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06-28-2007, 01:23 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 38
Posts: 191
Karma: 15
 |  Lighting system questions
Hi Reefers,
I want to make a decision about what type of lighting system is best for my 90gal Tank. I want to be able to keep LPS, SPS, Corals, and my favorites Clams. My tank is 24 inches Deep with a DSB of 4 inches which gives me 21 inches of viewing space. Is a T5 lighting system good enough to penetrate to the substrate level so I can keep Clams like tridacna, crocea, T. maxima, and tridacnids? I pretty much want to put the clams on the substrate on top of a rock, what are your thoughts? is it also good enough to keep LPS ans SPS at the higher level of the tank? _________ Perfecto 90 Gal with megaflow overflow, 110lbs LR(mixed), 130 lbs LS, Turboflotor 1000 multi, megaflow sump, magdrive 1800 ghp pump, lighting: 2x250 MH 14K, 4X54 T5's, Auto topoff system. Condy anemone, Manipora, green stripped mushroom, purple mushroom, and red mushroom, green eyed polyps, a recordia.  | 
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06-28-2007, 03:01 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,963
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Hi tyslin,
I am partial to halides, if you didn't know that by now! I have three different kinds of Tridacna's(Crocea, Maxima and Squamosa) and all three are doing great in my tank! I also have sps's and zoo's which do best under intense light for best color and growth with a bulb towards the blue end of the specrum!
With a 24" deep tank, a stronger lighting scheme would be best IMO! I know that you have the flexibility to place corals etc. higher or lower within your tank for optimal results, but with my knowledge and experience with halides, I feel you and your livestock won't regret the halides! _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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06-28-2007, 03:14 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 38
Posts: 191
Karma: 15
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Thanks Coral, What type of MH should I get, kelvin type wattage e.tc. works best. | |
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06-28-2007, 03:26 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,963
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Again, this is just my opinion, and I know I will get different reaction from my answer...
However, I think that 250 and even 400watt HQI DE halides will work great and are your best choice...And a bulb coloration somewhere in the 14000k-20000k range will be ideal! | |
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06-28-2007, 03:35 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Spaghetti Worm
Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Age: 38
Posts: 191
Karma: 15
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So I should get 2-250 MH or 2-400 MH Bulbs that are 14 to 20k. So I am looking at between 500 to 800 watts, is that correct? Should I supplement with actinic bulbs? | |
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06-28-2007, 03:51 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Age: 59
Posts: 20
Karma: 5
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I have a 110 gallon with 4 10k 54w T5 and I can tell you that I wish they were MH. In a 90gal like yours, I'd personally go with 2 400w MH. As far as spectrum it's a matter of choice. 10K is bright white, 14 K has a bluish/white, 20K would be very blue. I'd choose 400w over 250w due to the depth of your tank. Especially if you get 14K or 20K spectrum. JMO. _________  Doc | |
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06-28-2007, 04:29 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Scooter Blennie
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: valencia,pa. Age: 35
Posts: 1,245
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i use t5 in my 55 gallon with great success.t5's are more ideal on a shallow 55 or 75 gallon tank.i'm sure you want metal halide,maybe t5's for your actinic.i use true blue actinic. | |
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06-28-2007, 04:48 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 3,963
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If you go with the 14000-20000k bulbs, you really don't have to accentuate the actinics as their is an immense amount of blue in the lightbulb. | |
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06-28-2007, 05:08 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Age: 59
Posts: 20
Karma: 5
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That's right and I've yet to find a T5 Actinic that I like. | |
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06-28-2007, 05:09 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | 3reef Sponsor
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Va/Ct
Posts: 4,359
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Well T-5 suck period and you can hem and haw around it all day But you get yourself 2. 250 M/H's and 2. 48 inch VHO actinic and you can keep all you want of anything and you can not find a better lighting combo with todays lighting technology that will out do this set up. Now 2. 400's may be a little over the top But I helped a friend do his 75 Gal and He went that route 2 400 M/H;s with SPS 1400 k and tow URI super Actinic VHO's and s very happy . P/C's came and went as will the T-5's although a little better. But still lacking
And you can not have to much Actanics and with the VHO's I run them 16 hrs aday and that way I run my 14 K M/H just 7 hrs a day _________ Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible (Doug Larson) | |
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