Lighting ? - Please help

[SunfishFun]

Tank: 60 gal long; 48L x 15W x 18H

Type: will be reef w/ live rock & sand, softies, LPS corals, low-light clams (I hope), bubble tip anemone (maybe)

Question: LIGHTING! I think I've overresearched b/c now I'm totally confused.

+ Wanted to go w/ PC's if they're sufficient, due to energy bill savings.
+ Do NOT have $100000000000 to spend on lights, but do not want inadequate setup either. (I don't need state-of-the-art.)
+ Want to use existing open-sided canopy that sits a few inches over surface for retro or DIY if possible.
+ On my 48" tank can I use 36" PC bulbs and stagger them across hood?
+ If I buy something that comes w/ say 65W PC bulbs, does that mean I cannot put 96W bulbs in it?
+ How about something like a CSL MH 175W + PC 2x65W combo I saw at Champion?

I would really appreciate any advice you could offer on this!
(I'm okay on Kelvin spectrum, tar vs. electronic ballasts)

[icemark]

Originally posted by SunfishFun
anted to go w/ PC's if they're sufficient, due to energy bill savings.

VHO's with an icecap 660 might be a better bet, cheaper bulbs, equal bulb life, only minor increase in wattage (110 VHO vs 96 PC)

On my 48" tank can I use 36" PC bulbs and stagger them across hood?

yes and 46 inch and even 48 inch (if you get or build a custom hood)

+ If I buy something that comes w/ say 65W PC bulbs, does that mean I cannot put 96W bulbs in it?

Yes, you can not typically use the same fixture that a 55 watt or 65 watt PC uses for a 96 watt PC. Some PC ballasts are limited to 110 watts, which could be two 55 watt bulbs or one 95 watt bulb, but you will have to do your homework on that.

+ How about something like a CSL MH 175W + PC 2x65W combo I saw at Champion?

You really would need two MH bulbs if you wanted to cover your tank correctly using the fixture you mention.

Also gonna be tough to keep an a anemone without MH. Might live, don't know how much it will grow.

[organicreefer]

i would reccomend an ice cap 660,you have a four foot tank why not use four foot bulbs

[SKRIZ]

check out www.ahsupply.com for pc setups.

have you thought about the diy mh? i would run you @100 for a 250 watt iwasaki setup (this would give everything you need)? the bulbs are also good for 2-2.5 years and only cost $60 to replace!

If you decide to get an icecap ballast, drop me an email, I may be able to help you out hth

[SunfishFun]

Hmm... I thought PC's would deliver more lumens per watt than other light types at a cheaper operating cost. Not such an easy solution I guess. (Sure made huge difference replacing incandescents in regular fixtures around my house, but I know that has little to do w/ aquarium.)

I haven't really looked into VHO at all, so now I'll check that out too.

Thank you icemark & organicreefer!

[PerryinCA]

I am gonna have to back the Icecap 660 for flourescent lighting. Running 440w of VHO, it consumes around 280 watts, elongates the lifetime of the lamps (by almost a year), and will have better output. PC's and VHO are both good. The replacement cost is lower for VHO in my experience. I also like the actinic lamps made by URI.

In any case, look around. If you decide to go with the VHO, the 46.5" lamps (440 watt) are the most convenient for a 48" tank, you won't have to worry much about clearance, and the wattage is the same to the 48".

-Perry

[SunfishFun]

I didn't think VHO's could provide adequate light. (I don't understand how ballast can allow bulbs to use less watts, so I'll find that out when I do more research on my own tomorrow - no need to respond.)

Thank you for your input everyone! If I end up going MH route, I also have other posts in this forum to refer to, which is great.