Which lights should I use?

[Derbird]

I am still in the planing stages for my final light setup and was just thinking I should get everyones advice on the endless options avalible (scratch)

 

The tank has unusual dimentions. Its 72 x 18 x 20 about 120 gallons. Its a great setup and has a full hood with lots of room to play with.

 

The privious owner had 2 250 metal hydrate lights with VHO and it looked pretty good but I don't think I will need that much light. or will I?

 

I plan on keeping mostly soft coral and LPS. The only SPS that I am thinking of is is Monti's and chalice but I have read that they are low light and care SPS as low care as a SPS can be of course (laugh). I think those beautiful colored sticks are just more care than I am able to put in right now.

 

I'm also thinking a T-5 set would be good for the tank. How may bulbs do you think I might need. Its only 18" wide so 4, or would 6 be needed? Or is this just a short cut and would end up being a bad dicision in the long run?

 

Cost is definatly a huge issue here. It seems no matter wich way I look at it its over $600 before bulbs OUCH! DOH! (nutty)

 

This subject is just too confusing. I have read everthing that I could find for months now and I think I have information overlode. And the worst part is a lot of it contradicts its self or other articles that I have read.

 

I am a noobie here so any advice is most welcome (naughty)

[NoobtoSalt]

If you do your own setup you will likely only get four reflectors in that hood. You might want to consider doing four vhos on it if you dont decide to do halides

 

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[ThePremiumAquarium]

Just 2x 250w or 2x400w metal halides and refectors could do the trick and wouldn't cost you that much to get into. There are tons of used ballasts and reflectors out there and putting in new bulbs is easy. I really like the look of 250w and 400w radium 20K's and in my experience actnic supplementation isn't really needed but just something you can add later if you like.

[Derbird]

If you do your own setup you will likely only get four reflectors in that hood. You might want to consider doing four vhos on it if you dont decide to do halides

 

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Thats a thought, only four reflectors...hum. Well might be enough. I haven't heard much about VHO's I thought that they where a suppliment to other light. More reading needed DOH!

 

Just 2x 250w or 2x400w metal halides and refectors could do the trick and wouldn't cost you that much to get into. There are tons of used ballasts and reflectors out there and putting in new bulbs is easy. I really like the look of 250w and 400w radium 20K's and in my experience actnic supplementation isn't really needed but just something you can add later if you like.

 

I have yet to see any double ballasts for cheap yet but you never know when might turn up (laugh) I do like the shimmer that it gives the tank. I would worrie about 400w in such a shallow tank. Wouldn't it bake the top? only 20" deep.

 

Thank you for the reply's. I know this could be opening a can of worms. So many options out there.

[reefnjunkie]

Thats a thought, only four reflectors...hum. Well might be enough. I haven't heard much about VHO's I thought that they where a suppliment to other light. More reading needed DOH!

 

 

 

I have yet to see any double ballasts for cheap yet but you never know when might turn up (laugh) I do like the shimmer that it gives the tank. I would worrie about 400w in such a shallow tank. Wouldn't it bake the top? only 20" deep.

 

 

A decent dual ballast or even 2 singles will run you about 200.00, and in my experiance the 400 watts will be to much, I have a 150 that had dual 400's and it was to much to the point I had to raise them about 20" above a 27" tall tank.

 

If you want the shimmer its LED's (theres about 900-1000 dollars) or Metal Halides.

 

As Noob suggested VHOs (T12's) would be ideal for what you plan to house in there.

[reef165]

I'm assuming that the tank didn't come with the lights? There are many deals to be made when buying used MH, but when buying used you run the risk of them not lasting very long, IE breaking down. As for the VHO's they are an option, but they are also getting harder to find, as T5's are replacing them. If it were me, I would piece together a retro T5 setup, do like 4 of the 80 watt 5 footers, get a couple workhorse ballasts, endcaps, reflectors and bulbs. The endcaps are fairly easy to come by used, but the bulbs, ballast and reflectors may be a dif story, I would just buy the ballasts, they will prob run about $45ish each, and I think it was R3 here on the forum that had several reflectors and used bulbs for sale a while ago, I don't know if he still has them but worth a shot.