required/best lighting

[wenszoo]

what is the required/best lighting for zoas? Getting ready to install 250watt 14000k mhs
tried looking for the threads on lighting but could not find them. please post link if you find thread

 

[coralfarm123]

Those will work out great for you.

 

[da6d2003]

I'm running a 250w 20k right now.

 

[zaozao]

I just changed fromm VHO to MH and my zoas open up more. They get bigger when the MH is on

 

[da6d2003]

Which 14k bulb are you going to use?

 

[alexk3954]

I know this is obvious, but lower K rating aill cause quicker growth. I had PC's at 10 k and now t5's with 6.5 k, 12K, and 2 actinic. I had very slow growth with PC's, but now one colony of turqoise polyps has gone from 8-15 polyps in the past three weeks!

 

[DrBegalke]

Would 2 x 150 watt MH + 2 x 96 watt actinics be overkill for a 55g zoa tank?

 

[dc_909]

55 gal would probably be better using T5s instead of MH because of the width of the tank.

 

[smp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8229779#post8229779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBegalke
Would 2 x 150 watt MH + 2 x 96 watt actinics be overkill for a 55g zoa tank?

Not at all.
I second the T5 recommendation though for your actinics. No point buying PCs anymore.

 

[Drewpdog]

I have a 150 14k MH over a 12 gallon tank and my zoas love it

 

[Serioussnaps]

if you go MH...get 20 K bulbs...or if you do T5 do an ATI blue plus heavy arrangement.....250's on a 55 may be a little overkill for a zoa tank...i would go 175 MH or T5's....those 250's with the right bulb may be too much...but if you go 250's then you always have room when you upgrade to a bigger tank so you don tneed new lights!

this will really make your colors pop

if you are going to be keeping other stuff like SPS or some LPS i wouldnt tell you this combo..keep in mind this is for a zoa dominated tank

 

[coolfishy101]

250's on a 55 is not overkill imo I had them on a 55 for 2 years and I had mushrooms growing at the top, once your zoas get acclimated to the light, they will grow faster than ever. I've seen a 10k 250 on a 7 gallon zoa tank 3 inches off of the water (if you want I can try to get pics on tuesday.). Plus, if you think it's too bright you can just use a higher k bulb like a 14-20k.