Could use some advice. I'm upgrading my tank this weekend to a 72 gallon bow front. The lighting my lfs is trying to sell me is a power compact with 4 - 65 watt bulbs. I won't be keeping any sps coral but would like to have a couple of clams. Is this going to be enough lighting?
enough lighting?
- Thread starter mollie
- Start date
MCsaxmaster
New member
Those would be pretty inadequate for most any Tridacnid. These would be barely adequate (I've got access to a light meter which is very nice 
) even if the clams where an inch or two under the surface. These critters MAY survive (although they may not) but will certainly not thrive. Metal halides aren't cheap, but they're worth every penny when it comes to maintaining certain critters. For a couple of halides you'll probably spend a few hundred more than you would on the compacts. It would be better than going through a few hundred dollars worth of clams though.
Cheers,
-Chris
p.s. I've seen T. crocea on reef flats in an inch of water...literally. Far more illumination than anyone would use.
) even if the clams where an inch or two under the surface. These critters MAY survive (although they may not) but will certainly not thrive. Metal halides aren't cheap, but they're worth every penny when it comes to maintaining certain critters. For a couple of halides you'll probably spend a few hundred more than you would on the compacts. It would be better than going through a few hundred dollars worth of clams though.Cheers,
-Chris
p.s. I've seen T. crocea on reef flats in an inch of water...literally. Far more illumination than anyone would use.
IMO PCs aren't really good for much. I have had as much success with softies under NO lights as PCs. I have had far superior results with VHO or T5.
Stongly consider the MH if you want to be in the hobby for a while. It is most likely that you will want to upgrade someday anyway, so just save the money and trouble and get them now.
No idea what a LFS charges for a PC hood, but I'll bet that it ain't cheap. Check out the used equipment forum and you could find some MH for not too much more than a PC hood.
Coralvue makes a nice line of MH products that are very reasonably priced.
Stongly consider the MH if you want to be in the hobby for a while. It is most likely that you will want to upgrade someday anyway, so just save the money and trouble and get them now.
No idea what a LFS charges for a PC hood, but I'll bet that it ain't cheap. Check out the used equipment forum and you could find some MH for not too much more than a PC hood.
Coralvue makes a nice line of MH products that are very reasonably priced.
Here is what I think I'm going to do, Getting a price on it right now. PFO makes a nice metal halide hood where I can put 2 250 watt mh and 2 atinics. It has the ice cap fans and I would probably get the ice cap ballast.
What is your opion? I want to get my lighting right and want it to
look good.
What is your opion? I want to get my lighting right and want it to
look good.
Mollie,
250W halides are a good decision. So are the fans.
I do not do atinics anymore since they have started to make nice 14K to 16K halide bulbs that are blue enough on their own. I save the heat and electricty. Some people still love them. Bulb color and atinic coloration is purely a personal preference.
As long as you are looking, look into double ended pendants like Giesman or Aquaspacelight. They are perfect for a lot of applications. SInce they are pendants, heat is not as much of an issue.
250W halides are a good decision. So are the fans.
I do not do atinics anymore since they have started to make nice 14K to 16K halide bulbs that are blue enough on their own. I save the heat and electricty. Some people still love them. Bulb color and atinic coloration is purely a personal preference.
As long as you are looking, look into double ended pendants like Giesman or Aquaspacelight. They are perfect for a lot of applications. SInce they are pendants, heat is not as much of an issue.
PSEUDOREEFER
Premium Member
I highly suggest getting electronic ballasts. Magnetic ones get really hot (nearly started a fire a few weeks ago when the fan failed).
Scuba Dog
New member
You will find a million different opnions on Halides, although I do really like my PFO set up....I went with the HQI ballasts because im running the DE bulbs...just be sure to do your reasearch carefully on what ballast and bulb combination you want to come up with...not every ballast will run any bulb equally...I like the HQIs becuase I like to over run the bulbs....my pfo ballasts do get hot but not super super hot....Like I stated there are so many different camps( preferences) out there....You can run the 14ks with out suplimentation....but I like VHO it adds brightness and the dusk Dawn effect...
PFO does make a fixture that has the doulbe ends as well its called the acrolight, I have pics in my gallary...they also have a mini pendant that I will use over my clam tank....
PFO does make a fixture that has the doulbe ends as well its called the acrolight, I have pics in my gallary...they also have a mini pendant that I will use over my clam tank....
PSEUDOREEFER
Premium Member
There's also a dimmable metal halide ballast coming out soon, but the price is outrageous.
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