lighting for a 55g

[ded08221]

i just need some advice in what kind of lighting i will be looking at for a 55g tank. i want to be able to keep most any corals and i really want to be able to keep clams. what kind of bulbs for a pc will i be looking at. i'm for sure getting a pc, so you halide guys don't talk me into it. :lol: . anyways i need to know how many 96w bulbs i need. do i only need 2. i'm so confused.

 

[Unarce]

As a former PC user turned MH guy, I would suggest at least 3 bulbs. 1 10K, 1 actinic, and 1 50/50 (hard corals at upper 1/3, soft corals and clams at bottom 2/3). This will provide the best spectrum for photosynthetic inverts. I will say that if you're intent on sticking with fluorescent lighting, than you should consider going T-5 instead of PC. Best example:

http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aquarium/ ... ture.shtml

These are the closest thing to MH and many are successful at raising brightly colored clams and SPS with these. If you decide to go this route, go half actinic and half 10K.

 

[Anonymous]

I was going to say about 4 depending if your tank is long or high. Are you looking at the quad light bulbs that are all 50/50?? Ditto what nutz said about coral placement, pc lights cant penatrate water light hylides can so you going to have to place the highly photosynthetic corals on top

 

[Anonymous]

Don't waste your money. Save up for the MH's.
Can't imagine choosing that fake flourscent look over MH's.
Yes, definitely go the the metal halides. :lol:

Seriously, consider why you are choosing PC's over MH. I've been there, and the day you get MH you mourn the day you ever wasted your money on PC's trying to save a buck.

Jim

 

[Unarce]

Although I can't imagine going to back to fluorescent lighting, we should be sensitive to other peoples preferences. Some might not be able to manage the heat of MH. Especially if you don't have AC. Chillers are quite expensive. If you had an open canopy and fans, than you are better off saving a bit more for MH.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone is being insensitive. You have to have experience in order to have a preference. He's here for input, and that's what he's getting. No BS.

I've never met anyone who went from PC's to halides, who didn't wish they had purchased, or could afford to purchase MH's to begin with. ESPECIALLY of you're in the "I want to be able to keep anything" category.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

I've been there, and the day you get MH you mourn the day you ever wasted your money on PC's trying to save a buck

been there, done that, got the T-shirt...Especially if you want to keep clams..why short change yourself and you inhabitants? you can supplement with Actinics via flourescents...JMHO

 

[Unarce]

I don't think anyone is being insensitive. You have to have experience in order to have a preference. He's here for input, and that's what he's getting. No BS.

I've never met anyone who went from PC's to halides, who didn't wish they had purchased, or could afford to purchase MH's to begin with. ESPECIALLY of you're in the "I want to be able to keep anything" category.

Jim

That's true. Although I feel that MH is the best way to go, he specifically asked that none of us bug him about it. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

buy MH, BUy MH
Buy Mh
Buy MH

 

[ded08221]

very funny guys. but the biggest problem is i'm a college student. i can't have a mh hanging around. i need something short and compact.

 

[Unarce]

See guys, don't assume that there isn't a valid reason not to go MH. :roll:

Check out the Tek Light. I think there's a 24" fixture in there. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

But, but, but....
You're going to end up spending just as much on those PCs!

You can do an entire MH fixture, ballast, bulb, etc, for $100 if you go DIY. You'll find 96 W PCs will be able to keep brightly colored SPS and Clams for about the top 6 inches of your tank, whereas with MH you can place them anywhere.

 

[pcragg]

When I had a 55, I used two 175 10k MH (nothing else). The clams and SPS flourished at all levels of the tank. I think 10k has the best trade off for light intensity and look.

 

[ded08221]

i understand mh are a much better choice. as soon as move into my own place i will for sure be able to buy mh's. but right now i need to know what to do with a pc.

 

[Bobzarry]

I also have a 55 with 2x175 MH and also have 2x110 VHO actinic. before that I had 3x96 PC 10k. When I switched from PC to MH....WOW. what a difference. The color improved significantly on all my corrals and growth did as well. My only regret was that I purchased the PC's at all. and as far as placement I find my MH's to be much less clutter then my PC's ever were. My tank does not get any hotter with MH then it did with the PC's and in fact all I use is the same fan on a temp controller as I did when I had the PC's.


Bob

 

[Anonymous]

college student with a 55gal aquarium..not quite a nano...and you cant keep MH? whats wrong with this picture..seriously! who said you have to have it hanging? you can always build some legs for it to stand a few inches off the tank if you are worried about heating...for the size of your tank i think you are wasting money going to PC...I agree with Matt...