softie tank lighting?

[boatbuilder]

starting a 36gal bowfront softie, lps tank. zoas, leathers, frog spawn xenia, gsp etc maybe a squamosa clam. would three 10k 70w de halides be too much?
tank is 20" deep.

 

[mfinn]

I found that a pair of 70 watt mh lights were pretty lame over a 20 long, so if I were you I would consider going to atleast 150watt or more.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

Maybe 70 watt halides buck the trend, but if 140 watts of MH over a 20 long is not cutting it for softys than somethings up.

Hell there is a guy on here using 4-5 normal output T8 (shop lamps) on his 50 gallon and has actually had some impressive growth over the past year.

For a 40'sh gallon bow, 4 T5's would be plenty. A 150 watt MH would also be a good choice, with plenty of power to spare.

 

[mfinn]

They were zoanthids and they looked like crap and some even started losing color.
I usually use a 250 watt mh over a 30"x18"x18" tank that is zoanthid only.
I have 3x250 watt mh with 4x160 watt VHO over my 240 gallon softy tank and it looks great and the corals love the light.

 

[1DeR9_3Hy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14929221#post14929221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
They were zoanthids and they looked like crap and some even started losing color.
I usually use a 250 watt mh over a 30"x18"x18" tank that is zoanthid only.
I have 3x250 watt mh with 4x160 watt VHO over my 240 gallon softy tank and it looks great and the corals love the light.

Different guy, there were very few zoas and it was mostly shrooms and leathers.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

70wMH over a 39 is more then enough for a softies tank and yes, even PCs would be good enough...

 

[125G Reefer]

Its not enough if you plan on that Clam you suggested on a mybe for the tank. 150w would cut it, but not the 70w.