WTB: PC lightng

[Pippi2773]

I'm looking to buy PC lighting for a 36" long aquarium, in the 2X96 watt range. Also, what are your thoughts on using this for corals and inverts in a 30 gallon?
thanks

 

[murfman]

HI Pippi, welcome to SCMAS, hope to meet you at a meeting, soon. Tell us about your set up.

 

[Mustang394]

That would give you 6.4 watts per gallon in a shallow tank, you should be able to keep just about anything you want as long as you meet the animals other need such as water quality etc.. I know several people who keep acro's and clams in deeper tanks with PC lighting.

Reading your current tanks are you using a 29 gal or a 30L?

 

[Pippi2773]

The light would be for a 29 gallon tank that I have yet to set up. I have been running a 29 gallon tank on 96 watts of PC lighting for about 4 months now, growing palms, mushrooms, polyps and anemones. I wanted to go with a little stronger lighting this time to make sure that I had enough to grow SPS coral. Do you think that 192 watts might be overkill? Could I save a little money and buy a 96 watt and still keep acros and clams?

 

[Deuce67]

You may be able to keep some sps corals like some Montipora sp. Digitatas are a good candidate. Perhaps some acros but you may not get good coloration. Im not sure about clams though. Not sure what your budget is but you can go with some T5s.

 

[Mustang394]

Clams would depend on species, more light demanding could be placed high in the rock work, some clams even prefer rock to the sand bed.

What species of sps and clams were you thinking about?

I'll see if I can't get some pictures of the Acro & Clam tank that is powered only on power compacts and post them here.

 

[Pippi2773]

What do you think a safe wattage would be for a T-5 setup?

Besides different types of acro I was thinking about turban, cactus, pectinia, and I do like montipora which I'm glad to hear might be safe.

For clams I tend to like the more colorful croceas but what would you recommend forsomething that could be placed high?

Thanks to both of you for your help, it is very much appreciated!

 

[calvin415]

I've had this T-5 setup before at it works great!

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104064.html

If you don't have a canopy which you can mount the endcaps into here's an alternative but you'd have to go open top...

http://www.reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104188.html

 

[Mustang394]

Crocea would be ideal for rock placement they can actually burrow into the rock. They are high light demanding, but are also one of the smallest of the tridacna clams only grwing to about 6" so if you can supply all it needs should be fine in a 29, but it won't be easy as small tanks create there own challenges.

 

[Mustang394]

You might want to look into a pendant metal halide in the 150 watt range then you would not have to worry about light. Search the forums your likely to find one used at a good price

 

[Deuce67]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8459561#post8459561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mustang394
You might want to look into a pendant metal halide in the 150 watt range then you would not have to worry about light. Search the forums your likely to find one used at a good price

I agree. Nothing beats halides as far as looks and shimmer.