Ideal lighting for RBTA in 30 gal

[gsmXwsm]

What type of lighting should I get? - my 2 24wt5 HO's are not enough-

systems i can afford:
Odyssea 24" 250W Aquarium Metal Halide System

24'' Metal Halide 150 HQI T5 HO Aquarium Light Fixture

24" T5 HO 96 WATT REEF SALTWATER

 

[garygb]

For a 30 gallon, either the 150 MH or the 96-watt fixture will be fine for your RBTA.

 

[O'Man]

You could overdrive your current lamps with an icecap 430 and use the single lamp reflectors and have lots of light. I'm using 2 of the 34" T5 HO on my 38 and have plenty of light. One lamp is a UV Aquasun & the other is a UV 454.
I would not hesitate to put a RBTA in there. I would attempt to put it on top of a rock pile though, but they move around to a spot they like in any event.

 

[gsmXwsm]

ok- well, about the 250- is it going to harm my rbta? Of course I can light acclimate with mulitiple screens (removing one each day) but I just dont want to drive my nem (who has been at the front of my tank which is awesome) into hiding like i hear about (all the time on here) I found a 250w single for about what I can get a 150w or 96w

 

[garygb]

I personally would go with either the 150w or the T-5s. In time an RBTA can adapt to 250, but why waste the electricity?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I've got a RBTA in my 30g cube under 250W MH. If you do change your lighting, just be sure to acclimate slowly so the nem doesn't decide to move. Seem everytime I do a little tweaking to my tank my nem will wander for a few days.