Optimal Tank Lighting for Ricordeas in 12" acrylic?

[21ducks]

Hello,

I just got a new tank. It is 35 gallons, but only 12" tall. To keep ricordeas, what type of lighting would be best as to not burn them. I was originally thinking 150w MH with T5 supplementation, but am confused after reading a bunch of posts.

The three lighting systems I have read about are as follows:

24" 150w MH with 2 24" 24w T5's

24" 4-24w T5's

24" 4-65w PC's

What do you think?

 

[Hypsophrys]

I have successfully kept Rics in a 18" deep tank under 2x65. They grew slowly, but grew. 2x65 PCs in 12" would be enough, anything more is bonus.

 

[Lance M.]

I would guess 4x 24watt HO T-5's with SLR's would be enough.

 

[21ducks]

Lance,

If I got the 4 24watt T5's, would they burn the rics? What is SLR?

Thanks

 

[mskurdah]

I have a 20" cube where the MH is 10 inches above the water and the rics are in the lower 1/3. They are all plump, growing, and happy.

 

[mskurdah]

...oops, sorry....it's a 250W MH.

 

[Lance M.]

SLR is just short for Single Lamp Reflector. It helps you make the most of the light that is put out by the HO flourescent tubes.

You could do one 10,000k tube with 2 or 3 super actinics to get some nice color out of the rics. Depending on your wiring you could run 3 or 4 bulbs.

 

[SAPseven]

i think the whole mega wattage is Over rated .. i think its more about the radius of the light and penetration i don't have much lighting over my tank .. and all my shrooms grow and split.. not to mention more " light demanding " corals doing the same.