VHO Lighting

[pko]

Hello,
I have a 210, it has 4 x 160 watt (72") VHO lights with Ice Cap 660 ballasts. It has 1 aqua sun, 1 true actinic, 1 50/50 and 1 white actinic bulbs. I know how much better a good T5 or MH is, but this is what I have to work with. What I want to know is what types of corals can be kept with the system I have. I would like to keep some Zoa's, shrooms, rics, polyps, some LPS and maybe a derasa clam since they have lower light requirements. How do you think these will do in this set up?

[charlie]

I do believe that you are going to have to do your research well on the corals you plan to keep. What are the dimensions of the 210?
The clam is going to be iffy, at least in my opinion.

OH,

[returnofsid]

I think Charlie's right. I wouldn't recommend the clam. Derasa's are naturally a sand dwelling clam, which means it should be at the bottom of your tank. I just don't know if your lighting will give it enough light, down that low. How deep is your tank?

[pko]

The tank is 72" x 24" x 28". Are there any clams that will wok on the rock? I have about 350 lbs of LR in the tank so the rock goes up to about 8" below the water level. I realize I will prob. not be able to have anything other than zoas, shrooms, rics, polyps, softies and some LPS, but I thought I would see if someone knew of anything additional.

[charlie]

Man, that's alot of rock for that size tank!!!!!!!
What are the chances of adding one or 2 more VHO or possibly a retrofit T5 fixture?
Croceas and maximas will go on the rock, but they are extreme light lovers, and I don't think you have enuf for either one of them.

[pko]

ya, I know it is a lot, but I like the way it looks and once I start adding some corals it will really give me a lot of places to put them at different heights in the tank. I have read that having between 1 1/2-2 lbs per gallon will give you natural filtration which is another reason I have so much. The fish really seem to like it as well, lots of hiding places and spots to swim through and the powder blue tang grazes all over the tank. The pics are before the VHO lighting, it is MUCH brighter now.

[pko]

Here are some pics of the fish.

[charlie]

Is it Florida rock? Sure don't look like 300 lbs.

If you like it, that is all that matters my friend.

[pko]

Some is florida, it is almost 14" deep, it is not just the front layer, there is another layer behind it.

[charlie]

The powder blue is beautiful.

[charlie]

Some is florida, it is almost 14" deep, it is not just the front layer, there is another layer behind it.

Oh, so what you did was create a vacancy in the middle, and a kind of bridge over the 2 "aisles"?

[pko]

What are the chances of adding one or 2 more VHO or possibly a retrofit T5 fixture?
Croceas and maximas will go on the rock, but they are extreme light lovers, and I don't think you have enuf for either one of them.

I will likely be adding a 2 x 80 watt T5 retro in the not so distant future, It will also be an Ice Cap 660 so they will be overdireven to almost 100 watts each and add some different spectrum, but they are only 60" long.

[pko]

Oh, so what you did was create a vacancy in the middle, and a kind of bridge over the 2 "aisles"?

Yup, kinda like a tunell with 6" or so clear in the front and 4" in the back.

[charlie]

I will likely be adding a 2 x 80 watt T5 retro in the not so distant future, It will also be an Ice Cap 660 so they will be overdireven to almost 100 watts each and add some different spectrum, but they are only 60" long.

Well that would settle the problem for a deresa at least. Are you going to put the 2 T5 up front. I am pretty sure I know people that are keeping croceas and maximas under T5, but you would have to place them in the rocks.