New 50 Gallon Reef Setup help needed!

[Grahxen]

Hi everyone, I have been out of the aquarium hobby for about 6 years now, and it seems many things have changed since that time. I have been wanting to get back into the hobby lately, and started looking at tanks and equipment again. Well, today was my birthday and I revieved a very nice gift from a good friend of mine. It is a 50 Gallon Oceanic Black tank, with stand. It is 30x18x18. It is a nice deep tank which i like alot, not like my older 55 gallon which was very shallow and was hard to setup my rock. Anyway, i need suggestions on what type of lighting would suitable. I plan on keeping some soft corals, mushrooms and some hrd corals, brains etc. I have been reading alot the past week about power compacts and they seem like a decent choice. My question is, I have only found them in 2x 65W canopy setups. I have not been able to find any 4 bulb setups in power compacts in my tank size. I did however find a nice hamilton setup which had 4x 75w VHO bulbs in a 24 size. My old tank was also running VHO bulbs. So basically I am looking for a complete hood setup with bulbs because the oceanic only has a glass top with a single bulb. Would the Hamilton VHO Setup be a good choice, or is there a better alternative to using power compacts? Mabey using 2 seperate PC hoods? The ones i think i was looking at were aqualights. Here is a link http://www.aquarium-supply.biz/products ... _53102.jpg I was also looking at a halide setup as well, but Halides get very hot from what i remember and can kill your electric bill. So please give me all your suggestions on what woul dbe a good choice for my new tank. Also, good places to shop online for supplies as well.

Thank you everyone!

Grahxen
(mike)

 

[ChrisRD]

Hey Mike - welcome to Reefs.Org!

What are you planning to keep in the tank?
Does the tank have a centerbrace?

 

[kparton]

Hello,

I have a 50G I recently set up for the second time (about 3 months ago). The first time, I used PCs. I had two ballasts that controlled 2 lights apiece. I had 4 96W PC lights across the top installed in my hood. They fit the tank, but they heated it way too much. I installed 2 fans and kept the top propped open at all times. This time around I bought 2 175W MH pendants on ebay and installed them above the tank. It makes the maintenance much easier. The only bad thing is I have a canopy with a lot of PC lights installed and nothing to do with it.

If you're not going to use an overflow, I'd recommed the AquaC Remora skimmer. I used the Prizm last time and it was a disaster to take care of.

 

[Grahxen]

Hey Mike - welcome to Reefs.Org!

What are you planning to keep in the tank?
Does the tank have a centerbrace?

I think i posted that above, some soft corals, and mabey a few hard corals like brains etc. The tank doesnt have a center brace. Its an oceanic and the glass is very thick and well built. I havent really seeen an oceanic with a center brace under 36"

 

[Grahxen]

Hello,

I have a 50G I recently set up for the second time (about 3 months ago). The first time, I used PCs. I had two ballasts that controlled 2 lights apiece. I had 4 96W PC lights across the top installed in my hood. They fit the tank, but they heated it way too much. I installed 2 fans and kept the top propped open at all times. This time around I bought 2 175W MH pendants on ebay and installed them above the tank. It makes the maintenance much easier. The only bad thing is I have a canopy with a lot of PC lights installed and nothing to do with it.

If you're not going to use an overflow, I'd recommed the AquaC Remora skimmer. I used the Prizm last time and it was a disaster to take care of.

The lights i was referring to have built in fans are complete assemblys, by aqualite. I think there made my coralife correct? Also, dont MH lights run hottter then any type of lighting?

 

[Anonymous]

The only bad thing is I have a canopy with a lot of PC lights installed and nothing to do with it.

What are you going to do with it? :lol:

 

[kparton]

The lights i was referring to have built in fans are complete assemblys, by aqualite. I think there made my coralife correct? Also, dont MH lights run hottter then any type of lighting?

Mine came equipped for two fans, but even with these fans, it ran too hot. The MH lights do run hotter, but there's no canopy, so the heat dissipates into the room rather than into the water. it's also much easier to service the tank with the top open. The negatives are that I have to stay away from the fish that tend to jump and I have to top off a lot.

The PCs work for most people, just keep an eye on that temp if you do a setup anything like mine.

 

[kparton]

The only bad thing is I have a canopy with a lot of PC lights installed and nothing to do with it.

What are you going to do with it? :lol:

Right now it's sitting in my garage, I should sell it. I paid way too much for it though, so it's going to hurt to see what it's really worth.

 

[cdeakle]

Two words: METAL HALIDE

I got an awesome deal from aquaticlight.com

-puff

 

[cdeakle]

Forgot to add,

Get there retro kit but dont pay for the bulbs for there overpriced. Buy a kit without the bulb and get the bulb cheaper at marinedepot.com

 

[ChrisRD]

I think i posted that above, some soft corals, and mabey a few hard corals like brains etc. The tank doesnt have a center brace. Its an oceanic and the glass is very thick and well built. I havent really seeen an oceanic with a center brace under 36"

Woops - ...

Sorry about that - I was doing a quick read-through at the office and apparently didn't read your post very well.

IMO, a single halide lamp would work very well in your situation. If you go with a pendant and run open-top you definitely won't have any heat issues. Even if you prefer a canopy, one halide over a tank that size shouldn't pose much of a heating problem - there are plenty of things you can do to avoid that (open back canopy, fans in canopy, fans over sump, etc.).

HTH

 

[Grahxen]

Well, as i was searching through my stuff in my garage i came accross my old ice cap 660 ballast. I think i just may go for VHO again, considering the fact that the most expense (the ballast) i already have. And me and a friend of mine will make a nice custom top, and ill get a retro kit to mount the bulbs. If i change my mind I will go with a 10k 250W pendent halide.

Im still un decided, I think ill scratch the power compact idea tho. It wont work to well in my size tank.

Thanks

 

[eums]

i just set up my 55 and its allmost done cycling. i am going to get the T5 set up from reefgeek.com its 6 54 watt bulbs and come in a hood with 2 ballests. and comes with 6 6,500 k bulbs daylight bulbs. + the t5 bulbs last ~2 years. just my .02