need help with lighting options

[beachroadbum]

Hey Now all,

This past weekend I decided to set up a dedicated 100% LPS tank.

The tank is a 29 gallon. The LPS I have in the tank at the moment are various Euphilia,blastomussa merletti,lobophylla,two closed brains,and caulestra...please forgive any misspellings.

I have two choices for lighting this tank. I have a current orbit 30 inch 2x65 watt power compacts which are on there now.

Or I can go VHO route since I have some laying around with ice cap ballast. It would be 2 24inch 75 watt bulbs.

What do you guys htink I should do? I am having a hard time deciding...and I want to do what is most healthy for the corals.

thanks!

take care,
Jared

 

[marillion]

Sell all that equipment and get a single 175W 20k DE halide setup. You'll be glad you did, and wonder how you went all this time without it.

Peace,

Chip

 

[blange3]

VHO over the PC's definitely.

VHO vs MH? To me it's a choice between appearance or growth rate. I choose VHO for appearance. Nothing makes Euphyllia fluoresce better than a URI VHO actinic bulb.

If you were dealing with a larger tank, then I would consider MH supplemented with VHO actinic.

In the long run, all can be successful. Don't know what IceCap ballast you have, but I'd think about adding another bulb if you can.

 

[beachroadbum]

Hey Now,

Thanks for the replies guys.

So blange,

You don't think 3 75 watt vho bulbs over the 29 would be too much? The ice cap ballast I have is the 430. So I could try to fit three bulbs under the hood. The hood would be an all-glass pine canopy. Do you think I would have to worrya bout heat issues with three bulbs?

thanks!

take care,
Jared

 

[blange3]

Hey Jared,

I have 4 110 watt bulbs on my 55 under a standard AGA pine canopy and no fans. I don't have any heat problems.

If you can get 3 bulbs over the 29, you could use 2 actinics and a 50/50 for some real nice color. 2 will look good; I'd do a 50/50 and an actinic.

An Aquasun and an actinic will give you more PAR, but the more yellow AquaSun will wash out some of the actinic's coloring.

Of course it's all a matter of taste! You certainly will be able to grow LPS with the 2 75w bulbs.

 

[David Grigor]

For LPS, It's all about the presentation and IME: Nothing fits the bill like VHOs. PCs would be my last choice.

PAR is sooo overrated when it comes to LPS. Having used every wattage in single ended and doubled ended bulbs over the years for Acropora dominate tank, I have never felt the need to put MH on a LPS dominate tank.

As far as bulb choices. A 3 bulb setup I would go with 2 URI Actinic/Whites and 1 Super Actinic. On a 430 Icecap, Aquasuns to me give off to much of a pinkish tone.

 

[marillion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6695793#post6695793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by David Grigor
PAR is sooo overrated when it comes to LPS. Having used every wattage in single ended and doubled ended bulbs over the years for Acropora dominate tank, I have never felt the need to put MH on a LPS dominate tank.

PAR, schmar. I like the glitter/shimmer lines!

Peace,

Chip

 

[beachroadbum]

Hey Now guys,

Thanks again for the very thoughtful replies. LPS heads are great folks
I find myself falling in love with LPS more and more these days. One of the things I love most is watching them feed.
Blange,
Thanks for the ideas!

David,

I think I am starting to understand what you mean about presentation. The LPS under the pcs do seem a bit drab and because there is alot of open room in the tank it overall looks a bit dull.
Ok...off to go purchase 24inch bulbs. Now...because the hood is 30 inches do you think I should stagger the bulbs? Have the first bulb in the front going form the left edge and then the second going from the right edge? Or just center them? What do you think?

thanks again guys! I really appreciate the help as this is my first 100% LPS tank.

I am also finding it can be more difficult to make a 100% LPS tank look natural. The numerous chunk corals can easily make teh tank look out of place.

take care,
Jared

 

[David Grigor]

Bulbs centered means only 3" on either side. Flourescent lighting being diffused it really isn't going to matter.


To each his own on glitter lines, I myself could care less one way or the other.