have a 90 that i still am gathering equipment for, 2x250 either SE or DE(preferably) is my plan.

but we jsts so happen to have 2 m58 250w MH ballasts laying around at work, so i might end up with those and deal with the limited bulb choice since the ballasts will be free.

 

[hahnmeister]

Id do all T5s over halides on that tank... you can just get more light over the tank (unless you go dual 400s, which is overkill) where you want it. a 6x54watt system with quality reflectors (Icecap SLRs) and fans will compete with halides easily. If you really want to melt the softies, go 8x54wattT5 and you can grow SPS on the bottom.

 

[stevedola]

If you do go with 2-175w on the tank then get a t5 retro to help bump it up. Ive been running 2-175w bulbs on my 75tank with very slow growth and trouble keeping any high light demanding corals. On the other hand, if its a softy/lps tank then it will be fine. My lps have great color and extension with 2-175w

however, I just purchased a Tx5 with IC 660 from a friend so that I can have whatever i wish.

 

[grigsy]

I'd go with halides. 2 x 175w or 2 x 250w

 

[mg426]

I am a big Halide fan, I Dig the shimmer.

 

[D.Blaine]

I run dual 250 w halides over my 75g. Ran XM 10,000k for a year. But recently switched to Hamilton 14k, it rocks I dont have problems supplying enough light for anything.

 

[stevedola]

I think the 2 - 175 w MH coupled with either 2 or 4 T5 bulbs would be perfect. you get the "shimmer" with nice color and good par (especially if you put 4 T5s).
I bet if you had 2 super blues, 2 6500k GEs, and 2 14k hammys on your 175 youd have some killer color and growth!

but im no expert...just a hobbiest.