lights on a tank?

[Jah2707]

I have a 40 gallon hex tank. It has about 50 pounds of live rock. and 10 gallon sump. Right now I have xena, shroom, zoans, and star and everything is looking great. The question I have it lights. Some day I would love some hard stuff and maybe a clam.

I have power compact lights current.

Coral life 65w 10,000 two months old.
jbl 65w 10,000 and 65w actinic
new mod for moon lights. (very cool)

In my mind that is 195 w of light. That would be almost 5 w per gallon. (I know there is no real calculator like that) Most people love mh and I would love to add one but the top of my tank is really full. I have no room left. Will my lights work for what i want to accomplish or will i need to replace them to do that.

 

[Deadeye]

There are some clams that can go under PC's. I mainly like the clams that need MH's. I'd recommend saving some money and getting some metal halide lightning and selling the other lights later, expecially if you wish to do some SPS. I like Metal halide pendants over buying a full fixture.

 

[Jah2707]

I think I just got way over kill. I am not sure how it is going to work. I just got Hamilton Tech 36" set up. It has two mh. Either 250 or 175 and two 30w actinics. Sounds sweet. I am going to have to hang it over my current tank. This should be perfect for upgrades also. I will try to post some pics.

It is bigger then my tank do I need cover the area that will go over the edge of the tank? What do I use to cover it.

 

[Jah2707]

 

[Deadeye]

Just hang it up pretty high at first and monitor corals and temperature. Then lower it slowly making sure your temperature doesn't get to high and kill everything.

 

[Jah2707]

What would you use to hang a light like this?

 

[Deadeye]

Heavy duty hooks and chain, or a hanging kit.