what lighting do you reccomend?? HELP>>>

[KMTaquarium]

Total watts -Kit description -Cost -RBC
384 -4x96 watt PC’s -370 -200
576 -6x96 watt PC’s -555 -300
640 -4x160watt 72” VHO -400 -140
960 -6x160watt 72” VHO -600 -210
525 -3x175watt MH -558 -270
500 -2x250watt MH -434 -200
750 -3x250watt MH -651 -300
800 -2x400watt MH -502 -220
Actinic supplements(2x72” 160 watt VHO) for MH’s = 200

MHs come with 12KK sunburst
VHOs are with 50/50s and actinics(2/2 or 3/3)
PCs are the smartlights(10k/actinic)
RBC= replacement bulbs cost

i want to keep a multitude of corals in my 150 if i get it- but dont know what lighting to get, i have lloked at many!! and want input!
from softies- likt colts and leathers to acros, hynos, montis, and poccilis, and tome more SPS LPS
give me your $.02!!
thanks to all that reply!
-kevin

 

[KMTaquarium]

please givee me comments, suggestions, experiences, problems and successes- all of it helps!
thanks
-kevin

 

[danmhippo]

This is my setup, I have 150G as well

2 x 400W 20K MH

If I am doing it again, I would go with 3x400W MH. My tank is deeper then most 150G's. My tank is 5 feet long versus most 150G's are 6 feet long.

 

[Anemone]

IMO, 3x250 would be the minimum to allow you to keep a wide range of corals and inverts. If you can afford the upgrade, I'd get the 3x400.

Kevin

 

[KMTaquarium]

what about 2x400watt and 1x 250 watt?
all with 12KK sunbursts and no actinic suppl.

 

[KMTaquarium]

i would buy hte 2x400's and one 250 bulb for my 250 watt retro i already own- would save me about 100$

but i dont know if 2x400's and a 250 would look right?
put hte 250 in the middle and 2 400s on hte outside?

 

[KMTaquarium]

let me be sure
6 160watt VHO's are out of hte question?
6 96wwatt PC's are out too?

 

[KMTaquarium]

heres my set up and costs currently: and links!
150 tank: 430 - LFS
150 rod iron stand+paint: 160 - LFS(paint is rustoleum and will prevent rust and premature failure of stand due to rust)
135(3x45lbs) fiji, 24 tonga branch LR w/ shipping: 706.85 (pre cured) - http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scat ... pCatId=393
LS(35 lbs of live sand agra-mix and non-live aragmix about $1.33 a lb(30lbs = $40 )): some where around $150-$200 - LFS
remora pro skimmer w/ mag 350 $230 - http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... Code=AquaC
2x300watt heaters: $60 - http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... de=Heaters
Big temp thermometer: $30 http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... ermometers
5 300 GPH Powerheads: $100 - http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant ... de=Maxijet
Lighting(2x400watters with 12KK's and a 250 12kk's bulb(for pre owned 250 retro that used to be used on my 30G before i downgraded- bought from same place)): $600(including 2x24"reflectors)- http://aquaticlight.com/retrofit.html
canopy plus stand cover and lighting wiring: $30(stand cover is going to be stained wood to cover the rod iron stand)and used on canopy
total: $~2500

 

[danmhippo]

Huh, your numbers looked much better then mine..

If you place your MHs closer together, 400W light on either side will overlap 250's light and you shouldn't notice any drastic differences. PC's will not be a good choice for you as their light penetration isn't as strong.

 

[KMTaquarium]

out of curiosity what was worse about yours??- to help me and those reading this post wanting to get into the hobby?

 

[KMTaquarium]

danmhippo,
LMG(let me guess)- is your 150 acrylic?

 

[danmhippo]

Heh.....
My tank is all glass custom made --700
Stand us custom height 43" --400
Skimmer AquaC --250, which later sold for much cheaper price for going skimmerless.
400W MH Pendant $750.

Plus countless stupid errors --priceless.

Oh, I forgot to add: Bandages and gauze --$20

 

[KMTaquarium]

Heh.....
My tank is all glass custom made --700
Stand us custom height 43" --400
Skimmer AquaC --250, which later sold for much cheaper price for going skimmerless.
400W MH Pendant $750.

Plus countless stupid errors --priceless.

Oh, I forgot to add: Bandages and gauze --$20

the custom made stuff is what usually kills/ hurts most people- since i am working on a limited budget i got with standard mass produced aquariums- nothing is wrong or bad about customs, since they make your aquarium unique to itself and you- but htey are expensive,
my aquarium will probably sit parallel to the wall enabling double sided viewing- so a standar stand wouldn't work- or you would have a big hole on one side(what usually faces the back) and i would cover the stand in stained particle board to match canopy or vise-versa
and i barely have enough to afford $2500 for set up, so retro fit lighting was a MUST- it is no different than a pendant except that it must be enclosed in a canopy, and by saying no different- the overall lighting of the aquarium will be equal if comparing a retro to hood/pendant-
oh and the countless errors and mistakes- thatswhy im spending 30$'s on a thermometer- if my system setup wit hall corals and fish will be 3Grand+ then im buying one with an audible alert- i wen out of town as a day trip and someone was home- i usually check hte temps in my aq's and always do it now- but when i got home the heater FU**ed up and temp was up to 95*F-i lost about $100's worth of coral so having an audible thermometer is worth a hundred time the cost of the damages in a 150 gallon aquarium
-kevin

 

[Marcosreef]

How about spending a bit more and getting a Temp Controller? The alert thermometer is great, but you still need something to shut it off if you are not home or around.

Spending thousands of dollars, I would consider it "cheap" insurance IMO! Regards, Marco

 

[KMTaquarium]

where can i buy those online?
thanks
-kevin

 

[Marcosreef]

http://www.championlighting.com/cgi-bin ... 1486.19877

http://www.championlighting.com/cgi-bin ... 1486.19877

These are two units, the first one is a modified commercial unit, and the second is made for the aquarium industry. Both are excellent, do a search to see what you come up with. Regards, Marco

 

[KMTaquarium]

thanks!!
i will be sure to get that!!
-KEvin

 

[Anonymous]

I would be afraid of a wrought iron stand when you are dealing with that much weight.

Much safer to instead get a custom stand made to handle it. Lots of money invested, why not protect the investment.

Brian

 

[Mouse]

Theres only one way to go IMO.

250W DE HQI MH's, 10,000k Aqualine Bulbs. Supplimented with Actinic (not 50/50) VHO's. I recomend VHO's over PC's because they give more Bioluminecent Glow than the PC bulbs. And im a Raver at heart, so its gota glow man. 8)

 

[KMTaquarium]

i dont think there are structural problem with weight capacity for wrought oron stands- it should be able to support 2500 lbs easily