Lighting for a LARGE tank

[SKRIZ]

Tank dimensions: 119"L x 34"W x 35"H

This will be a reef tank. What lighting setup would you guys reccomend?

Need to balance the system so as not to have a HUGE elec bill!

I was thinking iwasaki 250mh (4)? Maybe vho or pc for extra actinic? With icecap ballasts.

[kevinpo]

The question needs to be asked, "What corals would you like to keep?"

Here is a picture of the light system I use for my tank which is about the same dimensions as yours. I keep mostly Acropora species and this system has done well for them over the last 4.5 years.
The lighting consists of 5 - 400W Coralvue 10,000K mteal halide bulbs driven by PFO brand HQI type ballasts. For the dawn/dusk effect I have 8 - 95W and 2 - 160W URI VHO actinic bulbs driven by IceCap and URI electronic ballasts. 1080W actinics + 2000W halide = 3080W total. I run the halides for 9 hours. The 160W actinic bulbs run for 14 hours and the 95W actinics run for 12 hours. Cost for lighting and all the pumps runs about $75 a month. Total cost for a 600 gal system runs about $250 a month. This includes salt, bulb replacement, additives, etc.

Regards,
Kevin

[SKRIZ]

I would think very similar to yours...mostly acros. However, it is not going to be a traditional reef where you have a "wall" of corals. The tank will be overstocked with fish with a lot of "gap" between the rock structures. 3 sides are viewable. Actually, Kevin, I really like how yours is scaped...it's busy enough, but has breathing room!

[Poseidon]

Kevin you posted an OLD picture! That Monti gives it away!

SKRIZ Kevins tank is GORGEOUS, it has a lot less breathing room now though!

[charlie]

I run 6 400w 20k bulbs with vho actinic supplementation. Vho are on 12 hrs. a day and the halides run 8-9 hrs a day.

[SKRIZ]

I see you guys are using 400 watters. Would the 250's not be enough?

[charlie]

I don't think that the 250's would get to the bottom real well in a 35"deep tank.
I think they are best to 24" high. The 400's will get a little more penetration.

[Steven Pro]

I agree, 400 watt MH's would be very appropriate given the tank size and what you want to keep.

[kevinpo]

For some lower light SPS 250's would be enough and most of the high light types would live but they often turn dark with a lot of brown in them (not that that's less healthy just not very attractive to us).

The rule of thumb for high light corals is:
18" or less 175W.
24" or less 250W.
36" or less 400W.
48" or less 1000W

HTH,
Kevin