lights

[boomer 453]

Okay, i've searched and i've read what i could find but still need some opinion. Going to update my lighting and go from a FO set-up to a FOWLR tank.
tank has a glass top and currently just running 2 48" flourescents. Need some reccomendations. I don't really want to go with MH due to evaporation and the heat (the room gets hot enough as is during the summer) Also my job requires me to be gone for a few weeks at a time so i need to keep it as simple as possible for my wife while im away.
So of the remaining options what would you suggest for a 75 gallon 48"x21"h x 18"w.
I don't have a problem with buying a new hood to fit it all and if anyone can give some ballpark figures as to what it might cost it sure would be a big help. I haven't broken the news to my wife yet :roll:

 

[Anonymous]

Live rock means that it is full of "good" bacteria and maybe some copeopods. It does not have a special light requirement that I am awarwe of.

On the other hand, if you plan on adding some inverts for this live rock (read coral) then you will need to upgrade.

I assume you are using normal output flourcent now.
It would be as easy as upgrading to HO or VHO ballast and tubes. Coupla hundred dollars ballpark, or cheeper used on ebay!

 

[liquid]

If all you're adding is live rock, there is no need to change your lighting. Unless of course you will be keeping coral then.

Shane

 

[boomer 453]

The current plan is to go with just the live rock but i would like to do something that may be suitable for more later on if I can talk the boss (wife) into it. My hope is that she see's a few things growing on the live rock and that gets her a little more involved.

 

[liquid]

What kinds of things are you interested in getting growing on the liverock to get her more interested? Are we talking simple stuff like Zoanthids or mushrooms?

Shane

 

[boomer 453]

I've been a commercial diver for about 14 years or so. Before we moved to our current house i had my tank set-up for fish but during the course of a job we pulled up a bunch of rock. I kept about 20 pounds of it and added it to my FO tank at home. After a few months we had feather dusters and such growing-this really got my wife interested in the tank. When we moved i had to get rid of all the livestock and the tank was not set up again for about 8 months. I'm hoping to get her re-interested in the tank maintainance that would be required for an advanced set-up. Due to my work situation it just wouldn't be possible without her help.
Point being that i want to set-up so that if it takes off and i can get into a reef, i don't have to re-do the lights later on. better to have to much now than need more later. MH really would be difficult her in louisiana due to summertime heat and the location of the tank so something with a little lower heat output would be better.
Thanks for the replies everyone-much appreciated.

Boomer

 

[boomer 453]

Thanks to the replies and going back 20 friggin pages on here i've decided to build a new canopy for the tank and go with 4 VHO's about 8" above the tank toip along with a few LED moonlights.
Next question-after reading up on it i would like to do away with the wet/dry filter and convert it to a LR sump. As this is under a cabinet would it have to be lit? I'd like to put a few inches of sand with about 30 pounds of live rock in the sump (i'll put the return pump in a bucket). If possible i would rather not light it.
What do you think?

 

[ChrisRD]

No, you don't have to light it if you're just looking to add the sand/rock for filtration purposes. The bacteria in/on the live sand and live rock that will be providing the filtration does not require light...

 

[boomer 453]

thanks for the help