24 inch hood over 36 inch tank?

[BOMPH]

All,
I am thinking about getting one of those custom PFO/Icecap deals thru premium aquatics.

DO you think that a 2' hood over a 3' tank is OK?

The tank is 16 inches deep. I figure 175w is good enough for that depth. Actinics will be 2x55w PC's.

My reasoning is that there will be 6" on either side of the fixture that wont recieve 'direct' light from the hood. Im sure it will recieve enought light for things like shrooms, and softies.

The 2 foot span directly under the hood would be OK for those things that require higher light needs.

I want to try SPS and clams this time. Is 175 watt ok, given the relatively shallow depth of the tank?

 

[ChrisRD]

As you say, the edges of the tank will be dimmer so as long as you keep lower light stuff in those spots all should be well.

175 watt MH will be fine for a lot of SPS corals. Some may not hold their color or grow well under that wattage, but if you keep them high in the tank you'll have the best chance for success.

HTH

 

[BOMPH]

Well, I could go 250w. The difference in price is not that much. I just didn't want to over do it for a shallow tank.

All I know is that i dont want to spend $ now for something I know I will just replace.

The eventual end for this particular tank is as a 40g refugium for a 120g tank that I have in storage until I can get my own house. DO you think this light setup at 250w would be too intense for a refugium to be run on a reverse daylight cycle? I would like to get reuse out of it, and not have to sell it a year from now. If 250 seems like overkill, do you know if a 250w ballast will run a 175w OK?

 

[ChrisRD]

Since you're trying to light a 3' tank with a single lamp you're going to have the fixture fairly high off the water. I'd go with the 250 watter. Later on, when you setup the 120 (assuming the 2'x2'x4' tank), you can get one more 250 watter and you'll be set for lighting.

BTW. don't try running a 175 watt lamp on a 250 watt ballast!

 

[BOMPH]

Since you're trying to light a 3' tank with a single lamp you're going to have the fixture fairly high off the water. I'd go with the 250 watter. Later on, when you setup the 120 (assuming the 2'x2'x4' tank), you can get one more 250 watter and you'll be set for lighting.

250w it is. I figured I would want to go higher than 175, but again, didn't want to overdo it. Wallet and Wife be damned.

BTW. don't try running a 175 watt lamp on a 250 watt ballast!

Roger, Wilco....