Lighting for a Hex Tank

[Marala]

Ok I am working on setting up my first saltwater tank. I am a fish addict and have tons of freshwater tanks. I need a new challenge so I have decided to try saltwater. The tank I want to use is a 60g(I think I need to measure it. will do that tomorrow) Hexagon tank. I have been told that the shape isn't ideal but I am going to try it anyway. I have a friend who is breaking down her tank(she also has a hex) and is giving me the live rock, live sand, filter (Fluval 404), heater, and once my tank is set up, fish. The only problem is that she doesn't have a light and I don't know what to get for my oddly shaped tank. I want to put soft corals in it eventually. People that I have talked to on other forums said Metal Halide is the way to go for my tank. I just need to know if this is right and if the answer to the above question is yes, what type to get. Any info would be appreciated!

 

[Young Frankenstein]

2x175s or 1-400w 14-20k would be fine, I would get the 20k so you don't have to deal with the actinics.

 

[Young Frankenstein]

Remember some softies don't like that much light, and some do, so placement is critical for the corals.

 

[Frick-n-Frags]

Does anyone still make a vertical pendant?

the light pattern from a vertical pendant is perfectly circular(have to have a MH SE bulb approved for vertical orientation)

My vision for any quasi-circular tank I would have would be a single pendant of the appropriate wattage suspended from the ceiling: lean, mean and clean,

ultimately it would be cool to center drill the bottom and put a large dia tube that housed overflow flow and return plumbing, CL outlets etc for a 360º viewable with no equipment showing tank
uber lean, mean and clean

 

[Grins]

I think I saw some on sale at F&S last week. They were still pricey though.

 

[Sk8r]

I'd ditch the filter, save it for emergencies, and go only with live rock and sand, get a downflow HOB box with a 20g sump and a mag 9.5 to 12 return pump---definitely a good skimmer, rated for at least 100g [I use the Aqua C EV120 on my 54], and probably a T5 light. If you want to go metal halide [for the fussiest acropora corals and clams] I'd say a 250 would serve. [MH requires ballasts, and is best balanced with actinic---I can't speak for T5, never having used it. The tank is the least of your investment, once you get into this hobby. You'll want a ro/di filter, an autotopoff, no lid, and you might just go look at the relative cost of a 50g reefready [drilled] tank v. the cost of equipping a non-drilled tank with a sump. HOB [hang on back] equipment can be futzy and cranky...but if that turns out to be the more reasonable choice---probably after working with freshwater you know how to start a U tube and keep it going. The headache comes from the fact that a salt tank NEEDs evaporation to keep cool and do gas exchange with the air outside, and that rapid evaporation makes a U tube more difficult to keep going.

 

[Marala]

I have a regular hood for the tank that has 2 fluorescent bulbs. Would it be a good idea to take everything out of the light housing and maybe put a MH retrofit kit inside? It is a big hood I think it will fit. I was looking at this one:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14705&N=2004+113356
and if you guys say that it will do what I need and if I can afford it(may have to wait till next month ) I may go with it. I also saw this one:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10970/product.web
But I am not as impressed with the whole setup as I was the first.

Oh, we figured out(as we were carting RO water to the tank) that it is between 50 and 60 gallons. We are just assuming 55 for now.

What is the point of a sump? This is a stupid newbie question but I don't really see why I should use that over the filter I have now. If it is necessary I will do it. Do you have to make them, or can they be bought?

Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[Marala]

I have a regular hood for the tank that has 2 fluorescent bulbs. Would it be a good idea to take everything out of the light housing and maybe put a MH retrofit kit inside? It is a big hood I think it will fit. I was looking at this one:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=14705&N=2004+113356
and if you guys say that it will do what I need and if I can afford it(may have to wait till next month ) I may go with it. I also saw this one:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/10970/product.web
But I am not as impressed with the whole setup as I was the first.

Oh, we figured out(as we were carting RO water to the tank) that it is between 50 and 60 gallons. We are just assuming 55 for now.

What is the point of a sump? This is a stupid newbie question but I don't really see why I should use that over the filter I have now. If it is necessary I will do it. Do you have to make them, or can they be bought?

Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[loosecannon]

I have almost same tank. It`s a 44 gal. pentagon, with a pc 2 65 watt bulbs 1200 k`s . I also have 2 20 watts for dawn and dusk. All lights are 24" long. I have 2 aquacaler 70`s , and a prizum skimer , the skimer not too good. I have a wisper 30 power filter. I put down 2" of dry gravel, some dry rock. Than I put some alkhorn live rock on top of the dry stuff, on top of that I put a flatt pice of live rock, and than I put some corals ,and more rock on top of that. mh. cost a lot and the heat ah. My plan was to bring the corals up to the light. I have softy`s too. Sarcophyton sp., Sinularia sp., Nephthea sp., Xeniasp sp., Pseudoplexaura flagellosa, Discosoma sp., Amplexidiscus fenestrafer, Zoanthus sp., andProtopalythoa sp. . Algae Caulerpa prolifera, C. racemosa, and C. sertularoides. Fishes Halichoeres chrysus, Zebrasoma flavescens. I got this tank at a yard sail, 60$ . It came with 250 watt heater, two 24" 20 whatt bulbs,stand and some other goody`s. I payed 49$ 2 years a go for the pc. www. Aquatraders.com!

 

[Marala]

Thanks! Do you have any pictures of the tank that I could see? Do you have any trouble with it because of its shape?

 

[Marala]

Can anyone explain to me the purpose of a sump?

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10245909#post10245909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Frick-n-Frags
ultimately it would be cool to center drill the bottom and put a large dia tube that housed overflow flow and return plumbing, CL outlets etc for a 360º viewable with no equipment showing tank
uber lean, mean and clean

Like this?: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=682002 to this http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=8584604#post8584604 to this http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=992026

 

[lpsluver]

I had a 60g hex set up as a reef last year (broke it down to move and broke it while moving:mad2: ). I had a 24" MACRO 150w HQI with actinics (hung from the ceiling) and it was plenty of light to grow clams and SPS. It is a 30" tank to boot and I had a clam on the bottom, 2 plates and 2 other LPS (brains). I ran an Aqua C Remora skimmer in a 60 Slim Sump. I had a Mag 9.5 as the return. If I had to do it again I would plumb a closed loop system for better circulation. Hexes are tough to get good circulation with. I had to have several strategically placed powerhead to move the water around the rocks.