Type Of MH For 29gal???

[Canada]

I have 29gallon with few fish and critters and live rock. Would like corals later. What type and wattage would anyone recommend.

P.S. I would prefer an Iawasaki bulb because as I understand I can use a Mecury Vapor ballast which is tremendously cheeper.

Thanx.

 

[Anonymous]

If you look around, I am sure you will be able to find a MH ballast for the same price as the cheapest MV ballast you can find.

Anyway, regarding your question, I will get a 250W if you plan to keep Acropora and other high light coral. For Monti. and other lower light coral, you maybe able to get away with 150/175 bulb. Or if you are planing to get a chiller, get the 400W bulb instead.

 

[Anonymous]

yeah, get the 400 if you plan on making LAVA....

 

[Canada]

You think could get it for the same price? Right now I am looking at about 35 bucks for 175.

 

[Canada]

Also what bulbs would you recommend and about how much can I expect to pay?

TY

 

[Anonymous]

For the best bang for your buck (money, that is, not me), Iwasaki is good choice. But most people (due to personal taste) feel that it is too yellow, and get something with higher Kelvin temperature, or supplement it with actinic.

Abu, I used to have 2 400W and two 96W PC over a 60 gal for about a year. All the rocks are "alive" after more than a year, and they did not turn into lava rock at all. The chiller made me pay for it dearly, thou...

 

[StevenPro]

Saying you want to add corals later is rather broad, too broad in fact. It is somewhat like saying you want to add fish to your tank, what kind of food should I get? While there is no one perfect food for all fish, there is no one perfect lighting for all 'corals'. You really need to identify what kinds of things interest you and then tailor the lighting to their particular needs.

 

[Canada]

I am still not sure on the corals i would like but I would like to keep my options brod by having a fair amount of light. I am probably going for a 250 Iawasaki w/actinic supplement and then later when I find a coral that I like that is easy and hardy and will flourish under these lighting conditions I will buy that one. As I am still learning alot I am not to concerned about having exactly what I want. I find has been in the past costly and frustrating. All I want is healthy set up with inhabitants that I can learn the ropes on with being set back financially and mentally.

Michael

 

[smlacy]

I have a 175W Ushio 10k over my 29g, with about 100W of actinic supplimentation.

Its nice to have some actinics that are bright enough to be my "main" lighting for hot days where I can't run the MH. I have a well ventilated hood, and had a little trouble keeping the tank temps in check during those hot days. My bulb is about 8" off the water surface. For a 250, I'm sure you'll have to go higher to keep your temp in check.

Steve

 

[Canada]

How much was your lighting setup? Is it a home made one or a brand name. Are your actinic bulbs PC's or VHO's or what? If you have pics of your setup? I'd love to see them! It would give me a better grasp Of where I'm trying to end up.

Thanx,Michael

 

[smlacy]

Sure, no problem. Go here:

http://slacy.com/gallery/album58

I built my own hood and mounted retrofit kits in there. Its been working quite well.

http://marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CL2311
(but with all Actinic, not 50/50 like they normally sell them)

And the Halides here:
http://marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=ICSPK1

Steve