metal halide lighting for a 50 gallon

[braincoral39]

Ok fellow reefers, need your professional advice. Getting ready to upgrade from 29 gallon tank to a 50 gallon, 36x18x18 or a 58 show tank 36x18x21. What would be my best lighting setup. I keep mostly hard corals, hammer coral, torch coral, devils finger leather and brain corals. Would like to be able to possibly try a couple of sps frags. I currently have 2 55 watt pc lights.

I would like to stay with only one metal halide in combination with pc or vho or no flourescents.

What would you suggest and where would be a good place to buy. Keep price in mind.

Thanks all.

 

[North Bay 101]

You might as well go with a 400 watt light. You will always want more light and this way you won't waste your upgrade dollars. I have a 46 bow and put 2 x 96 watt pc's on for about 3 weeks before I upgraded to a single 400 watt pendant. No regrets now

. Should of saved the moneyt on the pc's, as they are just sitting in the closet

I bought my pendant used at a local fish store.

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

A 250w 10K HQI bulb would be plenty.

You don't need the other lights.

 

[bigtank]

I think you would be better off with a 150w HQI bulb instead of the 250. This way you should have less trouble with lower light animals like the torch and brain corals. The 150 is still bright enough to keep anything. I use 2 150w on a 70g and they are very bright bulbs. My animals, including a couple SPS and a squamosa clam, love it.

You can get a complete system for $320 at Premium Aquatics. This would also look great with your PCs.

 

[evincent]

I'm a little fuzzy on using one MH on a 36 inch tank. Isn't one MH recommended for every two feet of length? Will this result in the ends of the tank being dark? Is this why VHOs are also used with MH? Can this be accounted for by going up to a 250w or 400w MH? Any advice from someone with experience with a 36 tank would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ed

 

[drewcho]

On my 3ft 50 gallon I am using one 400W 12000K Sunburst MH with two VHO lamps, one 95W Actinic White (12000K)and one 95W Super Actinic R 100% blue spectrum. I love the coloration and the intesity of the light! As for the coverage, I have the MH located right in the middle. It is about 5" from the surface of the water. The VHO's are on both sides of the MH. The corners receive just slightly less intense light, but I think that is great. It gives me the ability to put those creatures that want less light in those areas. Coraline growth is phenominal.

 

[evincent]

Thanks DrewCho. May I also get some MH vs VHO advice for my 40 breeder? I want to have both, but I can only afford to start with one. Then I'll upgrade my DIY hood in a couple months. I want to get one of these three options:
-Premium Aquatic's IceCap 10K 250w MH
-Aquatic Lighting Systems 12K 250w MH
-2-96w VHOs from AHS.

Any input in greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Ed

 

[fishfarmer]

This is what I have on my 38 gal. It's similar in dimensions to a 50 gal, but not as deep front to back. I have one 175 watt MH lighting one side and two 28 watt PC cleaning up the shadows cast by the halide. I have my rock arranged so the highest points are under the halide, with plenty of lower light areas in the far corner for mushrooms and such. I'd go with a combination of PC and halide, especially if you already have the PC fixtures, gives you more options with color.

 

[freedom75]

Brain

I have 2 175 watt MH and 4 55 watt PC's i have actnic bulbs in the PC's and 6500k bulbs in the Pc's. This is sitting on the top of a 72 gallon Bowfront. And my greenbrain is doing very well. I am inlcuding the link please take a look at my brain and see what you think.

John
[email protected]
This is My brain Page come take a look please

[ November 13, 2001: Message edited by: freedom75 ]</p>

 

[mariner]

Just go with a PFO dual 250 watt setup. You won't need any other supplemental lighting. PFO is the best overall deal regarding Metal Halide lighting for reef tanks. They'll fire any bulb.

 

[mark h]

i have a 40 gallon breeder with one 175watt 10k ushio metal halide and 2 30 watt NO actinic lights. i have several sps, 1 deresa clam, 1 maxima clam, torch coral, open brain, closed brain, and numerous soft corals. all are doing great under the metal halide. the metal halide is about 8" above the water line mounted perpendicular to the front glass.