Viper for Supplemental lighting?

[HowardCath]

This my present setup:

Lighting
48" VHO 2 URI Super Actinic FR40T12 and 2 URI Actinic White FR40T12

Tank
Using the following input parameters
Tank Length = 47 inches
Tank Width = 29 inches
Tank Height = 22 inches
Tank volume is calculated as
Tank Volume = 129.8 Gallons
(ignoring sump volume)

Trying to add more light. Particularly, I want to add light to my new favia brain coral from the swap that I have placed on the sandbed. It seems not quite as happy as when I first brought it home. I have about 6 inches clearance between the edge of my VHO light hood and the tank edge for additional light. I have a glass canopy and I want to keep easy access to the tank on the 2 outer thirds by adding a fixture only the length of the middle third of the tank.

My thought was to get a Viper 150w clamp-on halide, thinking it would be easy to set up, would do the job, and be less costly than some other options (e.g., pendant or strip of some sort). Heat is an issue for me in the summer, but I vent the canopy and direct a fan down onto the surface. This works, though I evaporate a gallon/day. I could add a second fan though (I don’t want to invest in a chiller). I’m not a skilled electrician, so easy setup is attractive to me.

Would the Viper be a reasonable choice for me?

Brain after brought home from swap 1/19/08

Brain tonight 1/30/08

Tank (see brain on bottom in middle)

Thanks!

 

[fallinapart]

Howard, this may not be an option for you, but with an initial high set-up for all T-5's, the lower cost (long term) is very good, and T-5's are all the light you need and so much cooler. I have an 8 bulb 48" Sunlight Tek unit and have more light and cooler tank. Just an option for you to think about
BTW, good looking brain and of course you tank is still a pretty one.

Norman

 

[c_stowers]

Howard, that looks like a boulder brain to me and not a favia. They are pretty close to the same regardless. Why do you think it's unhappy? To me it almost looks happier in the second pic. If it is a boulder brain, they do like alot of light. I personally don't think an all t-5 setup is the way to go. t-5's produce intense light, but don't give you a light differential spread across the tank. This makes it hard to find places for corals that don't like alot of light. Probably the most efficient setup would be to use a 150W halide with T-5 supplimentation. But then you would be giving up the VHO actinics which blow the t-5 actinics out of the water (as far as color). Adding a Viper light may not be a bad idea if you can deal with the added heat. If you do decide to go with a MH retro, I'd be glad to help you wire it if thats what your concerned about.

 

[HowardCath]

Thanks, Norm. Thanks, Chris. I'll think some more. I do like the color my VHOs now give. I'll look to see what forms "150W halide with T-5 supplementation" comes in. Chris, I thought the brain was unhappy because its soft tissues seemed shrunk or retracted between the ridges whereas it was more "puffed up" with polyps' tentacles out early on. I don't really know what it's supposed to look like. I'll have to look up boulder vs favia for my own interest.

 

[c_stowers]

I'm no expert, but I think you may be getting happy vs. unhappy confused with feeding vs. not feeding. The tenticles will come out and the tissue puffs up when it feeds. Mine usually only feed in the evenings and at night and look more like the second picture during the day.

 

[HowardCath]

I was worried about it, but I'm happy, if it's happy! Guess I can't read the mind of my brain! Maybe I really don't need supplemental lighting just now (?).