what lighting do you reccomend?? HELP>>>

[SPC]

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

-I agree with this but I will say that I have never seen one of these used with a marine tank that did not rust.
Steve

 

[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)

 

[KMTaquarium]

heres my EDITED 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: 4x 160 watt VHO's (2: 50/50, 2: actinic)http://www.permiumaquatics.com/
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: $~2200+cotrollers(medusa temp, tsunami top off, adn 25 watt UV sterilizer)380 so about $2600!

 

[Anonymous]

Kevin,

Some cars weight 2,500 lbs. That is more than a ton. I really don't think a stupid wrought iron stand will support that kind of weight.

Time to buy wood.

Oh yeah.

 

[SPC]

Posted by KMT:
(paint is rustoleum and will prevent rust and premature failure of stand due to rust)

-Ok, give it a shot then :wink: .
Steve

 

[Gatortailale1]

Remember young grasshopper,

it takes time and patience to have a nice reef tank. I hope you don't expect to put sps into your tank during the first month.

IMO you are better off to buy quality products from the beginning. Take it from me, I have now spent twice the price upgrading lighting and skimmer because I didn't know any better when I started. (Wish I knew this board existed when I started reefing 18 months ago).

As far as # of MH to run, IMO depends on location and # of top braces. For my 6 ft tank (125) I went with 3 250w MH because of brace location, plus most recommend a MH bulb every 2 feet of tank. PC gives more bang per watt, but my experience with them has been mixed. I have had a few bulbs crack after 1-3 months of use (96w). I think if I had to do over, I would go with VHO actincts since there is less chance bulb will crack.

You can run just your acts. for now and add MH lights down road. That is my advice. Take time and do it right and results will pay off over time.

for what it's worth. HTH

 

[KMTaquarium]

i planned to go with VHO originally, adn then consideredmetal halide and decided to go with that, then i saw pics of VHO reefs and considered i might not be able to keep some softies unde MH's so im set on VHO's
this tank is located at this link with the specs(lighting is 4x36"vhos, 4x38" vhos)
http://www.championlighting.com/cgi-bin ... 1486.19877

 

[KMTaquarium]

yes Dr. reef- Okey Dokey BRO!! huh huh!

 

[25gator]

IM WITH GATORTAIL, I HAVE SPENT AROUND 15,OOO ON MY 180 AND 240. AND I HATE TO ADMIT THIS BUT AT LEAST 2000 HAS BEEN LOST TO BAD CHOICES, EX. BUYING OLD MH THAT WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH(400) LOSS OF FISH IN FIRST 2 MONTHS(4-500) ICK PROB) MAG 24 (120) FILTER BOX MADE BUY SOME GUY SPRUNG A LEAK(PRICELESS OR 120) UV LIGHT (120+XTRA BULB 20) NO BULBS (50) REFLECTORS FOR 175W HALIDE (120) AND MORE TIME THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE! MANY MORE I'M SURE.
OH YA, THE WROUGHT IRON STAND WILL HAVE NO PROB. HOLDING A TANK. I'M A WELDER BY TRADE AND IF ITS DONE RIGHT THERE WILL BE NO PROB. I DO LIKE OAK MUCH BETTER! (REAL OAK)
DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR AND GET ONLY WHAT YOU WANT NOT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD.(YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE) DONT TRY TO JUST GET BY, IT WILL COST YOU MORE WHEN YOU REALIZE ITS NOT ENOUGH!
CHECK OUT THE" HQI METAL HALIDES" POST THEY ARE NOT THAT EXPENSIVE!

 

[KMTaquarium]

i agree with all of you and i can be a very patient person- the only retsraints are i will be moving in 3 1/2 years GaRUNTEED(hopefully!!!)-so sytem will be taken down- and i hopefully might find a nice apartment for 6 years where i can live- and i dont know after that