lighting a 125

[flashyleopard]

So what should I be looking for in total wattage witht he metal halides?I was considering the 3 250's,but my tank has a center brace.I am still somewhat confused about the need/role for/of actinics in a shallower reef.Will the metal halides do th ejob in a 125g or should I expect to be providing other actinics and lunar lights?I really appreciate the guidence I am getting here and I am eager to learn more about lighting and equiptment.Thanks


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[d4a2n0k]

Most 125's have two braces so 3 x 250's is the way to go.

Actinics are there to make the colors of fish and corals pop. They make them fluoresce which no metal halide can do. Another benefit in having actinics is you can create a dawn/dush effect. You wont want to run the MH's for 12 hours a day so you can run the actinics for 12 hours and the MH's for 6-8 hours.

Many people run their tanks without actinics, they are not neccesary. I personally wouldnt setup a tank without them though.

Lunar lights are pretty much the same deal. Its just nightlight for your tank so you can view after dark. They are also not neccesary.

 

[flashyleopard]

Thanks for that info.Could I use the actinics as night or lunar lights then?The fisha ren't disturbed by the blue light?

 

[d4a2n0k]

The actinics would be too bright to be used as a moonlight. The fish need to sleep as well. Typically, the moonlights are 1 or 2 LED's so the output is very little.

 

[wrenchhead]

This is what I have on my 125.
2 175w 20k Hamilton on the ends and 1 150 hqi 20 k in the middle.
I have 2 72" vhos as supplement.1 white actinic and 1 super actinic.
I know everyone says the 150s and 175s are weak but the 125 is shallow.I keep sps all over the bottom of the tank and it has great color and awesome growth.
I will be changing to 10ks soon just because the tank looks a little too blue.

 

[Reefbox]

I'm pondering my light for my 125 that I setup today.
I wanted 3 150 metal halides but now i realize i have only one center cross brace so I"ll have to work around that. Any suggestions?

i will be adding 4 LED's for night viewing.

I'll probably also add 2 T-5's for actinic.

 

[sirreal63]

Perfecto tanks have one center brace and AGA has two. Older Oceanic's have one large glass brace in the center.

I run a single 250 watt 10K XDE in the center and 150 watt 10K XDE's on each end. In your case with the center only brace I would use Luminarc reflectors to get the most usable coverage. A pair of 250's would be ideal. Having said that I seem to be getting about the same growth under the 150's as I do under the 250 and some Acro's do better under the 150.

 

[Reefbox]

Now that I can't put 3 150 metal halides in a single cross brace 125 like I was planning I 'm thinking of putting in a canopy with custom lighting.

Eight 3' T-5 bulbs with individual reflector's and powered by an Icecap ballasts and 4 LED's and an Icecap cooling fan or two.

I have Tek T-5 on my 55 now and i like that light.

 

[ghostrida3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9803930#post9803930 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by d4a2n0k
Most 125's have two braces so 3 x 250's is the way to go.

Actinics are there to make the colors of fish and corals pop. They make them fluoresce which no metal halide can do. Another benefit in having actinics is you can create a dawn/dush effect. You wont want to run the MH's for 12 hours a day so you can run the actinics for 12 hours and the MH's for 6-8 hours.

Many people run their tanks without actinics, they are not neccesary. I personally wouldnt setup a tank without them though.

Lunar lights are pretty much the same deal. Its just nightlight for your tank so you can view after dark. They are also not neccesary.

i thought a 20k halide lamp would get corals to flourece?

 

[d4a2n0k]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9808939#post9808939 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghostrida3
i thought a 20k halide lamp would get corals to flourece?

No, all it would do is make it look blue.

 

[flashyleopard]

I think I will get the two 400 watts and center them in the center of each 3' section of the 125...allowing the light to taper off in some areas.I may get a lower wattage lamp or try some mv bulbs and seeing if my theory about adding some UVB helps the corals retain the bright colors we see in shallow reefs.

 

[carlso63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9820328#post9820328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flashyleopard
I think I will get the two 400 watts and center them in the center of each 3' section of the 125...allowing the light to taper off in some areas.I may get a lower wattage lamp or try some mv bulbs and seeing if my theory about adding some UVB helps the corals retain the bright colors we see in shallow reefs.

FYI - I have a 125 (Perfecto) that had that (annoying) glass / plastic center brace. I literally cut mine out with a razor knife - cut the silicone that holds the brace in, that is - removed the whole brace, and replaced it with a 4 inch wide section of acrylic that I drilled 1/4" holes into and bolted to the tank frame with nylon nuts / bolts...

No more annoying 'shadow' from the stock center brace... the install looks OEM, and has held up fine - no bowing or flexing of the glass. I have a 3 MH setup and it looks great.

P.S. - IMPORTANT! the tank needs to be empty - or at least 3/4 empty - to do this correctly