Just wanted to get some opinions.
Recently got a 75 gal bow tank. 48 x 16 x 20. Little deeper than normal to preserve volume as the sump is in tank.
Anyway... keeping in mind that I'm planning on doing a deep sand bed, maybe 5 in deep or so... how crazy do I need to go with power compacts / T5s and all that?
I understand the basics of what to be looking for, but I lose sight when putting it all together. I've read a whole lot and some sources seem to contradict others. Some say wattage is important, others, not so much.
In the interest of being able to handle most corals, (one day) maybe even SPS, is there any rule of thumb that you guys tend to follow? Both in terms of wattage, color, as well as number.
I'm thinking that I'll need 4. 2x actinic, 2x 'daylight'. I'd like to add some of those LEDs that supposedly add the 'shimmer' provided by MH and probable drop a couple moonlights in there too for night.
So I guess to wrap my questions with a bow...
Is 4 going to be enough to penetrate?
Can I look more in the 64W range, or do I need 90s? or look higher?
I'm thinking the daylight bulbs to be around 10000K ? Can you get up to 15000K, something almost like daylight in a PC?
something like:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=329 (note: not necessarily the hood system. I'd probably need to do retrofit to be able to install into my canopy)
I'm not unnecessarily adverse to MH, but I don't think I have the room in my canopy. They would sit a few inches off the top of the tank.
The last thing I want to to starve any corals that make it in the take, but I also don't want to over-power them. Pretty much like everyone else out there.
I dunno, for some reason I live this mental block when it comes to lighting systems.
Recently got a 75 gal bow tank. 48 x 16 x 20. Little deeper than normal to preserve volume as the sump is in tank.
Anyway... keeping in mind that I'm planning on doing a deep sand bed, maybe 5 in deep or so... how crazy do I need to go with power compacts / T5s and all that?
I understand the basics of what to be looking for, but I lose sight when putting it all together. I've read a whole lot and some sources seem to contradict others. Some say wattage is important, others, not so much.
In the interest of being able to handle most corals, (one day) maybe even SPS, is there any rule of thumb that you guys tend to follow? Both in terms of wattage, color, as well as number.
I'm thinking that I'll need 4. 2x actinic, 2x 'daylight'. I'd like to add some of those LEDs that supposedly add the 'shimmer' provided by MH and probable drop a couple moonlights in there too for night.
So I guess to wrap my questions with a bow...
Is 4 going to be enough to penetrate?
Can I look more in the 64W range, or do I need 90s? or look higher?
I'm thinking the daylight bulbs to be around 10000K ? Can you get up to 15000K, something almost like daylight in a PC?
something like:
http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=329 (note: not necessarily the hood system. I'd probably need to do retrofit to be able to install into my canopy)
I'm not unnecessarily adverse to MH, but I don't think I have the room in my canopy. They would sit a few inches off the top of the tank.
The last thing I want to to starve any corals that make it in the take, but I also don't want to over-power them. Pretty much like everyone else out there.
I dunno, for some reason I live this mental block when it comes to lighting systems.
