Please help with lighting

[Anonymous]

I have a 60 gallon tank that is 48 long about 24 deep and 24 wide...(does that make sense)...

I want to get the lighting that I need to have whatever I might want later, i.e. clams, hard corals...

I just have the 60 watts of light it came with now. I think I want to use pendants. Do you need anything other than MH? (to add color or whatever?)

I have found this MH pendant and it seems to be a good price, would one be enough to light my WHOLE tank? Do I need two?

http://www.hellolights.com/17penfix.html

Please help me with some suggestions...I want to get it right the first time. Thanks in advance.

 

[Reefscap]

Your tank 48x24x24 is alot more than 60g sounds like a 120g
Hanging Pendants are good but I would get 250w our even 400w if they make them. Also get a 10000k or 14000k bulb for color And I would buy 2

 

[Anonymous]

My wife was sleeping in the same room as the tank when i posted and I did it from memory. The tank is 39 long 16 wide and 24 deep. Does that change your answer any reefcap? And thank you for the reply.

Doesnt anyone else have any advice for me about lighting??? Bueller? Bueller?

 

[LA-Lawman]

try hamilton tech. www.hamiltontechnology.com or Aquatic CO. www.aquaticco.com

they will custom build your hood to whatever size you need. these hoods are fan cooled and everything. i have hamilton. it is great. i have owned thier products for years with no problems.

get a combo of MH's and PC's

HTH

-ben

 

[mountainbiker619]

your aquarium is 64.83 gallons.

 

[Anonymous]

Can you get the desired effect with a MH ONLY setup? I kinda thought you needed other bulbs... :?:

 

[UnderGrad]

Panacea,
Definetely get some other lighting. MH is only going to give you a "spotlight" in a portion of your tank. It seems other people like to supplement MH with PC actinics. I think you would be well off to supplement with VHO or NO for some uniform lighting throughout your setup (unless you want low light areas in your tank). HTH.

-AM-

 

[Reefscap]

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...PA&Product_Code=PFO36HOOD2&Category_Code=PFOh This would be a better setup than just 2 pendants. I would get (2) 250w MH 10k on a PFO ballast & 2 VHO actinics on an Icecap 430.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice Reef...but that is a few hundred more than I am looking to spend....I will wait if I absolutely have to,,,,but how about the hood for $570 on this link? Would it work?

http://www.marinedepot.com/a_lt_mh_ht.asp?CartId=

 

[Reefscap]

I used that same hood on a 75g I liked it and it looked nice. I think you will be happy with it. And free shipping you cant go wrong.

 

[rwesurfn]

try here as well......http://www.petsupplyliquidator.com/htm/aprod_hood_mhpc.htm

 

[Osama]

If you decide on MH check the bulb that comes with the fixture you are buying. A 65k bulb will have a yellow tint to it. 10k will be bright white & 12k will have a slightly blue tint but still on the bright side. Buy the fixture with the upgraded bulb color that is pleasing to you ..

 

[snowman5373]

I have a 55 gallon and bought these... http://www.hellolights.com/484xcoraqpch.html
For the price they work GREAT. Good quality too.

 

[Casey1]

I have a dual 400w HQI with 10ks in my 75 and boy is it bright 8O ... So bright it's like daylight in the evening.. I'm thinking of going down to either 2 175's or 2 250's...

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 55 gallon and bought these... http://www.hellolights.com/484xcoraqpch.html
For the price they work GREAT. Good quality too.

This light by Coral Life is an excellent choice if you want to use Metal Halides. Your colors will be super!

 

[ChrisRD]

Definetely get some other lighting. MH is only going to give you a "spotlight" in a portion of your tank. It seems other people like to supplement MH with PC actinics. I think you would be well off to supplement with VHO or NO for some uniform lighting throughout your setup (unless you want low light areas in your tank).

The fluorescent lighting that is generally used in addition to MH is for supplementing spectrum or to change the appearance (color) of the tank and possibly the specimens in it.

There's no reason you can't get even illumination with MH lighting, and you don't need supplemental fluorescent lighting.

Personally I would avoid the vertical pendents like the Coralife in the link. I'd go with horizontal pendents or build a hood and fit it up with a rhetro kit.