Lighting a new tank

[pop-i]

Hey yall,

I'm setting up a new tank (a 90 gallon that's four feet long and two feet deep) and trying to figure out what to do for lighting. I'd like to keep leathers, LPS and SPS. I've talked to several LFS guys and most are turned off of MH. One guy suggested that I use multi VHO, but I'm leaning towards 2X175 10000K double end MH supplemented with some sort of flourscents (PC, VHO or T5). I guess that I don't know what lighting I really need and if I do go the way of a double MH with dual flourescents which MH (the mogul or the doble ended) and which flourscents should I use. I live in Arizona so heat is a major consideration. I really want the best lighting for my tank without overdoing it or spending a frivilous amount of money

 

[sales weasel]

If you go with MH, supplement them with two-three T5 actinic+. Also, since it's new, I assume it hasn't cycled yet. If that's the case there is no need run the MH. You can run actinics most of the day at first. That will help with the coralline growth (assuming there is some coralline on your live rock). You'll save your MH and some energy while it cycles. I started my newest tank with reeferrocks base rock and live sand from my other tank. That's how I seeded mine w/coralline and the bacteria to speed up the process. I read an article somewhere about speeding up coralline growth by using more actinic lighting in the early phase.


I have a 55g which is the same dimension as a 90 except yours will be 18"D. I never used my MH. Instead, I'm using two TEK T5 HO retros (4 lights w/two ballasts). It is plenty-o-light. For a 90G, you can use three TEK HO retros (6 lights and three ballasts). You could grow anything with that setup.

 

[sales weasel]

sorry, I pressed the wrong button

 

[pop-i]

In regards to cycling it, I will definitely be using live rock and only actinics during that time since coralline grows better in low light and there is no reason to use MH during the cycling process. I still am in love with the MH since they seem to be the "ultimate" in most reef tanks. Maybe I'm just jaded.

 

[sales weasel]

The main reason I never have used my two 175w MH is the heat. I felt the heat coming off a pair in an LFS and I got nervous. However, the T5 also get hot...just not as hot as the MH. To me the T5 seem brighter but I think the MH look more real with the rays of shimmering light.
Good luck