Small tank lighting

[BiGBOi]

I will be buying a new tank here in the near future and considering my lighting options. I am going to do a 37 or a 29 gallon with a 20 gallon sump. I will be moving my tank inhabitants from my 20 gallon that I currently have. I am considering keeping some SPS and have a Soft coral dominated tank. I was considering a 175w MH. I saw a retro kit at Aquatic light
Also was debating between either one of those or a PFO 150w HQI. I would be installing this in an AGA canopy I will be buying for it. I was considering using my 2 55w Powercompacts for Actinic Light. I want a lot of opinions and suggestions so I can make the best decision and not want to change it later. Thanks in Advance

[ February 28, 2002: Message edited by: BiGBOi ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

A 37 gallon is 2 feet deep--you may be better served with a 250W if you go that route. The PC combo would make a great supplemental light for whichever tank you choose.

Ty

 

[BiGBOi]

bump

 

[dustint]

Hello,
I have a 29 gallon with JBJ Formosa PC's. 2 55watt red shift and a 20 watt actinic flor blue shift. I have my live rock as a wall in the middle and Im successfully keeping 2 porites right under the lights, and candy coral and mushrooms etc with ease. This was a pretty cheap setup that I have been happy with.

Good luck

 

[mjsandbe]

With all the bother of moving tanks why would you make such a small change in tank size?

[ March 01, 2002: Message edited by: mjsandbe ]</p>

 

[BiGBOi]

When you are a college student, you sometimes can't find the space or the money for the 240g you wish you could have.

 

[Boogiechillin]

I feel your pain

I'm practically fasting to save money so I can trade in my 30 for a 75.

The PFO is going to cost you more money up front, but it will produce a brighter light and cost less to run than a tar ballast. If you don't use the PFO, think about going up to the 250W as suggested. (However, I think you could get around a lower wattage by keeping the SPS at the top of the tank and the softies at the bottom...they won't mind. Still, you might be limited to less picky SPS like porites and hardy montiporas).

BTW, softies and SPS are a rough mix...the softies are really going to inhibit the growth of the SPS via allelopathy. Also, certain soft corals (notably shrooms) that tend to grow out of hand can sting much more expensive stonies to death.

 

[Rich-n-poor]

I think you check some retro kits out at some of the sponsors site (<<<<shameless plug for chucker) like marine depot.

while the pricing on the kit looks good it includeds a 4300K bulb which is far too low in spectrum 6500k and higher is good.

to upgrade the kit to a great bulb i.e. 12,000K cost $79 thats more than the retro itself. Most kits come with a 5500k bulb standard and can be upgraded to 6500-10000k for about $35

compare the bulb spectrums
HTH

_________________
Jeremy Labiano

 

[Dan81]

Check out Ahsupply.com they have some good deals on lighting kits.