Need Help with Lighting

[blcktitanium]

Hello,

I just have a quick question, I'm having my tank custom built and the demension will be 48"X32"28" approx 185g. I was wanting to know if I purchased a light fixture that had 2x250Mh in it would that be engouh for the 28" depth of the tank?

[PDAJunkie]

Guess it would depend on what you were keeping or wanted to keep in your tank. Probably need more details on what you are trying to accomplish before anyone can help. Best regards.

[Ninong]

Yes, good quality 10,000K 250w metal halides would be adequate for the 28" height of the aquarium. You could go with either 250w or 400w for that size tank but 250w would definitely work. I would be careful to choose wisely and avoid any of the 14,000K or 20,000K lamps that have much less PAR than the best 10,000K lamps. (P.S. -- Some manufacturers claim their 10,000K lamps are 13,000K, but that is mainly a marketing gimmick.)

However, depending on how you are setting up this tank, the halide lamps will not adequately cover the 32" width. Unless you are making it viewable from both long sides with a narrow island of live rock down the middle.

[blcktitanium]

Yes, good quality 10,000K 250w metal halides would be adequate for the 28" height of the aquarium. You could go with either 250w or 400w for that size tank but 250w would definitely work. I would be careful to choose wisely and avoid any of the 14,000K or 20,000K lamps that have much less PAR than the best 10,000K lamps. (P.S. -- Some manufacturers claim their 10,000K lamps are 13,000K, but that is mainly a marketing gimmick.)

However, depending on how you are setting up this tank, the halide lamps will not adequately cover the 32" width. Unless you are making it viewable from both long sides with a narrow island of live rock down the middle.

First let me say thanks for the quick reply..... Yes Ninong It will basically be set up like an Island so to speak. The tank will be viewable from 3 sides 2 long sids and then from one short side the aquascape will be approximately 16" wide down the middle. I'm planning on making it a mixed tank with Clams so you think that 2 250MH will be adequate for that?

[Ninong]

I had a 120-gal custom size tank that was 45"L x 23"W x 27.5"H and I used two 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps plus two 55w PC actinics in a separate fixture. I started out with AB-10000 metal halide lamps but when they were ready to be replaced, I changed to Ushio/BLV 10,000K and I liked the appearance of those a little more.

Yes, 250w halides will definitely work, especially if there is going to be a sand bed in the tank. Obviously a 28"H tank with a 4" deep sand bed is the same as a bare-bottom 24"H tank when it comes to lighting.

[blcktitanium]

Great thanks... I was planning on going with the Ushio bulbs.. So do you recommend that I place my PC actinics in a separate fixure instead of getting the new combined fixtures?

[Ninong]

The only reason I had PC actinics in a separate fixture was because I had the fixture already. I used an Aqua-Medic Aquastarlight Future fixture with two 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps and a 25w blue incandescent moonlight in the middle. I already owned a fixture that held PC lamps.

If I were choosing a fixture for your tank, I would seriously consider the Aqua-Medic fixtures. They offer a 48" fixture with three 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps, they offer one with two 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps plus two 54w T5 HO actinics, they offer one with two 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamp and a 150w 20,000K HQI DE lamp in the middle. And, at the top of the line, they offer the AquaSunlight NG with two or three 250w 10,000K HQI DE lamps plus four 54w T5 HO actinics plus moonlights.

There are many different possibilities.

[charlie]

Ninong is all over this, thanx man!!!!

[blcktitanium]

Thanks so very Ninong for all your help.. I was looking into those fixtures that you where talking about along with others but I think I will go with the Aqua-Medic.