Lighting up a 58

[GP Kahuna]

I'm looking to buy an Oceanic 58 gallon and looking for lighting help. I've never used MH and would like to. Could I use a single 250 watt DE over the center of the tank (36" wide)? I would also use 2 95watt VHO which I already have for actinics or I may get a T5 retrofit kit because they are priced reasonably (any opinions of T5 over VHO). I'm looking to do a mixed reef. On a side note, I may be skipping the 58 and buying a friends 65 AGA. I would'nt want to use a single MH over that because of the plastic center brace. If I do go that route, would a 2 x 150w (looking at the Sunpods) suffice? Thanks in advance.

 

[flapjack1439]

I have a Oceanic 58 with their canopy. I like the tank but I can only fit staggered 24" VHOs in the canopy and I don't like the coverage. I'm currently exploring changing to T5s as the 36" ones will fit.

 

[kodyboy]

T5 is better than VHO,
Aquariumspecialty has some nice retrofit kits from icecap for T5's

 

[GP Kahuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9248046#post9248046 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flapjack1439
I have a Oceanic 58 with their canopy. I like the tank but I can only fit staggered 24" VHOs in the canopy and I don't like the coverage. I'm currently exploring changing to T5s as the 36" ones will fit.

Ah, that's good to know. I plan on making a canopy and realized that the VHO's were going to be a tight fit. Although I can make it a bit wider, if the T5's are a bit shorter I would rather go with that. Thanks.

 

[GSMguy]

t5s are a bit shorter
icecap makes the best t5 retro reefgeek has great deals
i have a 36 inch 50 gallon with 2x250 aquamedic ocean lights with 20k bulbs and it looks great no actinics needed

 

[GSMguy]

plus i only paid 560 total

 

[alimal182]

I just broke down my 58 oceanic to install a 220 oceanic, on my 58 i had a 250 W 14K MH under a high top canopy along with a 96W dual daylight and a 96W dual Acetinic, The 96W lights were housed in a power compact with it's own fan along with a moonlight. I did have to run another fan for the MH. Make sure if you do get a MH to mount it as high as possible or the Heat will build up on you. Right now on the 220 I"m running 3 400W 20K MH 18in up from the water with fan and my water hasn't gone above 78 degrees.

 

[MiddletonMark]

If you design the canopy to fit ... you can barely get some 36" VHO's in there - but as mentioned, it requires just the right design.

I've gone with a pair of MH's + 2 VHO actinics on my 58 .... mainly stonies, and the overlap between the two bulbs I like [nice coloring all over the corals in the middle + ability to mix both blue-end MH + 10k-end MH for nice looks, PAR, and variability through photoperiod].

 

[GP Kahuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9249489#post9249489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alimal182
I just broke down my 58 oceanic to install a 220 oceanic, on my 58 i had a 250 W 14K MH under a high top canopy along with a 96W dual daylight and a 96W dual Acetinic, The 96W lights were housed in a power compact with it's own fan along with a moonlight. I did have to run another fan for the MH. Make sure if you do get a MH to mount it as high as possible or the Heat will build up on you. Right now on the 220 I"m running 3 400W 20K MH 18in up from the water with fan and my water hasn't gone above 78 degrees.

So, did you feel the single MH gave you enough light? I know there will be fall off on the sides, but that's not really a problem since I like to keep a few inches open on both front and sides to make it easier for cleaning.

 

[raddogz]

A single 250w MH in my opinion will light a tank nicely, but the light fall off is very noticeable. I have a 250w MH and a pair of T-5 to help with the light fall off from the mh pendant.