Lights are EXPENSIVE!!!!

[chefbenry89]

Right now i have a good lighting system, but it is only big enough to light half of my tank!! is this ok?

[reefhead728]

what are u wanting to keep fish only or reef?

[asting]

how many watts?
If it only lights half your tank, raise it until it lights the whole.
What type of tank?

[sur4die]

48'' Aquarium Light T5 HO 4X 54 Reef NEW w/ bulbs NEW - eBay (item 270436804849 end time Aug-17-09 18:00:00 PDT)

i got one like this from ebay except i sprung for a 6 x 54W and moonlights. i am very pleased with it and it is very affordable (relatively).

[reefhead728]

what size is the tank is the first place to start i guess

[charlie]

Right now i have a good lighting system, but it is only big enough to light half of my tank!! is this ok?

I don't think it is a good lighting system if it only lights half of your tank, can you explain what you were thinking when you bought it for me please??

[asting]

That's not necessarily true. Many Metal Halide pendant/hanging systems would only light half of the tank if set directly on top, however when raised light the entire system.

But we do need more info before we can judge.

[charlie]

Very true, and like you said, we need ALOT more info, like tank size what exactly his lighting is, etc.

I don't think it is a halide that he has though. Just a feeling that I have.

Are you saying that if he has a 150w halide, and he raised it up it would be better for his tank???

[asting]

no obviously you want the distance between the lighting unit and the tank (ultimately the corals and other photosynthetic organisms) to be as small as possible to create the greatest intensity. However the angle and spread obviously has to be correct.

[charlie]

Let's see if he comes back with some tank stats, we need those before we can say a whole bunch more.

[chefbenry89]

ok i have other lights that light the tank, it looks ok. i am planning on upgrading later, i only plan on having fish only for now that is enough for me to learn and try to understand for now, in a few months i will get a small frag or 2 of coral on the "sunshine" side, and it forces me to take my time with this... it is a metal halide 150w, and 2 attinics, not sure of wattage, with moon LEDS,

[asting]

what size tank? If its a smaller tank, the MH should be enough to just raise it and let the angle change.

[chefbenry89]

55 gal

[charlie]

what are the dimensions of the tank please?

[chefbenry89]

The tank is 48" long, 12.5" wide, and 20" deep. the light system is 24"

[charlie]

A 150w halide will not really do real well in a 20" deep tank, not enuf light getting to the bottom parts of the tank. I think you should check out the Sanjay Joshi link that is a sticky in this forum and learn a bit more about lighting in a reef tank.
You may be able to get by with some mushrooms with that light, but that is about it.

[chefbenry89]

im not sure, may be 250W. IDK ITS FKIN BRIGHT!!!! i have been doing alot of research on all of these areas and i havent gotten anywear with lighting and coral, thats why i am on here...