lighting upgrade from pc to mh

[phk361]

hi all i have a 92 gallon reef ready corner tank . I have a 36 inch coustom sea life power compact with one 96 watt actinic bulb and one 96 watt 10,000 ultra day light. I want to upgrade to metal halide for the day light bulb. My qustion is do i need two bulbs or one to cover the tank and what wattage. I have a few beginner corals but plan on some day to get to the advanced corals.

 

[Tackett]

what are your tank dimensions?

 

[phk361]

tank sides are 34 inch each and bow is 54 inch.

 

[Tackett]

Im thinking two 250 HQI, one in the back and one directly in front of it.

 

[Tackett]

I would also get a 10000K in the back, and a 14000K in the front. Like I said, 250w each. Pendants.

 

[Tackett]

daylight bulbs are usually 6500K and IMO look weird when coupled with bluer bulbs. But thats just my opinion.

 

[fishfanatic2]

congats on {squat} tackett!

 

[phk361]

i plan to keep the atinic so the mh will go in the place of the pc so do i put one in the middle or one on each end and that is what the tank looks like

 

[ChrisRD]

Personally, if I were putting two halides over that tank I think I'd go side by side. You could get away with one if you don't mind the center being brighter, you'd just have to keep the higher light corals in the center of the tank.

I've attached a few quick CAD sketches (drawn to correct proportions). The pendents shown are the Sunlight Supply ROIIIs (11"X9") and the area of coverage shown is the approximate rule-of-thumb 2' square per halide lamp. Tank dimensions are from the AGA website (92 Corner).

It's sortof a tough shape to light efficiently. If you go with one lamp you won't have very even coverage and if you go with two you'll have plenty of overlap...

HTH

 

[Tackett]

congats on {squat} tackett!

Thanks buddy.

I've attached a few quick CAD sketches (drawn to correct proportions).

Are we saying that mine were not correct proportions???

ok ok i give. :lol: Nice drawings chris.

 

[ChrisRD]

Heh, no that wasn't a shot at you Tack. It's just as easy to draw to the correct scale in CAD as not, so figured it would be more helpful to see actual proportions...

 

[phk361]

thanks again chris . i think i will look in to the two side by side . What size bulb do you think i should use pete.

 

[Tackett]

Heh, no that wasn't a shot at you Tack. It's just as easy to draw to the correct scale in CAD as not, so figured it would be more helpful to see actual proportions...

I knows man, was just messin with ya. :wink:

 

[ChrisRD]

Pete, it sounds like you're going to be interested in keeping clams, anemones or SPS corals in the future so I'd recommend 250s (lower wattage lamps are fine for soft corals, LPS, etc).

 

[phk361]

thanks chris how much will these bulbs increase my temperature as the pc does not raise it at all. The house has ac for summer. Do you think i will need a chiller. Thanks pete

 

[Tackett]

I dont think you will need one, however, every house is different. Just raise the pendents if your temperature starts to raise.

 

[phk361]

thanks tack my light now sits on top of the glass cover. Do you mean put some kind of spacer between the light and glass cover

 

[Anonymous]

Or through suspension...Typically you can suspend the lights via chain and hooks in the ceiling..of course they do make Halide canopies to sit on the aquarium itself...I personally like to suspend my lights..It makes it easier to get around in the aquarium by moving the lights up a few notches on the chain....My current set up is suspended 8 inches above my aquarium..this compensates for the heat, I also have an air conditioner in the same room but you could also invest in a chiller or keep your lights even higher up if heating becomes a problem..Especially in the summer time..

 

[ChrisRD]

thanks tack my light now sits on top of the glass cover. Do you mean put some kind of spacer between the light and glass cover

You'll probably have to ditch the glass cover to increase evaporation. More evaporation = more cooling.

As for mounting the lights - most of us just use hanging pendents or build a canopy with some fans in it (and usually an open-back for ventilation).

 

[phk361]

this may sound stupid but does any one think a fish may jump out ?