Design the light for my clam and SPs tank

[blue]

Ok im setting up another tank. The tank will be 24x24x24 60 gallons. THis tank will be all SPS and clams. Now i need help designing the lighting please give me examples of what you would do on this tank.
Thanks,
Blue

[blue]

I guess its time to go to a diffrent board since reefland isnt interested in helpin

Blue

[scubadude]

I would go with a 400w Iwasaki and a couple of actinic strips PCs or VHO...I would also try to do it in a horizontal pendant preferably with some good fans as to help with possible heat issues ....ppl here want to help, just give it time ;) Or even a 250w HQI pendant...they put out alot of par for a 250, be sure you get some good flow/current in there too

[organicreefer]

a single 400w 10k

[blue]

I was thinking and looking at www.drmaccorals.com and saw that he uses 400 watt halides with 20K radiums im planing on geting alot of corals from him so whould it make sense to use the sam set up he is using?

Thanks,
Blue

[organicreefer]

blue
it seems to work for him ,im assuming you read he uses blueline e ballasts?im not sure of the PAR comparisons ,but i would imnagine the 10k would have more,but who says PAR is everything?i use a single 400w sunburst ove my30x30x24 tank,and though i have no sps ,all my corals ,lps ,softies,are very happy.also my light is a full 10 inches from the water

[scubadude]

Originally posted by blue
I was thinking and looking at www.drmaccorals.com and saw that he uses 400 watt halides with 20K radiums im planing on geting alot of corals from him so whould it make sense to use the sam set up he is using?

Thanks,
Blue

Blue

I have almost a dozen sps frags from Dr. Mac....My lighting is 2-175MH 10k Ushios...and 2 110w VHO 03's I have some frags that he sent me that where dark brown and have turned green and purple under my lights....I also had a nice lite blue frag from him that has turned brown and green (I like it better now) Dr. Mac has excellent corals! no doubt about it and that is a wise choice to pick your SPS from. but dont try and duplicate his lighting system thinking you will get the same colors....it may happen but the point to the whole situation is to have a nice color and par to your/corals/fish's environment. All of the above suggested IMO are excellent choices for lights. 20k bulbs are pretty blue and more than likely you will not need any actinic!...but I had 12k's and if i still had them I wouldnt use actinics....there are many variables! to me 10 or 12k is the best balance

[blue]

Ive been looking around the board and looked at ninongs old post and have been looking at the AB HQi hoods with a singel 150 or 250 HQI i would supplement with a PC hood i was thinking of going this rout cause with everything hanging i would have more acces to the tank. So what do yall think 150 or 250 HQI and would it be enough light or would i be better off with a 400 watter with a spider light reflector and 10 K bulb?
Thanks,
Blue

[golfish]

Blue,
I run 250watt double ended HQI's on my 150 SPS\Clam tank My advice is to use a mogul base bulb in 10 or 20K and an HQI ballast......oh yeah, a 400 watter.

[blue]

How do you run a normal bulb on an HQI ballast?

Thanks,
Blue

[golfish]

German made mogul base bulbs in the 10-20K range are made to be ran on an HQI ballast......

[chromis]

Originally posted by golfish
Blue,
I run 250watt double ended HQI's on my 150 SPS\Clam tank My advice is to use a mogul base bulb in 10 or 20K and an HQI ballast......oh yeah, a 400 watter.

why?????????????

[golfish]

why?????????????

why, what?

[Ironreef]

hmmm I bet he's wondering why run a mogol base bulb on a hqi ballast? Just guessing....but one reason to why is the hqi will run the 10-20k bulb @10% better

[chromis]

no I was wondering why you would like the 400 watt mogul better than an 250 double ended HQI. Then I saw the dimensions- 24x24x24 and realized thats why.

[golfish]

Chromis,
I don't care much for the HQI Mini pendants I have. The color is alright but the light spread isn't all that great. I do think they would cover the 24x24 ok but I'm still not convinced there as good as people said\say they are.

If I were setting up a tank like Blue's I would use the 20K.....I sure would like to find some 250 watt double ended HQI bulbs in 20K

[JG]

go for the 400w Radium. I absolutely LOVE mine. It is the nicest looking light you'll see...at first a little too blue, but give it a week or two and it will turn a nice ice-white color.

[organicreefer]

jg,what kind of ballast do you use?

[JG]

PFO 400w Dual HQI.