Frag Tank Lighting

[Compguy]

Hello all,

I am looking for some expertise here, I am having a 42 x 24 x 14 frag tank being built, and I am looking to purchase a Halide and T5 Combo fixture, but I am not to sure on the Halides what I should get, I am thinking a 36" fixture should be fine, but I would like some really intense light, so was thinking 2 x 250w, but was wondering if 2 x 400w would be to much, or if a single 400w would be best on a track with a motor walking it back and forth. I just don't know and am stuck so hopefully somebody out there can point me in the right directions, no matter which one they all have 2 T5's at 54 watts each. errggg, decisions, decisions.

Thanks in advance

 

[Zegg]

I think it really depends on what you want to use it for.

SPS, LPS, softies, growout, holding, color, everything.

IMO, I would just use 2x250 watt MH but should get away with using 1x250w on a rail as well.... if the tank were going to be wider than 24" would go with 400w MH and raise it higher for a larger spread. Water level will proly be around what 12-12 1/2" add egcrate shelf etc you could ultimalty have your frags 1" or les below the surface of the water.

 

[Compguy]

Well that was stupid, I didn't even think to provide what will be in there, its mainly for sps, but I imagine some zoa's and a few softies might make it in there from time to time, it is mainly to snip off the growout from the mother colonies in my main tank, then to grow them out just a bit to make sure they are good, but I want to get some extreme colors out of them, so a 2 x 250w should be good? Only problem is I won't be able to put it to close to the tank as its going to be an acrylic frag tank, suppose I could use fans though.

 

[Compguy]

Bumpity Bump, looking for some more help!!

 

[jayk198030]

my 75g tank is 18in deep. i use 2-150w MH DE 14k bulbs plenty of light. i had them on my 120g tank which is 24in deep they where ok but i upgraded to 2-250w MH now. i would recommend 2-250w. 400w may b way to much and then you have even more heat from bulbs.

 

[SPStoner]

My growout/ quarantine tank is almost the same dimensions as yours. Mine is 48x24x12. I am using 2- 400watt halide pendants w/ radiums on mine, which are primarily used for SPS. Each pendant also has 2 PC actinics. I like the pendants because I can raise/lower them easily, however, I think the 400's are overkill. (I had them already, so put them to use) I am thinking of switching to a 6 or 8 bulb T5 setup sometime this summer, but am still in the research stage. Because the tank is only 12", I think I have quite a few options, including 150w HQI's possibly. With yours being only 2 inches deeper, you have quite a few options as well.


Here's a shot of my setup.

[/IMG]

 

[jayk198030]

wow 2 400's over that tank. nice setup

 

[Compguy]

I was really thinking of doing 400's because I want to get some really nice colors, I will probably go that route. 400watters should really get some good growth I would think.

 

[Compguy]

Well, this is what I ended up with

2 of these - http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2255

and

2 of these - http://www.aquacave.com/blue-wave-3-hqi-250wbrmetal-halide-ballast-brby-sunlight-supply-1183.html

I am already having second thoughts about the ballasts, hopefully those are good ballasts, I am thinking I should have just gone with the Icecap ballasts, but I guess those will have to do. I realize I could have ordered a ballast to run both bulbs but I wanted to keep them seperate for 2 reasons, 1 I wanted to time them different, which I suppose I could have done with a dual ballast, and 2 in the future if I feel like I could use more lighting, I will upgrade 1 of them to a 400w bulb, but since I know that some softies will make there way into the frag tank, I am thinking I should stick with the 250's and see how it goes with those. Its a 70w frag tank, 48 x 24 x 13, Any feedback would be appreciated

 

[Zegg]

do you know what bulbs your going with?

 

[Compguy]

I am using the Pheonix 14K's on my display, 150w, but I have a spare 250w bulb from Coralvue, 14K, that I am gonna try out and see if I like.

 

[Compguy]

They were out of stock on the Coralvue's, so look's like I will still have a spare one cause I went ahead with the Pheonix 14K's, also ended up getting these pendants instead

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1139

I was told they are better for frag tanks because they spread the light out rather than the other ones I have listed above, I guess those are more for deeper tanks or more focused light.