Yet another request for lighting help...

[Frag Hag]

I am setting up a 44 gal tall for my seahorses and could use a few suggestions for lighting.

It has a deep sandbed (7 inches in some areas), and although the seahorses could really care about the lighting, I would like to be able to support macro-algae, mushrooms & a few softies.

Also, heat is an issue as seahorses require lower temps to stay healthy.

I am currently dealing with the damned pump in the sump pushing the temperature up to 80 + without lighting. (Charlie, I have memorized your sticky "God, it's hot" - hope the fans, etc. work, because my husband will divorce me if I even mention the word chiller.)

Any suggestions welcomed!

Thanks.

Shay

[charlie]

Why don't you try a couple of daylite vho's with an actinic thrown in for aesthetics. As for memorising my thread, I think you may be the only one!!!!!
I think that the vho's will support some macro and a couple of softies. Let's see what everybody else thinks.

[Poseidon]

I would do a pair of T5's one white one blue... Should be more then enough for some softies up top. BUT are you sure you want to mix corals that require faster water flow with sea horses that do better with less flow? I think you are mixing to specimens that should be mutually EXCLUSIVE of one another.

[Frag Hag]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Poseidon, most of the corals would not be suitable for a seahorse tank because of lighting, current requirements, stinging tentacles, etc., however the leathers like low to moderate currents, and mushrooms are pretty much in the same ballpark.

Shay

[charlie]

Make sure you let us know what you end up with OK? I am interested to see how the seahorses react.