aqua-ed Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I've moved into my new digs and it is time to start setting up my 55g I bought a while back. The only thing I still need to plan out is my lighting. I have a 165W PC retrofit that I will use, but also would like to put in a MH. Is that too much? Should I only use one or the other? I figure the PCs to go the length, and the MH in the middle with my SPS corals in the middle of the tank. Also what size, type, color, MH should I go with? Thanks in advance! -Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I have two 250W Radiums over my 55gal, and it's almost too much IME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Don't center the light over the cross brace it will cook it. You really need 2. 250 is good and plenty. Andy, are you running HQI? That seems a little much on a 55. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua-ed Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 Good point CCR, I didn't even think about that. So 2 150W then? Along with the PCs, or without? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 4 T5's. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 6 bulb T5HO TEK light. It is good over my 75, and it rocked over my tank when I had the 45L. If not that, then add two 150 (or even 250) MH. Use a 14K bulb for good color and growth combination. Use the PC for actinic, or as a doorstop, paperweight, or other desk ornamentation. I know... Get some super actinic, and use the PC as a blacklight in your classroom. COME GET THOSE SNAILS AND HERMITS FROM ME!!! They are slowly dying in my tank because I have so many of them. The hermits fight to the death over any small amount of food that I put in the tank. Keep them in your home tank until you get your school tank set up. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 6 bulb T5HO TEK light. It is good over my 75, and it rocked over my tank when I had the 45L. If not that, then add two 150 (or even 250) MH. Use a 14K bulb for good color and growth combination. Use the PC for actinic, or as a doorstop, paperweight, or other desk ornamentation. I know... Get some super actinic, and use the PC as a blacklight in your classroom. COME GET THOSE SNAILS AND HERMITS FROM ME!!! They are slowly dying in my tank because I have so many of them. The hermits fight to the death over any small amount of food that I put in the tank. Keep them in your home tank until you get your school tank set up. dsoz feed them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1(laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Andy' date=' are you running HQI? That seems a little much on a 55.[/quote'] Radiums on electronic ballasts, so it's not as bad as it could be but it's still borderline too-much in my book. When I bought them, I was looking to the future (a 24" deep tank sometime); if I knew I was going to stay with a shallower tank I probably would have stuck with 175W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylaster Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 when i had a 60 gallon tank i ran 2 175w 10ks over it with 2 110w vho actinics, did a great job of keeping corals and clams with no problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan275 Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I would try out the 14k SPS bulbs. I know a lot of people that love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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