Help me choose Lighting for a 37g reef !!

[Labeo]

I am in the planning stages of setting up a 37g reef. I would like to eventually be able to keep any corals (maybe clams) as far as lighting requirements. I'd like your opinion on which combo of light types would be the best for my tank.

Would vho or pc be suitable?
4 vho for 300w
4 pc for 220w
or a combo of 2 pc, 2 vho for 260w

I'd like to go w/mh, but my standard canopy isn't very tall (4" max above tank, I also have a glass cover). I could build a new one, but i'd like to avoid it. How much height is neccesary?

2 pc + 175 mh for 285w
2 vho +175 mh for 325w

It would be just as easy for me to go to 250w mh if 175w isn't enough, but should i be concerned w/ heat?


I plan to get whatever setup as a retro kit from marine depot. Anybody dealt w/ them before and recommend them?

Thanks for your help, I know its been a long post!

 

[davelin315]

I think that the glass cover could screw up the light as it passes through, and also, you don't want to cover your tank to aid in gas exchange. As far as what lights to use, if I remember correctly, the 37 is a very tall tank (seem to remember getting my sleeve wet every time I reached into one that's now in my garage), so therefore, the stronger lights should make it to the bottom better (I think).

 

[Mabu]

I think MH is the difference between major growth and keeping a lot of things alive in reef aquariums, but I'm still doing my research. I think the height may not be as big an issue. My MHs on my 55 are approx 4" from the water line with a glass top between.

I wouldn't go with more than a single 175w MH - 250s would be way too much light. I would imagine a nice light setup for a 37 that could do just about anything would be a 175 MH with a 65w Actinic PC. You can hang the MHs 2-3" from the water line with no problems - I would recommend a glass cover though - it will dramatically reduce evaporation and I'm unaware (correct me if I'm wrong) of any major issue with glass diffusing or obscuring the lighting.

[ August 20, 2001: Message edited by: Mabu ]

 

[bigtank]

If you want to be able to keep anything, I don't recommend a 175 MH. IMO get a 250 with no supplemental lighting. The 6500k Iwasaki and 10k HQI are both excellent bulbs. I would get the Iwasaki (DL of course) because it's cheap at $60, bright, and lasts 18-24 months or so. They are not yellow.

If you really want actinics, get them, but they don't benefit the corals nearly as much as the MH in my opinion.

 

[whirley]

MO,
Go with a 250 MH....

Best bang for the buck...

whirley

 

[Labeo]

Thanks for everyones help! Yeah, I'd like to see those pics Darwin. So I guess the 250w mh w/ 2 55w pc is the answer. So should I go with or without the glass cover?

 

[Rorschach]

Open top with plenty of fan circulation.
I have a 150W HQI 10K MH which is very nice for the tank, but I would do the 250W if I could do it over again so I can transfer it to my future 120gal. I think I have the same tank you do, 37gal tall? I have a sump/w refugia lighting, two PH that run hot, and the temp does not get over 81 with the house at 80. With the fans hooked up to a temp controller, my evaporation is almost 2gal on a hot day though.

 

[DarwinTheDog]

Labeo,

I would consider a single 250 watt 10K (German) and two 28 watt Actinic PCs. I have a similiar setup. I have a 29, which is identical to the 37, but not as tall. I went with 1-175 watt 10K, and 2-32 watt PCs.

I also had a standard canopy that was only 4 inches high. I dind't want to build a new canopy either. So I decided to make my canopy taller. This was pretty cheap and easy. If you want to see a couple pictures let me know, I will post a few.

HTH

 

[kjb]

FWIW, IMHO, ETC...
Yeah, get a 250W HQI, You'll love it.
I have a pendant model from PFO and think it is great. Not big into corals yet, but everyone tells me I won't really need supplemental lighting.

 

[Labeo]

Hey, I read that cooling mh bulbs isnt good for them because they are supposed to run hot, and if you have the fans so that they blow outwards, they will clog with salt spray.

So will I be ok if I keep the glass cover on and put 2 fans on my canopy blowing outwards? (the back of the canopy is open) I might also have a fan blowing directly on the water in the back in the 2" gap between the cover and the back of the tank.

 

[DarwinTheDog]

Labeo,

I threw a couple pictures up on my website that you can see at the following URL:
http://www.darwinsplayground.com/reef/canopy.htm

I hope this help!

 

[DarwinTheDog]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

I'd like to see those pics Darwin.

I'll post those tonight for ya!

 

[Labeo]

Thanks Darwin!