Vho/uri

[radwkr]

I am going to be purchasing a lighting system from you for my soon to arrive 150 gallon Oceanic reef ready tank. I have ordered the cherry oak cap to match the cherry oak stand I got on sale at Petsmart. The tank is only 18 inches front to back so I am planning on using either 4 or 6, 72inch VHO/URI bulbs. I will be installing these in the cap, so I am waiting untill it arrives to make sure the 72 inch bulbs will fit. This will be a FOWLR tank for now, but would like the option to add a BTA and perhaps other soft corals later. Will this be enough light? The tank is 29 inches deep.
I have 3/660 icecap ballasts so will only be ordering probably 12 bulbs, 6 of which will be spares. I will also order the 3 part German endcaps as well as the offsets. Plus 2 of the new icecap fans. Am I missing anything? Do you think this will be enough light? too much light? Which bulbs would you use? The tank will be open, do I need a cover over the lights? I know URI bulbs have a built in reflector, so, does it make sense to add another? If so, which one? I know these are a lot of questions, but I want to do this right. By the way, I am not using MH lighting because I do not want to cut up the cap. If you know a MH system that will fit in the Oceanic cap, please tell me. Thanks in advance for your help and patience with all my questions.

 

[radwkr]

It has been several days since I posted my question. I see that you have had time to answer questions posted since mine, but I must assume you are too busy to answer mine.
If this is the type of customer service you provide, I will not trouble you further.

 

[MarineDepot]

Woah!!! Hold up now. It was an honest mistake. Normally, the board emails us when there is a post. Either that did not happen, or we missed it. Either way, these boards are really just a fun thing for us. If the inquiries need a very fast response, please do email us directly or call us. Also, we take customer service very seriously.

I personally do not appreciate your comment about this as a reflection of our customer service. If you see how we operate our Customer Service Representative center, you would understand. Moreoever, if you would have dealt with us, I'm sure you would have experienced it firsthand. I do a lot of shopping online, and I seldom see companies take their professions as serously as we do.

For the answer to the post:
Am I missing anything?
Yup, six bulbs, six pairs of acrylic mounts, and six pairs of endcaps will be what you need in addition to the ballast. If you don't have the powercords already, you'll need to pick those up also.

Do you think this will be enough light? too much light?
If my math serves me right, six bulbs make 960 watts. That should be enough to punch down 29 inches.

Which bulbs would you use?
Personal preference: three Actinic White bulbs and three Super Actinic bulbs.

The tank will be open, do I need a cover over the lights?
For safety, yes. However, many people do not so that they do not hinder light transmission. This will have to be your call.

I know URI bulbs have a built in reflector, so, does it make sense to add another?
Another reflector will almost surely help. However, this is a really an issue of "point of dimishing returns." The reflectors on the URI bulbs *feel* like they are sending back at least 75% of the light going upwards. The reflector might send back 50% of what is left over. For an efficiency freak like me, I would do it. Others might find it overkill though.

If so, which one?
Check out
http://www.marinedepot2.com/a_lt_fl_components.asp?CartId=
My Personal preference is the Electro-White reflectors. Strictlly, my opinion though.

I know these are a lot of questions, but I want to do this right.
I thought this why people go to us to start with. We have an incredibly knowledge and helpful staff over here.

These are pretty good questions for somebody starting out. I hope I answered your questions. Definitely do feel free to call us. I can understand how you were disappointed at the no-response. However, call us or email us whenever you have inquiries. Our email department responds to emails within an average of about 60-90 business minutes after receipt. Our call center has wait times that average less than a minute during business hours. I'm sure you'll be surprised at the response time and the average experience level of the staff here. Some of us have kept reef aquariums for half our lifetimes.