Lights? Need a little help/advice

[rkesling]

I have a 55 or 65g tall hex tank that I was thinking about setting up for a seahorse tank. I'm not sure of the exact depth but I would venture to say it is 32" - 36" deep. What kind of lighting would be best for the depth?

 

[mtc1966]

i would say hot5 would be more then adequate

 

[fishguy194]

Well, what are you going to put in there? Soft corals? No corals? Mushrooms? Algae?

 

[rkesling]

Well, what are you going to put in there? Soft corals? No corals? Mushrooms? Algae?

No corals...nothing requiring high light

 

[fishguy194]

I would use either a double fluorescent strip or power compact. The horses don't need high light. It will also keep down any algae issues you might have.

 

[mtc1966]

I have a double fluorescent strip over my 29g for a total of 48w i am hoping thats enough to support the macros i am introducing.

 

[pledosophy]

I would do a 70w MH light so you get the shimmer. Maybe a 14K bulb or so so you will not need actinics. YOu could probably go to a 150w pretty easily if there is a canopy fan and not experience to much in the way of heat build up IME.

 

[rayjay]

If you are only keeping the seahorses in the tank as you say, with no corals or live plant life, then all you need is ambient lighting or a light that sufficiently allows you to view your seahorses in a pleasing manner.
I have a spiral 13w lamp over each seahorse tank and if you get the cool white instead of warm white they work well.
I'd like to find "daylight" spirals but so far haven't come across any where I live.

 

[pledosophy]

Rayjay you can order daylight spirals that are incased with an internal reflector for about $10 a bulb. Having them incased in glass makes cleaning them a lot easier IME, you just have to wipe off the front. The internal reflector means you don't need the big dome of the shop light.

HTH

 

[rayjay]

Thanks but I live in Canada where selections are fewer and more expensive.
What I have been using, I buy in 6 packs for $8-$9 and they have no reflectors nor do they need them as the light is sufficient just placing them above the tank where salt doesn't get to them.

 

[FlaJohn]

I have a 55 or 65g tall hex tank that I was thinking about setting up for a seahorse tank. I'm not sure of the exact depth but I would venture to say it is 32" - 36" deep. What kind of lighting would be best for the depth?

Hex's are a pain to light. Even if you are not doing coral in this tank you still want it to be bright and pretty. Halide would light it up but there is the heat thing. Maybe one of the new LED bulbs on a clip on fixture? The problem with Hex's is that tube fixtures ( ready made ) that will fit on the top of a hex still leaves the tank dark and grim.

 

[FlaJohn]

I would do a 70w MH light so you get the shimmer. Maybe a 14K bulb or so so you will not need actinics. YOu could probably go to a 150w pretty easily if there is a canopy fan and not experience to much in the way of heat build up IME.

pledsophy I have a 70w MH clip on fixture that resides in the fish junk box it could barely light a 14 gallon hex let alone a 55+ hex. I tried to light a 45 hex with a 150w MH it was still pretty dark and grim. They are just hard tanks to light. I love the space saving thing about hex's but hate trying to make one work in the real world.