Lighting for dummy's

[jdjeff58]

Could someone please provide me a link or basic explaination of the different light types? I know that the lighting is determined by the type of livestock that I plan on keeping. But I am having a difficult time locating anything that says that I need this light for that livestock.

I'm wanting to get a 75gal or something bigger in a 48". I was all set on getting a canopy, but I see that there are drawbacks. I see that there are 'all-in-one' fixtures that are mounted on the tank top. I saw a reefer's tank with the coralife fixture...it looked like a nice light after he claimed to have replaced the stock bulbs. It also looked like the fish had a wonderful escape route out the top of the tank.

Needless to say I'm confused about lighting and the initial expense. As I have said in other posts. I will start with fish and rock, but I want to be ready for coral....soft or hard.

Is there a lighting101 link somewhere??

 

[Young Frankenstein]

I fixed my own canopy. Custom made with 3 fans and a glass to cover the air cooling so that i don't have too much precipitation. 75 gal with 2 175w mh, 2 radio shack blue led, 2-25w blue lights,4-25w incandescent bulbs. Designed it not only for the fish and coral but for my best view also. i happen to like incandescent bulbs when viewing the tank night time (thats for me) and for the fish and coral the 2 175w mh are doing fine. If you beside to built your own canopy and have qestions I will answer them if possible.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=550860

 

[michaeldaly]

Here are some links.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/saltwater/greco_lighting.html
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1789&articleid=2388
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=13116&cid=3791&search=

 

[jdjeff58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9498514#post9498514 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michaeldaly
Here are some links.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/saltwater/greco_lighting.html
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1789&articleid=2388
http://www.aquariumfish.com/aquariumfish/detail.aspx?aid=13116&cid=3791&search=

Thanks....those links are great. It clears up most of my questions. Very informative with no picture of Moe Howard to distract.

But the question comes up for me about the different options with mounting. My one and only human contact with a reef keeper revealed his 75 gal with a Corallife tank mount fixture. His tank is verrrry succesful and he is a well established reefer. I like the look. But I had to ask him about any concerns about his fish jumping out. The surface of the water was completely exposed.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Some specific fish are more prone to "jumping". You can look at the explanations on the Drs Foster and Smith Website. Each fish has a description and information indicating whether or not they are "jumpers". Some hobbyists use the eggcrate that you can find at a local diy store to cover their tank for jumping fish. I believe that they call them light diffusers. They are plastic (I'd get white color) and can be cut to fit the top of your tank. They leave the tank open to air circulation but would mostly prevent jumpers from escaping. They can also have an effect on the way light spreads in your tank. YOu'd want to keep the corals away from the edges of the tank so that they get good strong light.

HTH

 

[jdjeff58]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9499152#post9499152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Henry Bowman
They can also have an effect on the way light spreads in your tank.

Isn't there some kind of screening with the same same size holes that would prevent the light from being diffused? I could see that being too flimsy and it couldn't be made of metal, I guess. But perhaps it could be reinforced in such a way that it wouldn't droop. Just a thought?

 

[teena]

i used egg creat, its at home depot in the lighting its the white ice tray looking thing you see in the office lights, there only $9 a sheet about 4ft long, & you can cut them to size to fit you tank & cut small knotches out for equitment on the back of the tank, ill try to get a pic,

 

[teena]

 

[Henry Bowman]

^^ Thats the stuff I was talking about ^^

 

[teena]

i see it on alot of tanks, just dont go in HD asking for egg creats they will look @ you like your out of your mind, just go where they sell lighting things, but not lamps & things, over @ globes wireing & all that,