Lights for a 30 gallon???

[auntievan]

Hello, I'm in need of some ideas on what type of lights to choose for a 30 gallon tank that measures 30x18x13. I believe it's called a breeder tank. I'd like to try my hand at keeping clams and mainly sps. MH...T5...PC?
Thank you all in advance for your response.

 

[Cesar357]

I say you will be good with a 250W MH light fixture. The size of the tank is perfect for one. I have one on my 20g tank and I personally think they are great. Specially since you want to do clams and SPS.

 

[oldreefer76]

The length of the tank 30" makes it tight for 1 mh fixture the depth 13" is great for 150 or 175w mh, 250w mh would be overkill at that depth and could easily bleach most sps, I would say you can try 175w mh with a lemenarc reflector and get good coverage but would have shadows on the ends of the tank, good for keeping lower light corals in that area.

I have not used t5 but it would give you end to end uniform lighting, pc's have used them hated them the par is poor and bulbs are actually good for only about 6 mos no matter what anybody tells you, they drop off quick

 

[kaserpick]

If it's a breeder, then it's 36" long. I agree with oldreefer, it would be hard to have full coverage with just one MH pendant, and I wouldn't go with a 250w either. You could keep certain clams with the lights you mentioned, but not too many SPS. Hope this helps and good luck!

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

 

[mbierzyc]

where did you get a tank with those dimensions? it's just what i'm looking for.

 

[auntievan]

The tank is made by Perfecto...mbierzyc...and yes it is only 30 inches long, for it is 18 inches deep. Kaserpick...are you saying that I wouldn't be able to keep many SPS with a metal halide or do you mean with T5's or PC. It's early and I've only had 1 cup of coffee. As far as T5's. I can't seem to find them in a 30 inch length...any ideas?
Thanks
Mary

 

[kaserpick]

Oh perfecto, I didn't know they made a breeder tank, and I meant the flourescent lighting. My bad. You may still not get full tank coverage, like oldreefer said, but those dim parts that would be on the end of the tank would make great areas for the softies. So you could do like a garden of SPS surrounded by softies. Sorry for the confusion.

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

 

[dg806]

Only sunpak and orbit make a 30" fixture that I can find. I posted the same question for a 29g.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=847385

 

[auntievan]

dg806, do you think that using the 7 inch legs would keep it far enough from the surface...so as not to bleach any of the corals? How are other reefers placing their MH's.
Thanks all!

 

[auntievan]

I checked out the sunpod MH...will the included 7 inch legs keep me far enough from the surface with a 13 inch tank depth. Or should I go with the Orbit PC?
Opinions?