Should I use a metal halide

[adviner]

I have a 20g long aquarium that I want to use as a small reef tank. I split off 1/3 of it to use as a fuge.

The main tank is now
18 wide 13 high 12.5 deep. I was thinking of a pendant metal halide light. But wondering if that would be too much and might burn what I put into the tank. If its ok what would be a good wattage to use? Or is a t5 HO be a better option. I want to eventually put in easy to care corals. On the fuge I will use another light (pendant type from Home Depot)

Thanks

 

[kfisc]

All depends on your inhabitants- suspended high enough (a really important point), a 150 or 175 watt pendant MH would provide intense enough illumination for just about anything without worries about burning/overheating.

I'd go that route because I really like the look, but a more common choice would be T5.

 

[adviner]

How high off should it be?

 

[sponger0]

I would go with T5 over MH for that size tank unless you are prepared to deal with possible overheating or you have a chiller.

 

[adviner]

The unit in the bottom is a chiller. It's actually a large chiller that is for a tank larger than 100 gal. That I once had. Aside from the heat can the intensity of the metal halide light actually burn anything in the tank. Even with a chiller?

 

[kfisc]

The unit in the bottom is a chiller. It's actually a large chiller that is for a tank larger than 100 gal. That I once had. Aside from the heat can the intensity of the metal halide light actually burn anything in the tank. Even with a chiller?

With a functioning chiller, you should be fine temprature-wise with a 175w pendant about foot above the top, perhaps even a bit less. The whole trick is acclimating your inhabitants to the light- clams, for example, about any species, would love it- but it all depends on the intensity of light they or any creature came from. Various methods to acclimate include getting a roll of screen and layering it in several sheets, removing a layer at a time over several days.

 

[knukles55]

you might be fine if theres a AC vent by the tank or if your house runs a little cold for the MH.

 

[jwolcott]

Halide, t5 or led will all work fine. What you have to decide is look, heat and cost. Halides are big, ugly and hot. T5s require some sort of canopy. LEDs are small, cool, less maintanace and mount easy.

 

[merritt32]

i ran dual 70w HQI's and it was good for all kinds of corals

 

[merritt32]

and they were mounted in a custom hood i built and hung and it was over a 20L